How to improve the Limerick - Nenagh - Ballybrophy line?

[James Howard]

This is a pretty common pattern over the entire network. Aside from the Cork line, journey times are increasing almost everywhere. This is partially due to the idiotic 10 minute DART timetable but there must be a degree of accumulated maintenance deficit involved.

The new timetable pushes my commute outside of the threshold of tolerability and I'm going to have to figure another plan after nearly 13 years of commuting.

The reality is that unless there is significant investment and improvement in journey times, Irish Rail may as well just start shutting lines down because it is a waste of money pouring operational subsidies into services that are no use to anyone. One could be forgiven for suspecting this is the plan anyway.

[Deedsie]

Originally Posted by James Howard

This is a pretty common pattern over the entire network. Aside from the Cork line, journey times are increasing almost everywhere. This is partially due to the idiotic 10 minute DART timetable but there must be a degree of accumulated maintenance deficit involved.

The new timetable pushes my commute outside of the threshold of tolerability and I'm going to have to figure another plan after nearly 13 years of commuting.

The reality is that unless there is significant investment and improvement in journey times, Irish Rail may as well just start shutting lines down because it is a waste of money pouring operational subsidies into services that are no use to anyone. One could be forgiven for suspecting this is the plan anyway.

I can see the Phoenix Park Tunnel line being an absolutely astounding success. A relatively small investment for huge rewards.

Maybe this should lead to a long term project of upgrading the entire rail network to an agreed standard. I think this would be a good use of national infrastructure capital? What would the opinions here be?

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by James Howard

This is a pretty common pattern over the entire network. Aside from the Cork line, journey times are increasing almost everywhere. This is partially due to the idiotic 10 minute DART timetable but there must be a degree of accumulated maintenance deficit involved.

The new timetable pushes my commute outside of the threshold of tolerability and I'm going to have to figure another plan after nearly 13 years of commuting.

The reality is that unless there is significant investment and improvement in journey times, Irish Rail may as well just start shutting lines down because it is a waste of money pouring operational subsidies into services that are no use to anyone. One could be forgiven for suspecting this is the plan anyway.

Any change in Sligo line journey times has nothing to do with the 10 minute DART timetable but rather would be down to changes in the speed limits on the Sligo line.

We have yet to see the final timetable so I wouldn't be rushing to a decision just yet.

[James Howard]

On a related note, I see that Limerick - Ennis is still closed which is going on for four months now and they are estimating the end of April before services can resume. This is another example of a line which either needs investment to resolve this problem or to be closed down. A railway line that closes for 5 months is of no use to anybody. This line seems to close for at least a couple of months every year.

This is the reality after 8 years of cutbacks, I don't see how the status quo can continue for a lot longer. The system either needs closures or more money going into track maintenance or people are going to find better ways to get around.

[Inniskeen]

Originally Posted by berneyarms

Any change in Sligo line journey times has nothing to do with the 10 minute DART timetable but rather would be down to changes in the speed limits on the Sligo line.

We have yet to see the final timetable so I wouldn't be rushing to a decision just yet.

The changes on the Sligo line have little to do with either speed restrictions or the vanity 10 minute interval DART service. The three issues affecting the Sligo line are

1) Further reduced rolling stock allocation.

2) Painfully slow scheduling between Connolly and Maynooth.

3) Use of Sligo services to provide short haul commuter stops at Kilcock and Enfield.

There are a few speed restrictions associated with accommodation and field crossings but these are not sufficient in number to have any material affect on scheduling.

[Mark Gleeson]

Sligo is not the topic here