[article] Numbers using re-opened western rail link still low

[Thomas Ralph]

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/numbe...ow-170341.html

[comcor]

What's that? About 27/28 per train?

That's the kind of numbers that got Waterford-Rosslare closed. And they were getting thos numbers without 100 million invested in the line.

The problem is that either the line gets faster or nobody will use it. But then there's no money to make it faster.

More cost effectively, continuing through to Waterford without a change and providing proper connections to Cork may help numbers a bit.

[Thomas Ralph]

More or less. It was codology reopening the line in the first place.

[Inniskeen]

Wanderly wagon style operations using substandard railcars will not generate business. The WRC is a more extreme case of the issues facing so much of the Irish Rail network.

[sublimity]

Throw a loco on the line and that will increase the numbers

[ACustomer]

3000 passenger per month is about 10 per train, and even the July-August peak is just 15 per train. And to think they are going to sink more money into a station at Crusheen!

I was on the WRC last month, joining a train a Athenry at about mid-day. There were about 10 people on the train arriving in Athenry and about 6 leaving Athenry. By the time we got to Ennis I think there were 4 of us. From Ennis to Limerick there must have been over 50.

A total vindication of IE's earlier views about the viability of Ennis-Limerick compared with the nonsense project that was Ennis-Athenry.

[James Howard]

I think the point about substandard railcars is perfectly valid. With the exception of the 22Ks, I find a coach (as in bus) to be more comfortable than any of Irish Rail's railcars.

Why would anybody in their right mind take a train when the bus is half an hour faster, more comfortable, quieter and probably cheaper than the train and you are going to have to change at either end anyway if you are going onwards?

It would be interesting to know what percentage of the passengers are paying on this service.

[on the move]

Originally Posted by comcor

What's that? About 27/28 per train?

That's the kind of numbers that got Waterford-Rosslare closed. And they were getting thos numbers without 100 million invested in the line.

The problem is that either the line gets faster or nobody will use it. But then there's no money to make it faster.

More cost effectively, continuing through to Waterford without a change and providing proper connections to Cork may help numbers a bit.

Most if not all rail services in this country are not profitable. But the country still needs to have a rail service. People still have to get around the country, and buses aren't always reliable or accessible.

Everyone says there's no money around, but there is. 20 million Euro e.g. was found to police the country while foreign heads of state visited earlier this year. I can think of far better uses for that 20 million to be spent, including on railway infrastructure.

[James Howard]

I would take some issue with the comment "The country needs a rail service" as what the country needs is a fast, reliable, safe and comfortable public transport system. If the most effective way of providing this is with a rail service then so be it. As I sit here in Enfield thanks to the Maynooth - Clonsilla signalling system giving up yet again, I might take issue with reliable.

There is one key difference between the WRC and Rosslare - Waterford in that the operating costs are much lower as the WRC line has considerably more level crossing and signal automation. So it is probably reasonably safe for the moment.

[Mark Gleeson]

The net loss per annum on the WRC is greater than what Rosslare Waterford 2.5 vs 2.1 million

[markpb]

Originally Posted by on the move

People still have to get around the country, and buses aren't always reliable or accessible.

There's nowhere in the country that a bus service can't reach but there are vast tracts that are no-where near a rail service. Which one is more accessible?

[ACustomer]

There are stations planned for Oranmore and Crusheen. The former might be warranted, but given the levels of custom at places such as Ardrahan, Gort and Craughwell, spending good money on Crusheen would be complete madness? Do they have the courage to say "no" to this one?

[comcor]

Oranmore fair enough. It's a sizable town and has the added benefit of being between Athenry and Galway, so easier to serve.

But the support for Crusheen is scandalous.

If it gets a station before a large town like Blarney or a densely populated suburb like Blackpool, there should be war.

[on the move]

Originally Posted by markpb

There's nowhere in the country that a bus service can't reach but there are vast tracts that are no-where near a rail service. Which one is more accessible?

There may be nowhere that a bus service can't reach, but there are many places that bus services ignore.

We're not Malta or Cyprus, we need to have a rail service. Dublin's buses would be full to bursting if it wasn't for the Luas, and at rush hours, the Luas/DART runs through the city while the bus sits in the traffic. The same can be said for the rail network throughout the country.

[markpb]

Originally Posted by on the move

There may be nowhere that a bus service can't reach, but there are many places that bus services ignore.

Do they ignore those places because they have a decent rail service? You said buses weren't accessible - show me some place in Ireland that buses can't access?