[article] Western rail corridor passengers fall short of anticipated numbers

Mark Gleeson · 10-06-2011, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Times

Western rail corridor passengers fall short of anticipated numbers

Irish Rail says the first phase of the western rail corridor has recorded “a credible performance” in spite of passenger numbers falling well short of the anticipated numbers, writes Gordon Deegan.

Figures released yesterday by Irish Rail for the route’s first 12 months show that 53,187 passengers travelled on the the new €106 million Ennis-Athenry service.

The numbers fall far short of the anticipated 100,000 in its business case for reopening the line. Irish Rail also said there were 252,607 rail passengers between Limerick and Galway.

Irish Rail corporate communications manager Barry Kenny said: “The business case obviously did not provide for the calamitous recession, which has impacted on demand for all transport due to reduced economic activity”.

© Irish Times 2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...298690086.html

Mark Gleeson · 10-06-2011, 09:19

The detailed breakdown is

Quote:

Total: 252,607
Ennis-Athenry: 53,187
Ennis-Limerick: 72,452
Athenry-Galway: 126,968

What is telling is the month on month numbers show a decline. Even if the first months loadings were sustained the route would still not have made 100k. Reality is the numbers for 2011 will be worse.

For reference Irish Rail carried 3% more in 2010 than in 2009. The Midleton route is actually meeting expectations. So the recession excuse is bull.

sean · 10-06-2011, 09:56

Gee ... what a surprise

Inniskeen · 10-06-2011, 10:40

Problems are not confined to the WRC - Dunboyne, Docklands, Adamstown, Clondalkin and Parkwest are hardly booming. I am afraid the WRC is to a great extent a micrcosm of the problems facing the railway as a whole.

How are these figures calculated - is a journey from Limerick to Galway counted as part of the Limerick/Ennis figures, the Ennis/Athenry figure or the Athenry/Galway figure or all three ?

Mark Gleeson · 10-06-2011, 10:49

53,187 is the total number of journeys which in any way travelled on the WRC

So Limerick Ennis is not in the 53,187 number, but Sixmilebridge - Gort is as is Limerick Galway

There is no double counting so a Limerick Galway journey is not counted in Limerick Ennis

For the record the Limerick - Ennis numbers remained stable 2009 v 2010 showing a fall of only 1000

Dunboyne is suffering due the lack of Hansfield but the new timetable will serve Connolly/Pearse and stop enroute at all stations so it will see significant use. The fact that numbers overall are up 3% 2009 v 2010 shows that rail is holding on. Dublin Bus/Bus Eireann are seeing quarterly falls of 3-5%

The reality is Dublin Suburban is running at less than 1 euro a passenger subsidy as is Cork, WRC is 45 euro a head based on these numbers.

Inniskeen · 10-06-2011, 11:44

You say that Limerick/Galway and Sixmilebridge/Gort trips are counted as WRC (by this do you mean Ennis/Athenry ?). If this is so then the figures are biased in favour of Ennis/Athenry thus underestimating usage of the other two segments.

What you appear to be saying is that any trip that originates or terminates between Ennis and Athenry or that transits Ennis/Athenry is counted as WRC and as there is no double counting these trips are excluded from Athenry/Galway and/or Limerick/Ennis. Am I interpreting this correctly ?

10-06-2011, 10:49	#5
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	53,187 is the total number of journeys which in any way travelled on the WRC So Limerick Ennis is not in the 53,187 number, but Sixmilebridge - Gort is as is Limerick Galway There is no double counting so a Limerick Galway journey is not counted in Limerick Ennis For the record the Limerick - Ennis numbers remained stable 2009 v 2010 showing a fall of only 1000 Dunboyne is suffering due the lack of Hansfield but the new timetable will serve Connolly/Pearse and stop enroute at all stations so it will see significant use. The fact that numbers overall are up 3% 2009 v 2010 shows that rail is holding on. Dublin Bus/Bus Eireann are seeing quarterly falls of 3-5% The reality is Dublin Suburban is running at less than 1 euro a passenger subsidy as is Cork, WRC is 45 euro a head based on these numbers. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 10-06-2011 at 10:52.

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10-06-2011, 09:56	#3
sean Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin Posts: 707	Gee ... what a surprise

10-06-2011, 10:40	#4
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	Problems are not confined to the WRC - Dunboyne, Docklands, Adamstown, Clondalkin and Parkwest are hardly booming. I am afraid the WRC is to a great extent a micrcosm of the problems facing the railway as a whole. How are these figures calculated - is a journey from Limerick to Galway counted as part of the Limerick/Ennis figures, the Ennis/Athenry figure or the Athenry/Galway figure or all three ?

10-06-2011, 11:44	#6
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	You say that Limerick/Galway and Sixmilebridge/Gort trips are counted as WRC (by this do you mean Ennis/Athenry ?). If this is so then the figures are biased in favour of Ennis/Athenry thus underestimating usage of the other two segments. What you appear to be saying is that any trip that originates or terminates between Ennis and Athenry or that transits Ennis/Athenry is counted as WRC and as there is no double counting these trips are excluded from Athenry/Galway and/or Limerick/Ennis. Am I interpreting this correctly ?