[Article] Western Rail Corridor Rail route numbers low

[Inniskeen]

Surely this is the actual basis of the complaints about the WRC, not reasons to support it.

I don't understand this comment

We'll see what the figures are like when they come out. However, the M3 passengers are being carried only a few km and then the train fills with Blanchardstown passengers.

The services I was refering do to not stop at "Blanchardstown". Peak loadings on M3/Dunboyne trains (which do stop at Blanchardstown) are fairly modest with spare seats generally available on even the busiest services. Incidentally, if I recall correctly, the cost of the few km from Clonsilla to M3/Dunboyne was similar to the cost of re-instating the 60 km forming phase 1 of the WRC.

Those stations need a few things before they come into their own - proper stopping services by using the 4 tracks and ultimately, direct services to the city centre and rest of the DART network via the interconnector. And those stations are funded by development along the line compared to almost all the funding for the WRC coming from central government (except the land for Crusheen and Oranmore stations).

Yes some of these things may improve numbers although direct services beyond Heuston will be required to generate significant usage. It may be some time before the country can afford projects like the DART interconnector and in the interim these stations will continue to represent a significant burden on Irish Rail resources both in terms of staffing and maintenance.

And many will carry a thousand or more during the peak, with people getting on and off at each station. Overall those thousands pay for the less used services. That said, having off peak services does two thing (a) it takes pressure off some of the peak services (b) it encourages people to use the system by providing them with a guarantee of choice of services and greater comfort.

The number of DARTs carrying a thousand or more passengers are few and far between. The heaviest loading trains these days are generally Maynooth and Drogheda/Dundalk services. If anything DART takes up far more track capacity than is justified by current loadings. Perhaps a third of the DART fleet is normally idle at peak periods.