[09/02/16] Longford commuter breakdown

James Howard · 09-02-2016, 08:11

Right cock-up on the Sligo line this morning. The 0615 from Longford appears to have broken down just after Edgeworthstown blocking the line. Very confused information from Irish Rail.

Plan A was to use the 0545 from Sligo but the 0615 was immovable. Plan B was bus transfers but any idiot knows there are no buses to be got at this hour of the morning. I gave up when this was announced. Currently Plan C is plan A - currently announced ETA Dublin is 10:30.

I've got two colleagues waiting in Mullingar at this stage. A 1:30 hour journey extended to more than 4 hours for one of them. You could do it by bicycle in less.

James Howard · 09-02-2016, 08:34

45 minutes after they announced no buses in Mullingar, there is still no update on Twitter aside from a comment from a passenger. Really seriously pathetic response.

Thomas J Stamp · 09-02-2016, 10:47

the twitter account is operated from a person in the control room so there is no excuse for no updates. of course there are no busses as they are probably out doing school runs. i assume that they have a dedicated contact list, although i've never seen this substitute bus service contract being advertised.

Mark Gleeson · 09-02-2016, 11:35

There have been tenders for a list of both bus and hotel providers, thats more for planned engineering works though

This morning was classic Irish Rail

Few points
1. If your journey is no longer necessary as a result of the delay, you are entitled without question in EU law to be returned to your point of origin and get a full refund in cash

2. Monthly/season ticket holders are entitled to compensation for poor performance http://www.railusers.ie/news/news.ph...2015&no=1.html

James Howard · 09-02-2016, 11:39

Well I was basically told to bugger off when I suggested this back during the flood delays. I did about 4 extra days from home during that time.

To be honest, this winter has been so bad that I'm making serious efforts to get out of commuting. I've been doing it for too long anyway and I can no longer put up with the 3 months of the year with pretty much every train being 10 minutes late. When you combine this with the proposed timetable in April, it basically puts Edgeworthstown out of reach of a daily commuter - or at least of a daily commuter who wants to remain sane.

Mark Gleeson · 09-02-2016, 11:45

If you have been refused a refund please appeal to the NTA https://www.nationaltransport.ie/con...ssenger-right/

Irish Rail will refuse to provide details of the compensation scheme required by EU law and fob you off if you persist you might get a voucher but thats pretty pointless to annual ticket holders

EU courts have ruled Force Majeure is not a valid excuse so flood or no flood it is Irish Rail's problem

James Howard · 09-02-2016, 18:46

Technically I wasn't refused as I only asked on Twitter and really can't be bothered with making a federal case over a 5 euro voucher. Life really is too short even if it does let them away with it. 2 years ago I probably would have, but at this stage I'm not really bothered as I want shot of the whole sorry mess. It's not 5 euro vouchers we need - it's proper operation of the railway that's the problem.

Why is it that since the flooding cleared up that the 0545 is randomly 10 minutes late twice a week at Edgeworthstown? I guarantee you that Irish Rail management don't even know this and even if they did they wouldn't care. The only logical explanation is that one driver isn't bothered to try to make up time if he gets behind. Ironically enough the only time the trains have run to schedule since last November has been during the second flooding episode when even the 1905 was on time.

Yet Irish Rail probably don't even see there being a punctuality problem because the vast majority of it is sub 10 minutes. The 1905 probably makes this up by the time it gets to Sligo and it's only terminating stations that matter even if there are only 2 passengers on the train at the terminus.

Rant over - that feels a bit better.

09-02-2016, 08:11	#1
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	[09/02/16] Longford commuter breakdown Right cock-up on the Sligo line this morning. The 0615 from Longford appears to have broken down just after Edgeworthstown blocking the line. Very confused information from Irish Rail. Plan A was to use the 0545 from Sligo but the 0615 was immovable. Plan B was bus transfers but any idiot knows there are no buses to be got at this hour of the morning. I gave up when this was announced. Currently Plan C is plan A - currently announced ETA Dublin is 10:30. I've got two colleagues waiting in Mullingar at this stage. A 1:30 hour journey extended to more than 4 hours for one of them. You could do it by bicycle in less.

09-02-2016, 10:47	#3
Thomas J Stamp Chairman/Publicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Home of Hurling Posts: 2,708	the twitter account is operated from a person in the control room so there is no excuse for no updates. of course there are no busses as they are probably out doing school runs. i assume that they have a dedicated contact list, although i've never seen this substitute bus service contract being advertised. __________________ We are the passengers

09-02-2016, 11:35	#4
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	There have been tenders for a list of both bus and hotel providers, thats more for planned engineering works though This morning was classic Irish Rail Few points 1. If your journey is no longer necessary as a result of the delay, you are entitled without question in EU law to be returned to your point of origin and get a full refund in cash 2. Monthly/season ticket holders are entitled to compensation for poor performance http://www.railusers.ie/news/news.ph...2015&no=1.html __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

09-02-2016, 11:45	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	If you have been refused a refund please appeal to the NTA https://www.nationaltransport.ie/con...ssenger-right/ Irish Rail will refuse to provide details of the compensation scheme required by EU law and fob you off if you persist you might get a voucher but thats pretty pointless to annual ticket holders EU courts have ruled Force Majeure is not a valid excuse so flood or no flood it is Irish Rail's problem __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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09-02-2016, 08:34	#2
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	45 minutes after they announced no buses in Mullingar, there is still no update on Twitter aside from a comment from a passenger. Really seriously pathetic response.

09-02-2016, 11:39	#5
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	Well I was basically told to bugger off when I suggested this back during the flood delays. I did about 4 extra days from home during that time. To be honest, this winter has been so bad that I'm making serious efforts to get out of commuting. I've been doing it for too long anyway and I can no longer put up with the 3 months of the year with pretty much every train being 10 minutes late. When you combine this with the proposed timetable in April, it basically puts Edgeworthstown out of reach of a daily commuter - or at least of a daily commuter who wants to remain sane.

09-02-2016, 18:46	#7
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	Technically I wasn't refused as I only asked on Twitter and really can't be bothered with making a federal case over a 5 euro voucher. Life really is too short even if it does let them away with it. 2 years ago I probably would have, but at this stage I'm not really bothered as I want shot of the whole sorry mess. It's not 5 euro vouchers we need - it's proper operation of the railway that's the problem. Why is it that since the flooding cleared up that the 0545 is randomly 10 minutes late twice a week at Edgeworthstown? I guarantee you that Irish Rail management don't even know this and even if they did they wouldn't care. The only logical explanation is that one driver isn't bothered to try to make up time if he gets behind. Ironically enough the only time the trains have run to schedule since last November has been during the second flooding episode when even the 1905 was on time. Yet Irish Rail probably don't even see there being a punctuality problem because the vast majority of it is sub 10 minutes. The 1905 probably makes this up by the time it gets to Sligo and it's only terminating stations that matter even if there are only 2 passengers on the train at the terminus. Rant over - that feels a bit better.