19:05 Connolly - Sligo

[constellation]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The 18:22 Pearse Maynooth terminates in platform 2 in Maynooth so everyone has to cross the footbridge, platform 2 is not accessible (accessiblity -1)

Just a minor point and it is over a year since I was last in Maynooth. I do remember a "press button for assistance" next to a gate that could be opened remotely on platform 2. It is awkward for someone getting on a train at platform 2 unless you know in advance that your train is leaving from platform 2 (no guarantees from IE, of course). However, it is possible to get out if you are exiting from a train on platform 2. I s'pose it depends on the definition of accessibility.

[Mark Gleeson]

But if you just got off the 17:00 from Sligo and want to get to platform 2 its one hell of trip

I wouldn't define Maynooth to be accessible

[constellation]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

I wouldn't define Maynooth to be accessible

Maynooth is an odd station. I don't know why they didn't go the whole hog and include lifts when they built the new station. I wonder if IE can point to the current setup and claim to be following the letter of the law (as opposed to the spirit of the law)?

[Mark Gleeson]

Section M, which defines the rules is dated 2000

Irish Rail's track record in this area has been nothing short of appalling, station accessibilty seems to be a pick and mix with Irish Rail some lightly used stations get the full nine yard deal while busy stations are left in the lurch

However we are probably giving Irish Rail too much credit if they deliberately making the 19:05 train use the accessible platform

[ThomasJ]

Mark, re. platforms used at Maynooth, I got the 16:10 Pearse Longford to Maynooth at Clonsilla yesterday and I noticed that this train too arrived at platform 1 (ticket office side) at Maynooth yesterday. This was even though there was nothing on platform 2. Is this normal for outbound Longford trains to do this as well as outbound Sligo trains?

[Mark Gleeson]

On single track lines the side with the station building is favoured for use if there is no other train

[Mark Hennessy]

19:05 was approx 10 mins late this evening.

The 19:50 to Pearse was obviously delayed and the 19:00 ex Pearse was 5 mins delayed.

[awhooley]

Couldn't alot of these waiting problems be resolved by double tracking the line After Maynooth? (this might sound like a stupid question), but are there any plans to actually double the line as far as at least Mullingar?

[Mark Gleeson]

Yes there are plans to put the second track back in beyond Maynooth however as is usual no money to do it

It must be noted the second track from Clonsilla to Maynooth was paid for using the EU grant money for the Green Luas line, with the Luas stuck in red tape they needed to spend the money somewhere. It just goes to show the government commitment to the rail network

[Pierce]

All the intercity lines should have started out as 2track with 4 in dublin and west, north

[Thomas Ralph]

"Should" is such a powerful word, eh?

[CSL]

AFAIR a lot of them did ? start out as double-track [ whoops, going off into spotterland ]

[turnapin]

I believe it was 2 track at least as far as Athlone via Mullingar, many many years ago.

I have never photographed a train