Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > Intercity and Regional > Dublin Cork
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 09-03-2012, 17:28   #1
comcor
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford
Posts: 855
Default Number of carriages on Cork-Dublin services

Why do some Cork-Dublin services have 5 standard class carriages and some have 4?

I'm currently on the 17:00 Dublin-Cork and there are significant numbers standing? Why? Because there's only 4 standard class carriages.

If the different configs have to be operated for some reason, is there a good reason they can't be kept away from the 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 ex Dublin and the 06:15 and 07:30 ex Cork as these trains have higher loads than normal?
comcor is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2012, 18:06   #2
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

From time to time the mk4 sets operate short a coach due a failure

Over a week every set works every service so it luck of the draw

There was talk of having 2 9 coach sets in the past but the rostering issue put an end to that
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2012, 18:53   #3
dowlingm
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
dowlingm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,371
Default

Firstly, you can have sets in the right place half the day or all day. All day usually means parking them which reduces set productivity.

I've been looking at the Cork-Dublin timetable to see what could be done but the reality is that there are three ways to approach being above the available capacity - get more capacity, spread the demand onto adjacent services or yield manage.

In the first, while a little more capacity might arise when all 22000s are in service the reality is that money and track time will limit net gains.

In the second, most non Cork-Dublin services make setdowns in the commuter zone and are likely as full as those mentioned above. An example of this would be excusing the 1800 Heuston-Cork the set down at Ballybrophy, extending the 1805 beyond Portlaoise and tweaking the departure of the shuttle set. But that assumes that the set is either not needed to head back or more importantly that there is room on the 1805, which there may not be.

So that leaves a politically uncomfortable option - revoking the Brennan giveaway by reintroducing curbs on pass use at peak times or at the very least where IE can nominate certain services which are deemed chronically overfull while doing its best to ensure that a later service will run to take intending pass holders.

Mark G: what was the rostering issue again?
dowlingm is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09-03-2012, 21:49   #4
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Are all the Mark 4 trains being used as there is always one outside Heuston with around 5 carrages all apart and a DVT car.

22000 operated the 15.00 on Wednesday but there was Mark 4 sets in Heuston and it had nothing to do with a train failure. Low demand?

Last edited by Jamie2k9 : 09-03-2012 at 21:52.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2012, 00:18   #5
dowlingm
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
dowlingm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,371
Default

Some midday services are 22s to match demand.
dowlingm is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2012, 09:43   #6
Colm Moore
Local Liaison Officer
 
Colm Moore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,442
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie2k9 View Post
Are all the Mark 4 trains being used as there is always one outside Heuston with around 5 carrages all apart and a DVT car.
7 sets are needed every week day to maintain the schedule. 8 full sets are available, with 3 additional carriages available. http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=123&n=209

However, as two morning services are operated by 22000s, 2 of the 7 sets only need to do one return trip, while the other 5 do two return trips every day.

Assuming that the eighth set is in deep maintenance, it is very difficult for to arrange for a longer set to be used on the morning peak to Dublin and the evening peak to Cork.
__________________
Colm Moore is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2012, 10:08   #7
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Friday-Sunday no ICR's are used, and from time to time if there is demand the mid week ICR services are switched to Mk4
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2012, 10:11   #8
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

There are seven links, so a train cycles through each service in the timetable.

There is no scope for playing around as a train which arrives at 13:20 leaves at 14:00
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2012, 10:54   #9
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
From time to time the mk4 sets operate short a coach due a failure

Over a week every set works every service so it luck of the draw

There was talk of having 2 9 coach sets in the past but the rostering issue put an end to that
Not sure how many sets are currently operating with a reduced formation, but at least three sets were simultaneously operating with seven coaches at various times over the last few months. Indeed I believe that a six car formation had an outing in recent times.

In honesty seven coaches are generally adequate for even the busiest Cork trains. Where there are problems it usually involves services with connections to/from the Kerry line or those with stops at intermediate stations between Dublin and Portlaoise. Indeed most of the Cork trains I have used in recent years rarely load much over 200 passengers, well within the capacity of a seven coach Mk4 and typically within the capacity of a 3-car ICR. Obviously weekends are a bit busier especially if there are sporting events taking place.

Given the level of spare capacity available on most Heuston services, it is now rare for Irish Rail to operate special trains even on busy days such as today when the Ireland V Scotland Rugby International takes place. As far as I am aware the only additional service is a 2030 to Galway, presumeably because the last scheduled service is too late to accommodate returning supporters.

Last edited by Inniskeen : 10-03-2012 at 10:58.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:32.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.