[01/10/2012 - mechanical failure(s) between Newry and Dundalk AM

longword · 01-10-2012, 21:35

The truth, as ever, was a little more nuanced.

Apparently because the 07:00 Dundalk to Connolly didn't leave Dundalk anywhere near that time, the realtime information system just assumed it was running to schedule. I'm guessing it never "entered the system". For each station along the way the web site was reporting that train as running on time, due in X minutes, counting down as you expect. Standing at Laytown, the PIS displayed a hopeful "Connolly 5 minutes" for a good half hour before it changed to "Connolly Delayed".

The train itself did eventually make an appearance around 08:15, served all its usual stations plus Gormanston, and arrived in Connolly at 09:10 or so. There were no platform announcements except one from the local staff just before the out-of-sequence Connolly train arrived. There was a tweet, but it was long after it could have been useful.

The earlier 07:12 Drogheda to Bray departed Laytown 10 minutes behind schedule. I don't know if that was an unrelated issue or a deliberate coping mechanism to mop up some portion of the passengers for the missing train. The 06:45 service from Newry was delayed, but managed to pass the stricken 07:00 Dundalk train and ran ahead of it. The 08:00 from Drogheda ran behind; I'd guess that was delayed 10-15 minutes.

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01-10-2012, 21:35	#4
longword Regular Poster Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 33	The truth, as ever, was a little more nuanced. Apparently because the 07:00 Dundalk to Connolly didn't leave Dundalk anywhere near that time, the realtime information system just assumed it was running to schedule. I'm guessing it never "entered the system". For each station along the way the web site was reporting that train as running on time, due in X minutes, counting down as you expect. Standing at Laytown, the PIS displayed a hopeful "Connolly 5 minutes" for a good half hour before it changed to "Connolly Delayed". The train itself did eventually make an appearance around 08:15, served all its usual stations plus Gormanston, and arrived in Connolly at 09:10 or so. There were no platform announcements except one from the local staff just before the out-of-sequence Connolly train arrived. There was a tweet, but it was long after it could have been useful. The earlier 07:12 Drogheda to Bray departed Laytown 10 minutes behind schedule. I don't know if that was an unrelated issue or a deliberate coping mechanism to mop up some portion of the passengers for the missing train. The 06:45 service from Newry was delayed, but managed to pass the stricken 07:00 Dundalk train and ran ahead of it. The 08:00 from Drogheda ran behind; I'd guess that was delayed 10-15 minutes.