New Timetable from 9 September.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

There was only around 5 passengers on the 06.55 to Sligo this morning with a few joining in Drumcondra. Would bet there was 0 departing Maynooth. I know the route gets a lot of local traffic but how IE and the NTA restored this service is crazy.

It was also a 29k however I understand its usually and 22k.

But how many were on the train as it arrived into Sligo which frankly would be the main market. I’d assume it picks numbers up from Mullingar westward.

It gives a 10:15 arrival into Sligo which would be useful for students. Local traffic may be reasonable too.

Within any timetable you will always have services which are partially positioning trips due to rolling stock or staffing constraints - hardly grounds for assessing it as “crazy”.

[Jamie2k9]

Originally Posted by berneyarms

But how many were on the train as it arrived into Sligo which frankly would be the main market. I’d assume it picks numbers up from Mullingar westward.

It gives a 10:15 arrival into Sligo which would be useful for students. Local traffic may be reasonable too.

Within any timetable you will always have services which are partially positioning trips due to rolling stock or staffing constraints - hardly grounds for assessing it as “crazy”.

I agree and said it may pick up traffic but whatever it does pick up is insignificant to justify a restoration. It was a simple box ticking by the NTA.

I fully stand by my crazy comment. They had an opportunity to offer an enhanced service but didn’t.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

I agree and said it may pick up traffic but whatever it does pick up is insignificant to justify a restoration. It was a simple box ticking by the NTA.

I fully stand by my crazy comment. They had an opportunity to offer an enhanced service but didn’t.

You simply don’t know that unless you know the actual numbers arriving into Sligo. And you don’t know what they are (nor do I), but I am no fan of these sorts of sweeping comments without actually having hard and relevant data.

You’re just looking at the start of the journey where the relevant part really is the second half.

Without hard numbers to compare you’re not going to know if it’s making a difference. You’re just making suppositions.

[Jamie2k9]

Originally Posted by berneyarms

You simply don’t know that unless you know the actual numbers arriving into Sligo. And you don’t know what they are (nor do I), but I am no fan of these sorts of sweeping comments without actually having hard and relevant data.

You’re just looking at the start of the journey where the relevant part really is the second half.

Without hard numbers to compare you’re not going to know if it’s making a difference. You’re just making suppositions.

What data did Irish rail have, absolutely nothing. Operational convenience was put ahead of the customer and signed off by NTA.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

What data did Irish rail have, absolutely nothing. Operational convenience was put ahead of the customer and signed off by NTA.

I’m sure they have an idea of how many passengers used it and are using it. More than you or I.

This frankly is a pointless argument without having hard data.

All it is based on is one observation at the wrong end of the route.

[Jamie2k9]

Originally Posted by berneyarms

I’m sure they have an idea of how many passengers used it and are using it. More than you or I.

This frankly is a pointless argument without having hard data.

All it is based on is one observation at the wrong end of the route.

They rejected calls for a commuter morning service into Sligo in early 2018 from Longford (arriving 8/8.30). Yet fast forward 9 months and there is suddenly demand. Its simply not the case.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

They rejected calls for a commuter morning service into Sligo in early 2018 from Longford (arriving 8/8.30). Yet fast forward 9 months and there is suddenly demand. Its simply not the case.

Again that would depend on staff availablilty. A Longford starter into Sligo would require basing more drivers there.

Presumably this service uses existing driver resources at Connolly where flexibility is greater.

Frankly, you are presenting a very simplistic view on this.

[comcor]

If you are moving the set anyway, you may as well let passengers use the service.

It's probably over a decade ago now, but there was a time that a set repositioned from Tralee to Cork on a Sunday evening, with no passengers accommodated as it didn't connect to a Cork-Dublin Service. This was then changed to allow passengers. I used it about 4 months ago and it was 40% full leaving Killarney and closer to 70% full leaving Mallow.

I don't like the phrase 'Build it and they will come'. but sometimes the provision of a public transport service can influence how people organise their lives.