19:05 persistently delayed every time I take it

James Howard · 09-12-2013, 20:26

Since they changed the 18:05 to commuter cars, I've been forced to adopt a leave late on Monday, early on Tuesday strategy. However, I find that every time I take the 19:05 it is at least 10 minutes late in Edgeworthstown.

We usually spent 15 minutes waiting at Killucan for the 1800 up train despite the run to Mullingar taking only 10 minutes.

Is this just Mondays or does the same happen every day? It is depressing enough to be forced by Irish Rail to get home at 9PM just to get a comfortable trip but it is worse when you are persistently delayed by 10 or 15 minutes.

Inniskeen · 09-12-2013, 22:39

I suspect this issue may be due to the 1800 from Sligo being delayed at Longford to facilitate the shunting of the 1715 from Connolly into the former goods yard at Longford for over-night storage. The connections to the yard at the Sligo end of the station may be no longer operational/removed ?

Jamie2k9 · 10-12-2013, 01:33

Quote:

I suspect this issue may be due to the 1800 from Sligo being delayed at Longford to facilitate the shunting of the 1715 from Connolly into the former goods yard at Longford for over-night storage. The connections to the yard at the Sligo end of the station may be no longer operational/removed ?

If this is the cause of the delay, why does the 17.15 need to be shunted, could it not just remain on the platform (assume 2 platforms at Longford), don't think any trains cross there after that, I can't see a reason to move the train.

James Howard · 10-12-2013, 07:28

There are two platforms at Longford but I don't think that this is the source of the delay as the 1800 is usually at Edgeworthstown by the time the 1805 down train gets there.

I think it is just poor timetable design. The up-train has to cross with the 1805 at Edgeworthstown but the crossing delay is build into the up-train's timetable - it has 19 minutes to get from Longford to Edgeworthstown. So basically is the 1805 runs late at all, that delay gets added to the 1800.

The real problem is that there is 24 minutes between the up-train leaving Mullingar and the down-train doing the same but it is about a 10 minute run which is very tight for Irish Rail to manage.

berneyarms · 10-12-2013, 10:08

James - this is only a recent development.

The 17:15 now has to shunt into the Longford/Edgeworthstown section before entering the yard, hence the 18:00 is now delayed in Longford until that is completed. In theory it should then reach Edgeworthstown to cross with the 18:05 on time. However, the shunt may be taking slightly longer than they reckoned, and as a result there are knock-on delays to both the 18:05 and 19:05.

As to the question why the 17:15 has to be shunted into the yard, well the 19:05 passes the 18:05 at Longford - so it would be a bit difficult to do that with the 17:15 still in the platform.

Inniskeen · 10-12-2013, 12:04

Berneyarms - am I correct then in assumming that sets cannot enter/exit the yard at Longford from the Sligo end ?

09-12-2013, 20:26	#1
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	19:05 persistently delayed every time I take it Since they changed the 18:05 to commuter cars, I've been forced to adopt a leave late on Monday, early on Tuesday strategy. However, I find that every time I take the 19:05 it is at least 10 minutes late in Edgeworthstown. We usually spent 15 minutes waiting at Killucan for the 1800 up train despite the run to Mullingar taking only 10 minutes. Is this just Mondays or does the same happen every day? It is depressing enough to be forced by Irish Rail to get home at 9PM just to get a comfortable trip but it is worse when you are persistently delayed by 10 or 15 minutes.

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09-12-2013, 22:39	#2
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	I suspect this issue may be due to the 1800 from Sligo being delayed at Longford to facilitate the shunting of the 1715 from Connolly into the former goods yard at Longford for over-night storage. The connections to the yard at the Sligo end of the station may be no longer operational/removed ?

10-12-2013, 07:28	#4
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	There are two platforms at Longford but I don't think that this is the source of the delay as the 1800 is usually at Edgeworthstown by the time the 1805 down train gets there. I think it is just poor timetable design. The up-train has to cross with the 1805 at Edgeworthstown but the crossing delay is build into the up-train's timetable - it has 19 minutes to get from Longford to Edgeworthstown. So basically is the 1805 runs late at all, that delay gets added to the 1800. The real problem is that there is 24 minutes between the up-train leaving Mullingar and the down-train doing the same but it is about a 10 minute run which is very tight for Irish Rail to manage.

10-12-2013, 10:08	#5
berneyarms Really Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 602	James - this is only a recent development. The 17:15 now has to shunt into the Longford/Edgeworthstown section before entering the yard, hence the 18:00 is now delayed in Longford until that is completed. In theory it should then reach Edgeworthstown to cross with the 18:05 on time. However, the shunt may be taking slightly longer than they reckoned, and as a result there are knock-on delays to both the 18:05 and 19:05. As to the question why the 17:15 has to be shunted into the yard, well the 19:05 passes the 18:05 at Longford - so it would be a bit difficult to do that with the 17:15 still in the platform.

10-12-2013, 12:04	#6
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	Berneyarms - am I correct then in assumming that sets cannot enter/exit the yard at Longford from the Sligo end ?