Limerick train users get fecked over in new timetable

[TomB]

I've posted something in the members section of this board explaining how you can find out what services will be in the new timetable. So if you're not a member, join up and get the scoop on what the timetable will look like next year.

But anyway that's an aside. This is a whinge about Limerick train services, which can be best describe by the following:

Old timetable:
Services a day: 10
Average journey time: 2 hours 20 minutes

New timetable
Services a day: 7*
Average journey time: 2 hours 24 minutes

*I've deliberately left out any journey taking more than three hours, as that's just an insane amount of time to spend in Limerick Junction

It's complete and utter ****e. No train that will get you in for a meeting in Limerick before noon. No decent service that will get you home after 6:00 in the evening from Heuston.

Cork may be getting their hourly service, and this is to be welcomed, but a new Limerick service with an average of SIX stops and no option of changing at the junction off a fast Cork train means that Limerick passengers are getting completely shagged over with the new timetable.

[Mark Gleeson]

Until you see the IE timetable printed what is online currently is not reliable, its not on the IE site for a start

For instance there is no 7 or 8 am to Cork online currently but they exist, no trains to Maynooth beyond 19:05 etc, the 7:25 to Limerick is missing, the connections are not to be relied on the 8:46 Limerick Junc to Limerick is a connection off the 7am ex Dublin so you can make Limerick by 9:15am in 2:15 but you won't find that online

Dublin Limerick
Direct 2006 : 4 time approx 2:35 except the 17:05 fast
Direct 2007 : 6 (possibly also 7:25am) time 2:23-2:30

And its Mk3 coaches with decent heating, more seats and first on all services from 2007 which is a considerable improvement. Its give and take and given the slow down generally Limerick is one of the few routes to show reductions in journey times on direct services

[TomB]

As you say it's maybe pointless making predictions until the new timetables come out.

But I still think six stops is excessive, and it's a route that badly needs to compete properly with the car.

[Jister]

Originally Posted by Thomas Bibby

But I still think six stops is excessive, and it's a route that badly needs to compete properly with the car.

Especially when Limerick-Nenagh will be motorway in about 18 months and Nenagh-Portlaoise will be done in about 30 months.

[Mark Gleeson]

Most of the direct trains have 5 or 6 stops in the 2006 timetable, in the 2007 one the journey times on those have reduced by at least 5 minutes, where on most other routes journey times increased by 5 minutes

We will have to wait and see

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Jister

Especially when Limerick-Nenagh will be motorway in about 18 months

Sooner than that, a lot of work is being done on it and the signs for the new additon to the Nenagh bypass went up yesterday.