Numerous delays and breakdowns during first week of August

[Mark Gleeson]

Bad enough that 4 trains are day are cancelled already between Mallow and Milstreet, but then this

Originally Posted by 6th Aug

The 06.15hrs Cork to Tralee service was delayed 58 minutes while the train waited for line clearance. This delay was caused by a signal fault between Killarney, Rathmore and Millstreet.

Originally Posted by 5th Aug

The 13.25hrs Mallow to Tralee service was delayed 70 minutes due to a D.M.U. failure near Rathass level crossing. Passengers were evacuated at Rathass level crossing and bused to Tralee.

Originally Posted by 4th Aug

The 09.15hrs Tralee to Mallow service was delayed 54 minutes due to points trouble at Banteer Station.
The 08.15hrs Tralee to Mallow service was delayed 81 minutes due to points trouble at Banteer Station.

[on the move]

Went Heuston - Killarney return for the first time last week, taking advantage of the special offer. Of course that means using Dublin-Cork as well. The passengers weren't allowed to board until 3 minutes before departure, and as it departed, we were informed by the on carriage intercom we were using a broken train and would have to get out at the first stop (in Ballybrophy). Apparantly, a door was out of order. This seemed strange as why would that stop a train running? And are there Inter-City trains based in Ballybrophy, that can replace vehicles?

In all my rail travel around Europe, I've never seen a commuter stop such as in Killarney. It includes a terminus for a service that doesn't terminate. In order to continue it's journey, it has to reverse twice out of it, in order to go up a hill on to Tralee, and down again in order to pick up in Killarney on the way back.

[PLUMB LOCO]

Originally Posted by on the move

Went Heuston - Killarney return for the first time last week, taking advantage of the special offer. Of course that means using Dublin-Cork as well. The passengers weren't allowed to board until 3 minutes before departure, and as it departed, we were informed by the on carriage intercom we were using a broken train and would have to get out at the first stop (in Ballybrophy). Apparantly, a door was out of order. This seemed strange as why would that stop a train running? And are there Inter-City trains based in Ballybrophy, that can replace vehicles?

In all my rail travel around Europe, I've never seen a commuter stop such as in Killarney. It includes a terminus for a service that doesn't terminate. In order to continue it's journey, it has to reverse twice out of it, in order to go up a hill on to Tralee, and down again in order to pick up in Killarney on the way back.

Perhaps you could answer your own first question - what train was waiting for you in Ballybrophy?

Killarney is not a commuter stop - even in CIE/IE parlance - and it originally was terminus for the line when it was constructed. Why do you have such a problem with the method of operation - how did it inconvenience you any more than any other aspect of the journey?

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by PLUMB LOCO

Why do you have such a problem with the method of operation - how did it inconvenience you any more than any other aspect of the journey?

It presumably takes extra time for the shunting operation. And you have to admit it is unconventional.

[Thomas Ralph]

It does, but it's a lot less bad since the mk3s stopped running the line.

[Jferb]

Well at least for loco-driven trains, the driver doesn't have to walk from one end of the train to the other end - which does look faintly ridiculous...