[11-11-2007] 17:05 Dublin Sligo

[Mark Gleeson]

Sligo services: delays by Corporate Communications

11th November 2007 - 20.30hrs

Due to an engine fault on the 17.05hrs Connolly to Sligo service at Killucan, there are significant delays to all services on the Dublin-Sligo line at present.

Customers are advised that where delays exceed 60 minutes, customers are eligible for refund vouchers. Please download this form to claim vouchers, which should be returned with your ticket to the address shown.

Iarnród Éireann apologises to customers for the inconvenience caused.

Was a 071 + Mk2d sets

Train spent the day in Pearse so no change of getting the once over inspection to catch the fault

Train only left Pearse at 4:59 so it was late before it started

[Mickey H]

Over 300 stranded as train breaks down
Sunday, 11 November 2007 20:56
More than 300 people have been stranded near Killucan, Co Westmeath this evening after engine failure on the Dublin to Sligo train.

Passengers on the 5.05pm service from Connolly station say the train broke down shortly after 6.30pm near Killucan, where it has also blocked a local roadway.

A number of passengers contacted RTÉ to complain about the lack of catering and support services for a large number of elderly passengers on the train.

AdvertisementIt is understood a number of people have left the train at this stage and walked more than a mile to local premises in search of hot food.

A train engine has arrived at the stalled train to transport passengers from Killucan.

Iarnród Éireann have said that passengers would be on their way to Sligo within half an hour.

I travelled on this train twice over the weekend (loco 073 and 8 mk2) and it was performing well on both occaisions, obviously something went wrong after today's 0855 from Sligo

[KSW]

Arriving at midnight and left Connolly at 17:05 wow thats 7hrs. Feel sorry for passengers but what can you do!

[Mark Gleeson]

The important thing to take from this is not the obvious fact that the train is meant to be on the scrapheap but the total failure to deal with the failure in a efficient and professional manner

No matter what age a train it will break down and leave you stranded, the Mk4's have done it, the unbreakable railcars, break remember the 2800 set spent 10 hours in Dun Laoghaire only a week ago, age has nothing to do with it

Clearly no information provided and no initiative taken in dealing with the situation. Obvious issue is feeding 300 odd people, train is sitting at a level crossing

11850 need a takeway in Westmeath near Killucan which delivers?

[Mark Gleeson]

Some investigation shows

17:05 is due to stop Killucan at 17:55 to depart at 17:59:30

The rescue locomotive left Connolly sometime after 19:15, the RTE report says 18:30 as the time of breakdown so the 17:05 was in trouble anyway so it took over 45 minutes to dispatch rescue and some genius allowed a railcar to get out ahead as well further delaying matters

Of course its not impossible for 29k to drag a locomotive hauled set, just it would have to be air braked which the Mk2 is not. Up north railcars have rescued locomotive hauled set

[Mickey H]

"Up north railcars have rescued locomotive hauled set"

An 80 class railcar has rescued a failed locomotive hauled train in the past but can only move it to the nearest station at reduced speed as the brake systems on the railcars and locomotives/coaches are only partially compatable.

A 450 class railcar cannot be coupled to a locomotive hauled train. A C3K can but it apparently takes an hour

[Mickey H]

Apologies if this has already been discussed but why not use a MK3 set on the Sligo line in place of the MK2 which would be a temporary improvement?

[Mark Gleeson]

Well some genius in IE in full knowledge of the failure let the 19:05 Dublin Sligo out ahead of the rescue locomotive making a bad situation even worse

Not being the trainspotter about it but a 450 has dragged a train behind it, scary but it works. The boys in NIR seem gifted with lateral thinking when it comes to solving problems, IE just can't sort themselves out

All the modern red tape means the old fashioned get things moving by any means has disappeared.

[KSW]

Because some Sligo councillor thought this was a down standard therefore say no. It wouldnt be fair to Rosslare users they would be complaining Myself included(haha) The Mk3 trains would have given both lines that InterCity feeling rather than the 29000 Commuter Railcars. Its obvious to me that the Sligo councillor doesnt use the rail service to Dublin

[John J]

This was covered in the news but I can't see any posts here congratulating IE on their latest achievements on the Sligo line - so just thought I'd take up the mantle.

Apparantly the 17.05 ex Connolly broke down in Westmeath on Sunday night. Catering services were non-existent as usual, and some passengers left the train, walking over a mile in the dark to get hot food.
Train was scheduled to arrive in Sligo at 20.10 but got there well after 22.00.

Presumably the 19.05 ex Connolly and the trains coming from Sligo also experienced delays of many hours.

[Mark Gleeson]

http://forum.platform11.org/showthread.php?t=3277