Intercity Railcars Will Enter Service 19/12/2007

[turnapin]

Maybe it's time to take the posters down. They could take down the seat reservation posters while they're at it.

[Mark Gleeson]

Word was floating around that there might have been an attempt to get the magic interim certificate over the weekend.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

the magic interim certificate

Mark, What is this?

[Mark Gleeson]

Every train type must have a safety certificate before it can carry passenger much like the way aircraft are certified

Irish Rail currently hold a test cert, they need to get the interim certificate to get limited service running

If there is a problem with the train IE don't get a cert and it is there problem along with the builders to get the issues sorted

[Pierce]

have 2 test these new trains out, hopefully they will be good and that intercity feeling

[Colm Moore]

Apparently they go public on Wednesday 19 December 2007. 1105 departure Connolly - Sligo.

IÉ spending €400m for rolling stocking on that line alone.

[Mark Gleeson]

Happy to now confirm IE have officially signed over the first two intercity railcars into service

They now carry numbers on the front which is the typical indication of IE taking ownership

Should be platform 3 11:05 today

[ThomasJ]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=314

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today (Wednesday 19th December 2007): the 11.05hrs Connolly-Sligo service will see the inaugural journey of the first train of a new 183 carriage, €400 million Intercity railcar fleet, set to transform quality, comfort and frequency right across the national rail network.

In-service trials have begun on the daily 11.05hrs Dublin-Sligo and 14.55hrs Sligo-Dublin, with more new trains to be brought in to service on the Sligo line in the New Year, resulting in an increase in services from 5 to 8 trains each way daily from 21st January 2008.

All routes will then benefit as the fleet is rolled out through 2008, including:

- Sligo/Dublin

- Rosslare/Dublin

- Waterford/Dublin

- Westport/Dublin

- Tralee/Dublin

- Tralee/Cork

- Galway/Dublin

- Limerick/Dublin

- Carlow, Athlone, Portlaoise commuter routes

The 183-carriage Intercity railcar order will see frequency improvements across all routes, when all trains are in service by the end of next year.

The fleet was ordered from Mitsui of Japan, in partnership with Rotem of the Republic of Korea (where the fleet was constructed) and Tokyu Car Corporation of Japan.

Together with a previous order of 67 carriages now operating hourly services on the Cork-Dublin route, the new fleet will transform Ireland’s Intercity rail fleet from the oldest in the European Union to the newest.

The Intercity railcar order is funded by the Irish Government under the Transport 21 investment programme and the European Regional Development Fund.

Features of new fleet

Benefits to customers will include:

- Significantly higher frequency and capacity on all InterCity routes

- Modern on-board comfort standards

- The replacement of outdated fleet across the network

- Improved accessibility for mobility-impaired customers

- Better reliability and performance, with integral engines in each carriage

Features of the Intercity railcar fleet will include:

- Automatic PA and information display systems

- Electronic seat reservation displays for web bookings

- Fully air-conditioned

- Internal CCTV system for improved security

- Sleek carriage design

- Advanced safety features throughout

In a new departure for Iarnród Éireann’s Intercity fleet, the new trains are railcars, with integral engines in each carriage – this delivers greater reliability and performance, as well as operational flexibility.

Trains are in 3-car and 6-car sets, with seating for 192 customers and 378 customers respectively.

Eco-friendly fleet

It has also been revealed that the new Intercity railcar fleet will be the greenest diesel train fleet in Europe.

The European Union are set to impose stringent new emission standards for rail vehicles, which are already the most environmentally sustainable form of travel.

Iarnród Éireann’s new fleet already meets the Stage 3B EU emission limits for nitrous oxides (2.0g/kWh), a limit which will not be enforced until 2012. They also meet the Stage 3A limit for soot particles, of 0.2g/kWh, which will be enforced from 2009.

Iarnród Éireann’s fleet transformation comes at a time of record demand for rail services, with 43.1 million journeys made on the country’s rail network last year, and a further record journey total set to be achieved in 2007.

The figures confirm Iarnród Éireann’s status as the fastest growing railway in the European Union.

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr John Lynch said “with this record order of new trains for our network, every single rail customer with Iarnród Éireann will be able to travel on modern, quality trains, designed with the latest customer needs in mind. The transformation of our rail service is extraordinary – we have totally rebuilt our network, we have dramatically expanded commuter capacity, and now we are completing the task of a total renewal of our Intercity fleet. With record demand, and the best performance levels ever achieved on our network, we will continue to grow with the investment support from the Irish Government under Transport 21, to allow our rail services play the strongest possible role in meeting the transport needs of our customers and our communities.”

Sligo route investment

The new fleet is the latest phase in the transformation of the Sligo-Dublin route.

Since 1999, over €150 million has been invested in Sligo services; including the total renewal of track along the route; resignalling, level crossings, platform lengthening and other safety investment. This also includes investment in the existing railcar fleet introduced in December 2005 on the route, which delivered an increase in services from three each way per day to five each way per day.

Together with the route’s best ever punctuality, consistently over 95%, these improvements have resulted in the Sligo-Dublin line being the national network’s fastest growing route, with more than 1.1 million passenger journeys in 2006 – a huge increase of over 17%, with a further 11% growth forecast for 2007.

With the new fleet, and increases in services from January, growth on the Sligo-Dublin line is set to continue into the future.

[Mark Hennessy]

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today

Some would say that Autumn came late for customers.

[ThomasJ]

I am going to say something controversial but for all the criticism for not being suited for long-haul journeys the 29ks did do a good job performance-wise on the Sligo line. It will be good to see them return though to where they belong and are needed.... Commuter services!

Hopefully the 22k will match them on reliability!

[Thomas J Stamp]

some points to note:

Christmas comes early for customers on the Dublin-Sligo line today

Autumn ended late.

In-service trials have begun on the daily 11.05hrs Dublin-Sligo

The 11.05 which is running at the moment is a six car set. This is mrely a show for the press, it is well known that once the top brass have all gone home it will be a three car. Not quite planting trees whilst Mary Harney opens a centre and then pulling them up afterwards but its the same thing.

Together with a previous order of 67 carriages now operating hourly services on the Cork-Dublin route, the new fleet will transform Ireland’s Intercity rail fleet from the oldest in the European Union to the newest.

As the Sligo passengers will know to their cost new dosnt equate to suitable. There is no good reason why vast amounts of Mark3 carriges, which dont forget are newer than the LHB Darts currently being refurbished, are being consigned to the scrapheap.

Significantly higher capacity on all InterCity routes

The 8% increase in seats will be swamped by the 10% year on year increase IE are expecting.

This also includes investment in the existing railcar fleet introduced in December 2005 on the route, which delivered an increase in services from three each way per day to five each way per day.

Yes, and we know that they werent suited - a fact we told you here before they were intoduced and whihc IE only admitted this year.

Together with the route’s best ever punctuality, consistently over 95%, these improvements have resulted in the Sligo-Dublin line being the national network’s fastest growing route, with more than 1.1 million passenger journeys in 2006 – a huge increase of over 17%, with a further 11% growth forecast for 2007.

Dont forget that the "Dublin Sligo line" includes services to Maynooth/Longford.......

For what it's worth, the new railcars look the business. Lets hope they dont become the Vomit Comet Mk2. That said, there is a fairly large contingent from the far east in Connolly today.

Fingers crossed, and all that.

[Thomas J Stamp]

ride quality is very good.

pa and ac working well

at top speed (60mph at the moment) it is running nice and quiet.

the RSC have done a big job on it.

so far so positive.

[KSW]

Thomas I have to ask you this, What is the PA announcements like are they the same as the Cork or different? Are the seats comforable.

P.S - Will this train be operating on Monday as the 11:05?

[Dublin/Rosslare]

They sound really nice, Will the Rosslare Line really be next I cant see that happening. I hope Irish Rail tell how much they spend on Rosslare upgrading as like the Sligo. Besides all this I welcome the new trains

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by KeithStephen

Thomas I have to ask you this, What is the PA announcements like are they the same as the Cork or different? Are the seats comforable.

sounds exactly the same and seats are comfy apparently.

Originally Posted by KeithStephen

P.S - Will this train be operating on Monday as the 11:05?

yes, every 11.05 as far as we know and the return leg.

It'll be very much like the CDE, as soon as each interm cert if issued one will appear on the line. What we can tell you is that as todays train in made up of two sets it either means that they will alternate on the 11.05 for a while or that fairly soon we may see two departures a day.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Dublin/Rosslare

They sound really nice, Will the Rosslare Line really be next I cant see that happening. I hope Irish Rail tell how much they spend on Rosslare upgrading as like the Sligo. Besides all this I welcome the new trains

Well, 21st January is when we should see the Sligo sets fully in service.

After that, as more sets get certified they could end up anywhere. Rosslare should get them, if only becuase both lines operate ex-connolly both lines were mark2 replaced by commuter railcars. There is a certain logic to it.

What could happen is that they do start turning up in Limerick and Mayo on light demand services. There are no real six-car sets herer yet, remember.

[KSW]

Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp

Well, 21st January is when we should see the Sligo sets fully in service.

After that, as more sets get certified they could end up anywhere. Rosslare should get them, if only becuase both lines operate ex-connolly both lines were mark2 replaced by commuter railcars. There is a certain logic to it.

Its Next December for Rosslare to get the new trains. Maybe the new trains will come on some sevices during the year other than that its December'08. It requires a timetable change (Example) No more operating to Maynooth/Drogheda which would be a gift......

[ACustomer]

Re Post #6: Top speed 60mph? Why? lack of familiarisation with braking characteristics? I presume this is just for the first week or so.

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by KeithStephen

Its Next December for Rosslare to get the new trains. Maybe the new trains will come on some sevices during the year other than that its December'08. It requires a timetable change (Example) No more operating to Maynooth/Drogheda which would be a gift......

why? what impact is trains going to/from maynooth/drogheda having on gorey/rosslare services? and who would benefit from having intercity trains sitting on platform 5 for ages again?

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by ACustomer

Re Post #6: Top speed 60mph? Why? lack of familiarisation with braking characteristics? I presume this is just for the first week or so.

speed they were doing at that time. notch five, apparently..........