[PR] Irish Rail fuel efficency

[Mark Gleeson]

This came in on the grapevine this morning. Nothing new to RUI members as the 4 coach ICR fleet has been known about for several months

That said from a passenger point of view shorter trains are not exactly always a good thing

Iarnród Éireann targets further €3 million in annual fuel savings

Energy consumption initiatives already yielded €16 million in annual savings

Off-peak DART train size and Intercity train configurations to yield savings


Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail is to implement new energy saving fleet utilisation initiatives to generate fuel savings, which will reduce fuel and maintenance costs by €3.2 million per annum.

The range of actions begin this week, focusing on train size for off-peak DART services.

Currently, 65% of total daily DART passengers travel in the four hours of either morning or evening peak, with the remaining 35% travelling across the remaining 14 hours of travel. In place of longer trains used currently, the company will increase the usage of 2-carriage DARTs at off-peak times from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and after 7pm, to eliminate unnecessary energy usage and reduce maintenance costs, while continuing existing service frequency to customers.

This approach also allows the flexibility for capacity to be increased on off-peak trains at times of higher demand, such as for major events. Furthermore, the company are continuing to monitor peak train sizes and will increase capacity on one peak service in response to demand, the 16.40hrs Bray to Malahide DART, from 6 to 8 carriages.

For Intercity services, Iarnród Éireann is to reconfigure the Intercity railcar fleet. Currently, the 234 carriages in the fleet are configured to form 48 three-carriage trains and 15 six-carriage trains. This has lead to capacity shortages on some services and oversupply on others. The fleet will be reconfigured to form 45 four-carriage trains and 18 three-carriage trains, allowing greater flexibility in train size, with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 carriage Intercity trains possible as result by combining train sets together. These changes will be implemented on a phased basis by year end.

As well as savings in fuel and maintenance costs, the new fleet configuration will ensure train size can be targeted to meet demand, and increase train size and seat numbers on services which have experienced high numbers travelling.

The measures are the latest in a range of initiatives introduced by Iarnród Éireann to reduce energy consumption, yielding environmental and cost benefits. Since 2007, energy consumption – the vast majority of which is for diesel and electricity to power trains – has reduced by over one-third in Iarnród Éireann, through actions including:

- New trains incorporating improved energy efficiency

- Automatic shutdown of train engines to reduce idling

- Reduction in DART power supply voltage and competitive tendering of electricity supply

- Extension of regenerative braking on the DART

- More efficient DART train software

- Reduced train sizes where demand has decreased

- Implementation of improved lighting, heating and fan controls in depots

- Changes to lighting in station car parks

- Temperature and lighting control systems in buildings to prevent wastage

In total, energy usage in Megawatt hours has reduced from 793,400 in 2007 to 526,800 in 2012, a reduction of almost 34%.

The company’s energy bills were €16 million lower in 2012 than they would have been had these measures not been implemented.

[Thomas Ralph]

2-car DARTs will badly slow down the service unless they install stop boards.

[karlr42]

They have, and from what I saw today(the two car DARTs are already in use from today) the boards seem to be being used properly. Will take a while for passengers to adapt though.

[jacko]

nothing wrong with cutting capacity off peak but IR should be able to respond when demand is high.

Yesterday 4 carriage DARTs were not sufficient for the crowds pre and post the All Ireland Final.

they need to up their game for football in a fortnight and hurling replay which is on a saturday which is obviously a busier day than a sunday

[Inniskeen]

As you say, no big surprise as this has been in the offing for at least two years. Would expect many Heuston sets to reduce to 4 car and for 4 car sets to replace most of the remaining mark 4 services. Would also expect some shrinkage on the Sligo line, 1600 to Sligo or 1805 to Longford hardly need to be 6 cars. Same probably applies to the 1905 Sligo.

[Jamie2k9]

Originally Posted by Inniskeen

As you say, no big surprise as this has been in the offing for at least two years. Would expect many Heuston sets to reduce to 4 car and for 4 car sets to replace most of the remaining mark 4 services. Would also expect some shrinkage on the Sligo line, 1600 to Sligo or 1805 to Longford hardly need to be 6 cars. Same probably applies to the 1905 Sligo.

It will be interesting to see how they work it out. Ideally full benefit won't be seen until the 2014 timetable as dropping capacity on some intercity services out of Heuston in the evenings will result in problems for commuter stops, it could well result in another 18.35 Waterford service unless they are carful how they introduce it.

The 2 car DART's are a welcome for off peak services.

[Jamie2k9]

Can anybody confirm if 4 car trains are in service, almost certain The 15.05 from Galway was a 4 car and there was a 7 car set arriving in Heuston as I passed.

[Mark Gleeson]

4 car has been certified for operation

[joey]

A 9 carriage 22k set, how is this configured, 3x3 carraige sets together?

and the 7 carriage set?

Any danger of the 0800 ex Dublin weekday service being upped to a 4 carriage set, given previously a 3 carriage set was operating the 0700 and a 6 carriage set operating the 0900 - which were amalgamated to form the now 0800 service

The now 0800 is a reasonably busy service and, this is the first westbound after Maynooth in the mornings.