[3-2-2006] Morning chaos on Kildare line

[Mark Gleeson]

Someone was struck by a train at Cherry Orchard at 5.20am this morning which has caused chaos.

The line reopened at 7:30, however Irish Rail for unknown reasons store the entire fleet of trains required for Kildare, Port Laoise and Athy in Inchicore thus requiring them to run empty from Inchicore each morning, if the trains where stored in Port Laoise disruption would be significantly less

Best guess is the empty service to Carlow or possibly Port Laoise was involved. Things are not helped by the Newbridge turnback platform being out of use. No sign of anyone at 11pm last night to fix it either

The trains cancelled are as follows (as reported by Ireland.com no info available from Irish Rail website)
6:15 Heuston to Portlaoise
6:30 Carlow to Heuston (the train that was involved while en route from Inchicore ??)
6:35 Heuston to Newbridge
6:45 Kildare to Heuston
7:15 Portlaoise to Heuston
7:30 Newbridge to Heuston
7:24 Kildare to Heuston
7:41 Portlaoise to Heuston (return of 6:15)

The morning Athlone train is stored in Athlone so it ran as did the 5:30am ex Cork which should not have been delayed
The morning services to Cork/Limerick and Galway also badly effected