Troubled times ahead on the Belfast line

[Colm Moore]

Is it possible they got an exemption?

PQ? PR?

[Mark Gleeson]

That would make IE the only operator ever to get a TPWS one

Even steam engines now need AWS/TPWS and the blackbox, all 29k, 201 class and the silver 071 class have blackboxes

[CSL]

Haud on a moment.

So we have 6 201s with TPWS and AWS; and the DD sets have central door locking ?

Are the DD sets failing again or what ?

so all we need is a stand-in if a DD+TPWS 201 fails , is that correct ?

[Mark Gleeson]

Yes but they isn't any suitable stand in on the Dublin side

The reason the failures have increased is for over 3 years IE rotated the Enterprise locomotives around to avoid them working more than 3 days or so on Enterprise in a row, that reduced failures by a factor or 4

There was a pool of 23 locomotives to choose from, that pool is now only 6

[Derek Wheeler]

Well the 13.20 ex Dublin failed before departure today (brakes) and was replaced by a 29000. It departed at 14.20. No refund forms handed out and they charged for tea and coffee.

I wonder what happened in Dundalk?

[plant43]

Looks like they are asking for new trains

Last Updated: 22/01/2008 15:05
Ministers may buy Dublin/Belfast trains


Ministers on both sides of the Border are considering whether they should buy new trains for the Belfast to Dublin railway line.

Stormont MLAs were told Translink and Iarnród Éireann have asked for money to replace existing stock.

The North's Transport Minister Conor Murphy revealed they also want to expand their fleet on the busy cross-Border Enterprise service as part of plans to increase its frequency and reduce journey times.

The governments are pressing to reduce the journey times between both cities from two hours five minutes to one hours 40 minutes.

Mr Murphy confirmed both companies were preparing a business case for the renewed investment to be considered as early as May.

"It has been accepted and proven that where we have made investments in public transport - in railways, in the tracks and the rolling stock- that it has improved the service and has also improved the uptake of the service and passenger numbers have increased," he said.

Mr Murphy said the governments were approached about money for the new fleet at last month's meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Transport Sector in Trim. Co Meath.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster held talks with operators about improving the Enterprise service.

"In the longer term interests, on environmental issues - in reducing our carbon footprint - we want to attract more and more passengers onto public transport - onto railway," Mr Murphy told the Assembly. "So I think we will continue to make the case for investment."

The Newry And Armagh MP said the business case for the new trains could be ready by the next NSMC Transport meeting in May.
© 2008 ireland.com

[Mark Gleeson]

This further strenghtens the information posted in the members area of what is truely going on, on the Belfast line. Potentially you could be seeing new trains on the Belfast line within the next 2 years at most. But this article relates to 125mph running

NIR currently tendering for stock and they are specifying for cross border. IE and NIR previously failed to agree to the lease of a fleet of 8 coach 125mph diesel railcars from the UK which where lying idle. NIR can't lease trains and had no cash so the project died.

Not going to do much to solve the current day to day situation which can only get worse with time