Irish Rails to apply for increase in speed limit on Intercity services in the autumn

laoisfan · 08-07-2013, 10:22

Hi

I read a small article in The Star on Saturday about Irish Rail applying for speed increases on Intercity services in the autumn e.g. from current 160kph to 200kph.

So theoretically Dublin-Cork could be done in 1.5 hrs.

Trying to find a link to the article.

Anyone on here know of such plans ? Would be good if it does happen. Compete with motorways. Possibly open up more commute options.

m3parkway · 08-07-2013, 10:39

Can any of our trains go 125 mph? It would probably mean buying new locomotives for the mk4 cork trains. As far as I know the ICRS were built to go 100, perhaps they can travel faster.

laoisfan · 08-07-2013, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3parkway

Can any of our trains go 125 mph? It would probably mean buying new locomotives for the mk4 cork trains. As far as I know the ICRS were built to go 100, perhaps they can travel faster.

Exactly what I was thinking. Surely it's a combination of the tracks, trains and signalling equipment ?

Tracks - granted they've been laying new sections over the last year or so.

Trains - like you asked, are they good enough to do such speeds.

Signalling Equipment - ??? I presume as long as they don't go on fire

comcor · 08-07-2013, 10:49

AFAIK The MKIV carriages are good to 200kph, but the locomotives are capped at 160kph.

I suppose if the speed limit has been raised, it would be easier to say there would be a fast return on investment on new locomotives.

There are still vast sections of track (e.g. Cork-Mallow) where 160kph isn't possible, so I would assume 2 hours is the best case scenario.

Jamie2k9 · 08-07-2013, 11:10

Apply to who, surly a rail operator doesn't need to apply for speed increases, unless they are going to apply for funding from department of transport to decrease journey times but none of our trains can get to 200km, ICR's can do a little over 160km.

laoisfan · 08-07-2013, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

Apply to who, surly a rail operator doesn't need to apply for speed increases, unless they are going to apply for funding from department of transport to decrease journey times but none of our trains can get to 200km, ICR's can do a little over 160km.

Do they not have to apply to the Department of Transport ?? I don't know.

Jamie2k9 · 08-07-2013, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by laoisfan

Do they not have to apply to the Department of Transport ?? I don't know.

Wouldn't think so, it would be down to the chief engineer at IE but maybe the RSC have a say to but 200km won't happen unless they are able to modify the 201's in some way which I don't see happening.

laoisfan · 08-07-2013, 11:34

I am still unable to find a link to the article I read. It was definately in The Star ( Saturday edition ). Did not see it in any other news paper.

Inniskeen · 08-07-2013, 12:05

Railway Safety Commission might have a role ?

Mark Gleeson · 08-07-2013, 12:14

The RSC would have sign off as a whole different set of engineering rules apply above 165kph

On paper Mk4 stock is the only be design allowed to 200kph. The track relay on the Dublin Cork is/should be 200kph spec

Long held investment plan was for 200kph and this sounds like a putting it out there for funding

Reasonably light 200kph locomotives are now possible.

You might be able to squeeze the ICR to 175kph through an approvals process (like the 110mph Siemens class 350 in the UK) but beyond that it lacks the power to weight ratio for sustained 200kph running

Jamie2k9 · 08-07-2013, 13:52

Don't think I would fancy it trip on a Mark 4 at 200km, at times 160km is very bad ride quality.

Would say that better bogies would be needed, but then again it could be track problems.

Thomas J Stamp · 08-07-2013, 14:56

it really is a question of track. a lot of the kinks (Portarlington, Ballybrophy, Lisduff) have been ironed out. problem is that quite a lot of the midlands is pure bog.

the bit from Ballybrophy - Thurles is on the least boggy part (which is how Templemore ended up with a station as they curved around the very soft bits) but it is still soft. The newer ballast laying machines are a great help, also new type of stronger rail.

till this is sorted you wont be doing 200 in any long burts anytime soon.

dowlingm · 13-07-2013, 02:03

Great, rail fantasies in the paper when KRP2 and similar bottleneck sorting would save more time system-wide.

ACustomer · 13-07-2013, 10:52

It was the Star for God's sake.

'Nuff said.

Jamie2k9 · 13-07-2013, 17:10

It would be good if they increased a few more spots to 90 or 100 running for the next timetable, there is room for further reductions in times even with current speeds across the network apart from Galway route.

08-07-2013, 10:22	#1
laoisfan Regular Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lovely Laois Posts: 100	Irish Rails to apply for increase in speed limit on Intercity services in the autumn Hi I read a small article in The Star on Saturday about Irish Rail applying for speed increases on Intercity services in the autumn e.g. from current 160kph to 200kph. So theoretically Dublin-Cork could be done in 1.5 hrs. Trying to find a link to the article. Anyone on here know of such plans ? Would be good if it does happen. Compete with motorways. Possibly open up more commute options. Last edited by laoisfan : 08-07-2013 at 10:31.

08-07-2013, 12:14	#10
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	The RSC would have sign off as a whole different set of engineering rules apply above 165kph On paper Mk4 stock is the only be design allowed to 200kph. The track relay on the Dublin Cork is/should be 200kph spec Long held investment plan was for 200kph and this sounds like a putting it out there for funding Reasonably light 200kph locomotives are now possible. You might be able to squeeze the ICR to 175kph through an approvals process (like the 110mph Siemens class 350 in the UK) but beyond that it lacks the power to weight ratio for sustained 200kph running __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

08-07-2013, 14:56	#12
Thomas J Stamp Chairman/Publicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Home of Hurling Posts: 2,708	it really is a question of track. a lot of the kinks (Portarlington, Ballybrophy, Lisduff) have been ironed out. problem is that quite a lot of the midlands is pure bog. the bit from Ballybrophy - Thurles is on the least boggy part (which is how Templemore ended up with a station as they curved around the very soft bits) but it is still soft. The newer ballast laying machines are a great help, also new type of stronger rail. till this is sorted you wont be doing 200 in any long burts anytime soon. __________________ We are the passengers

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08-07-2013, 10:39	#2
m3parkway New to the board Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 25	Can any of our trains go 125 mph? It would probably mean buying new locomotives for the mk4 cork trains. As far as I know the ICRS were built to go 100, perhaps they can travel faster.

08-07-2013, 10:49	#4
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	AFAIK The MKIV carriages are good to 200kph, but the locomotives are capped at 160kph. I suppose if the speed limit has been raised, it would be easier to say there would be a fast return on investment on new locomotives. There are still vast sections of track (e.g. Cork-Mallow) where 160kph isn't possible, so I would assume 2 hours is the best case scenario.

08-07-2013, 11:10	#5
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Apply to who, surly a rail operator doesn't need to apply for speed increases, unless they are going to apply for funding from department of transport to decrease journey times but none of our trains can get to 200km, ICR's can do a little over 160km.

08-07-2013, 11:34	#8
laoisfan Regular Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lovely Laois Posts: 100	I am still unable to find a link to the article I read. It was definately in The Star ( Saturday edition ). Did not see it in any other news paper.

08-07-2013, 12:05	#9
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	Railway Safety Commission might have a role ?

08-07-2013, 13:52	#11
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Don't think I would fancy it trip on a Mark 4 at 200km, at times 160km is very bad ride quality. Would say that better bogies would be needed, but then again it could be track problems.

13-07-2013, 02:03	#13
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	Great, rail fantasies in the paper when KRP2 and similar bottleneck sorting would save more time system-wide.

13-07-2013, 10:52	#14
ACustomer Really Regular Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 767	It was the Star for God's sake. 'Nuff said.

13-07-2013, 17:10	#15
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	It would be good if they increased a few more spots to 90 or 100 running for the next timetable, there is room for further reductions in times even with current speeds across the network apart from Galway route.