Missing Carriages

[Mark Gleeson]

The coaches haven't been pinched, its true on a Friday up until 2003 that a train was borrowed to run to Tralee but that is no more. If they had been pinched someone would have reported in a weird train somewhere else, and anyway you wouldn't pinch the coaches on the Monday.

What has happened is the required number of coaches exceeds the number of serviceable coaches. The timetable was planned assuming 28 out of the 29 4 coach sets, 9 of the 10 2 coach 2800 type and 8 of 10 2600 type (the 7:18) basically 95% of the fleet is needed in service at rush hour. Elsewhere in Europe 85-90% would be the norm. Effectively there is no maintenance cover thats not a good idea but normally ok since the fleet is also the most reliable in Europe.

So we find ourselves in a strange position, where every train that is available is in service and we can assign no blame to the maintenance guys who are pushing the limit well beyond expectations. The blame lies at management level for creating this situation by adopting a marketing and image approach instead of a service focus

Solutions are
1. Downgrade the Docklands Clonsilla service from 4 to 2 coaches, would still carry the current loads with plently of space. Planning conditions may block this
2. Reinstate a further slam door train to run the morning Gorey Sligo and return. Heuston has at least 2 such trains spare during the week. Not good for image but the old train is more comfortable and just as reliable

Both release 4 coaches which would fill the maintenance gap

The key to public transport is reliability, it needs to show up on time, get there on time and be the same length everyday. Old or new passengers don't actually care once its reliable

As always seems to be way, seems we need to send a man out. So if you see a guy with a black leather folder and a camera in Rush & Lusk or Donabate tomorrow it most likely is me

[Terrontress]

I will say hello if I see you.

[Aphfaneire]

Ill stay awake for that one

I was on it again this morning and noticed 1 set of 2600's pulling out of the yard as i crossed the bridge around 0714. I went further back in the train this time to more seats. But when i woke briefly at a delay in rush & lusk a lot of people where concerned about the large quantities of smoke comming from the forward part of the carriages engine. Almost undeneath where i was and it was bellowing out onto the platform and comming in the door. It smelt awfula and didnt smell healthy for an engine, let alone the overcrowded passengers.

[Rashers]

I rang the Northern Suburban line office again (Does it surprise you that I had to get the no. off the platform 11 website, as the IE one is wrong).
They claim this by now infamous service, was short yesterday due to door failures. They advised there was definetly no issue that would effect it for the entire week.
There was complete surprise when I advised there were no announcements about the delays following on from this service. 'No, that could not be correct.'
So I asked the gentleman had he ever actually travelled on the Northern suburban line. I was greeted with silence...I advised him to talk to anyone who uses that line to find out exactly how bad the lack of announcements were. He also assured me the PA systems were checked on a regular basis.
To be fair, he constantly apologised.
However, I just want the truth and an improvement in passenger information...

[Mark Gleeson]

Well you will find it interesting that IE claim they had no service effecting door fault on the 2600 units from service entry in 1994 and 2000. Sounds impossible

Its just a door it should be simple

Will be in Donabate early tomorrow, with camera, knowing IE it will be fixed when I get there

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Will be in Donabate early tomorrow, with camera, knowing IE it will be fixed when I get there

Guess what, there where 8 coaches this morning and it was quite comfortable on board and reasonably on time

PA was broken though in 2603, it was working but the volume was very low

[Aphfaneire]

They must fear you or something. But anyway it was service as usual, except for a loud added sound from the engine that i couldnt place. It sounded like a gear shaft or something grinding with a screech constantly, but i could have been hearing things. I know i wasnt hearing anything from my discman, stupid things broken

[ThomasJ]

I only got a glimpse was passing tara street bridge at six o clock and it looks like its a six car 2600 tonight

[Terrontress]

Yip. A six-car again this morning. Again, it was very busy and it is as well that the schools are off.

Could this be done on purpose in relation to reduced demand during the school holidays, although the resulting situation is still drastically overcrowded.

If the schools were on and six-cars were in operation, the system would not be able to cope.

How many passengers does a two-car set hold?

[Mark Gleeson]

Timetable says 8 coaches Monday Friday all year. 2 coaches, 2600 type full load is about 300

I do know the train set involved failed at Portmarnock on Monday afternoon. I checked back through the roster and surprise surprise its the same train.

We can now officially state that the train which starts the day as the 7:18 to Bray and finises as the 21:15 to Drogheda is the least reliable train anywhere on the network its about 25 times more likely to suffer a delay than any other in Dublin

[ThomasJ]

The train that originally arrived for tonights 18.17 service was a 4-car 29k set but because the driver was unable to open the doors were unable to open the train was forced to retreat back to pearse table. The 8-car 2600 set arriving few minutes later. Resulting in leaving about ten minutes late

[Colm Donoghue]

The fact the train 29112 stopped past the end of the platfrom may have contributed to the doors not opening but as the fine staff at Irish rail didn't bother to tell anyone anything, we'll never know for sure.

And it's the 18:15 service.
Was still ten minutes late getting into Rush and Lusk.
No apology for the delay given by the driver or any Irish Rail staff.

[ThomasJ]

Sorry i am a bit patchy when it comes to times. Any idea was there something up with the usual set it was sitting on platform two when the four car set arrived on the platform,