RUI Worst Station of the Year

comcor · 24-04-2008, 08:33

Worst Major Station: Connolly, narrowly edging out Cork. Cork has worse facilities, but it doesn't have the air of menace you get round Connolly later in the evening.

Worst Minor Manned Station: Killarney, not so much for the station itself as for the access problems. The arrival or departure of a train causes the whole area by the station to clog up with traffic, making it impossible for drivers and potentially lethal for pedestrians. Mallow and Limerick Junction deserve honourable mentions as well. People probably do more waiting in those stations than any others on the network and yet the facilities are non-existent.

Unmanned Halt: Carrigaloe. It has to be seen to be believed. Platforms that are well below the train (they even warn about this on the Irish Rail website). A general appearance that there has been no investment for 30+ years.

Oisin88 · 24-04-2008, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by comcor

Unmanned Halt: Carrigaloe. It has to be seen to be believed. Platforms that are well below the train (they even warn about this on the Irish Rail website). A general appearance that there has been no investment for 30+ years.

What about The Curragh halt???

Mark Gleeson · 24-04-2008, 18:43

Curragh station is officially closed

Colm Moore · 27-06-2008, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Curragh station is officially closed

It still has a platform sign that says "Curragh".

James Shields · 28-06-2008, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor

It still has a platform sign that says "Curragh".

Mosney has been closed for years and still has platform and station sign AND electronic display. Last time I looked, the display was still illuminated.

James Shields · 28-06-2008, 08:06

I have to agree with the comments about Drogheda. The lack of displays is a pain, and it's not uncommon for trains to be waiting on both platforms 2 and 3, leaving you to guess which one to board - or trek back over the footbridge to find someone to ask. Trains often depart unannounced, and you are often left to guess what's going on.

On the other hand, I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful (when you can find them), the toilets always clean and well looked after, and in general the station falls a long way short of what's required for a worst station award. I'll mention it to them so they can try harder next year.

I agree that Pearse is a deserving winner. We'll have to see if the current refurbishment fixes anything. I can't help wondering if they're going to bolt on a new entrance, but leave the existing station unchanged, like the Townsend St entrance to Tara St. The current ticket office is a disaster, and if the rumours of ticket validators going on the platform rather than the ground floor are true, I have worries of dangerous crowds of people unable to get off the platform. And yes, the toilets are horrible. Notice also, the disabled toiled requiring the key to be acquired from the booking office, which would be a difficult trek for a wheelchair user travelling on their own,

Connolly also leaves much to be desired. I think they did a relatively good job with the automatic validators, and it's amazing what a lick of paint has done for the toilets - though they're still pretty bad, at least they're not as dark and dingy.

I think Grand Canal Dock deserves an honourable mention. The validators were never going to be adequite for a station that busy. There's never enough staff for the number of people using it - often only one person present at rush hour. I also met a lady there trying to get a buggy out of the station when the lift down to street level wasn't working - the guy at the ticket desk wasn't able to help as he was on his own. I checked after, and there was no mention of Grand Canal Dock on the list of stations with broken lifts on the electronic displays.

constellation · 28-06-2008, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Shields

I agree that Pearse is a deserving winner. We'll have to see if the current refurbishment fixes anything. ...... The current ticket office is a disaster, and if the rumours of ticket validators going on the platform rather than the ground floor are true, I have worries of dangerous crowds of people unable to get off the platform.

No rumour. The ticket validators have already been installed on the Southbound platform (not functional yet though).

stevetee · 15-07-2008, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Curragh station is officially closed

Next station down, Monasterevin, is _unofficially_ "closed".

Pity I was too late for the poll. Monasterevin is def way up there as a contender for the most underutilised, undervalued and (especially) undermined train station in Ireland.

Mark Gleeson · 15-07-2008, 17:01

8 trains a day is hardly closed

Mark Hennessy · 15-07-2008, 21:45

But for all of the money put into Monasterevin station, it isn't served by trains too often.

I've used it myself and you would want to be very flexible with your time to use it!

Thomas J Stamp · 16-07-2008, 12:14

HALT!!!

View Poll Results: Which one?
Connolly	5	19.23%
Howth Junction	5	19.23%
Pearse	10	38.46%
Cork	2	7.69%
Seapoint	1	3.85%
Killester	0	0%
Drogheda	1	3.85%
Blackrock	0	0%
Harmonstown	1	3.85%
Carrigaloe	1	3.85%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

24-04-2008, 18:43	#3
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Curragh station is officially closed __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

15-07-2008, 17:01	#9
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	8 trains a day is hardly closed __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

16-07-2008, 12:14	#11
Thomas J Stamp Chairman/Publicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Home of Hurling Posts: 2,708	HALT!!! __________________ We are the passengers

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

24-04-2008, 08:33	#1
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	Worst Major Station: Connolly, narrowly edging out Cork. Cork has worse facilities, but it doesn't have the air of menace you get round Connolly later in the evening. Worst Minor Manned Station: Killarney, not so much for the station itself as for the access problems. The arrival or departure of a train causes the whole area by the station to clog up with traffic, making it impossible for drivers and potentially lethal for pedestrians. Mallow and Limerick Junction deserve honourable mentions as well. People probably do more waiting in those stations than any others on the network and yet the facilities are non-existent. Unmanned Halt: Carrigaloe. It has to be seen to be believed. Platforms that are well below the train (they even warn about this on the Irish Rail website). A general appearance that there has been no investment for 30+ years.

28-06-2008, 08:06	#6
James Shields Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Drogheda, Ireland Posts: 1,275	I have to agree with the comments about Drogheda. The lack of displays is a pain, and it's not uncommon for trains to be waiting on both platforms 2 and 3, leaving you to guess which one to board - or trek back over the footbridge to find someone to ask. Trains often depart unannounced, and you are often left to guess what's going on. On the other hand, I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful (when you can find them), the toilets always clean and well looked after, and in general the station falls a long way short of what's required for a worst station award. I'll mention it to them so they can try harder next year. I agree that Pearse is a deserving winner. We'll have to see if the current refurbishment fixes anything. I can't help wondering if they're going to bolt on a new entrance, but leave the existing station unchanged, like the Townsend St entrance to Tara St. The current ticket office is a disaster, and if the rumours of ticket validators going on the platform rather than the ground floor are true, I have worries of dangerous crowds of people unable to get off the platform. And yes, the toilets are horrible. Notice also, the disabled toiled requiring the key to be acquired from the booking office, which would be a difficult trek for a wheelchair user travelling on their own, Connolly also leaves much to be desired. I think they did a relatively good job with the automatic validators, and it's amazing what a lick of paint has done for the toilets - though they're still pretty bad, at least they're not as dark and dingy. I think Grand Canal Dock deserves an honourable mention. The validators were never going to be adequite for a station that busy. There's never enough staff for the number of people using it - often only one person present at rush hour. I also met a lady there trying to get a buggy out of the station when the lift down to street level wasn't working - the guy at the ticket desk wasn't able to help as he was on his own. I checked after, and there was no mention of Grand Canal Dock on the list of stations with broken lifts on the electronic displays.

15-07-2008, 21:45	#10
Mark Hennessy Membership Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maynooth Posts: 1,116	But for all of the money put into Monasterevin station, it isn't served by trains too often. I've used it myself and you would want to be very flexible with your time to use it!