Nenagh Commuter Service - 2007 Timetable

[Nigel Fitzgricer]

I have always thought that the Limerick to Nenagh line has great potential as a commuter route if the proper service was placed on it. For some reason my PDF reader is not working and I cannot see if the promised 2007 commuter service for the line was actually implemented in the new timetable.

Does anybody know?

[Mark Gleeson]

Hasn't changed at all

There is no point bothering the journey is so slow no one would use it

[Nigel Fitzgricer]

So that press release by IRN last year claiming they scored a commuter service on the line for 2007 was just Walter Mitty-ism.

But sure God love them, they do their best the poor dears.


"Please Mister IE Manager Man...Giz Us a Commuter Service for Nenagh...It's for Kyoto, Regional Development and to Save Lives on the Roads. Gis Us Railfreight as Well so no more People Killed by HGVs...this Really Upsets us Deeply...Nothing to Do with Getting Irish Taxpayers to Fund Our Hobby...HONEST!!!!"


It's a shame really because in any other country in the Europe that branch would have 10 trains a day in either direction at least.

[Thomas J Stamp]

There is quite a lot of track work going on at Nenagh today.

[Derek Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp

There is quite a lot of track work going on at Nenagh today.

At the station or the local dentist?

[Oisin88]

It's a shame really because in any other country in the Europe that branch would have 10 trains a day in either direction at least.

If they ran a railcar from Limerick to Nenagh and re-opened the old spur to Birr with some sort of Delta junction at Nenagh then maybe the government could sort out 2 problems (aparently nobody wants to decentralise to Birr because it is so Isolated) It would still be magnificently slow.

They are building an eco village in Cloughjordan in the next few years, which you would think would increase rail usage.

But then I amn't an engineer/economist/etc.

[Brian.Stokes]

Amended

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Brian.Stokes

Can I just say though that since this is nearly always a mature and good natured forum that I’m disappointed at Oisin88 for referring to Limerick as "Stab City" and would be grateful if he could amend the post.

Nenagh was given its proper name why should Limerick be any different. I can appreciate how harmless and easy it is to call Limerick that but its a poor nickname that has no basis in reality and offends me as some one from the county.

Thanks again,

Brian.

Amendment made Brian.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Nigel Fitzgricer

It's a shame really because in any other country in the Europe that branch would have 10 trains a day in either direction at least.

We have a working timetable for eight each way.

[Jister]

Are there extra Ennis services this year?

[Oisin88]

Originally Posted by Brian.Stokes

Can I just say though that since this is nearly always a mature and good natured forum that I’m disappointed at Oisin88 for referring to Limerick as "Stab City" and would be grateful if he could amend the post.

Oops, sorry. not paying attention that day

[Brian.Stokes]

Thats cool bud, thanks!

[dowlingm]

Average 2007 timetable speed between Limerick and Roscrea 30mph. The bus looks like a TGV in comparison. When a southbound morning/northbound evening service does start - in 20 years time - I believe co-ordination with Limerick Co. Co. to arrange bus service that waits for the train to UL/Plassey Tech Park is a must, perhaps by extending a morning bus service to Castleconnell (about 10km from UL) or a peak time halt just east of the junction of the N7 and the Ring Road - about 5km from UL.

For Google Earthers, the latter I would suggest to be 52.677948°N 8.504894°W - there's an approach road from the N7 roundabout to an LC - obviously this would have to be dealt with as part of the train halt/bus halt construction, not to mention the several other farm crossings north of there until the N7 LC - maybe the NRA could pay for IE to embank north and south of the N7/forthcoming M7 with a two track capable overbridge so the mosherway won't be impeded and the nearby farm crossings get dealt with?

As for Limerick commuter services in general - wake me up when they release the Waterford train from 30mins of hanging around at LJ from 0817 instead of bombing on for Limerick with an arrival of 0845, leaving a Limerick train to go get the Cork/Dublin passengers as by then they will be taking commuting to Limerick seriously!

[Derek Wheeler]

2007 and the reality.

Most of the Ballybrophy line (as far as Killonan Junct.) has an official track speed of just 40 mph. (apparently some tour de france participants reach that speed on a bicycle)

There are 2 services on the line in each direction, Mon-Sat. 1 service each way on a Sunday. The line has very poor track and ancient signalling. Station facilities are extremely poor. It could very easily be used in a period piece film and fool the audience without much set dressing. The only semblence of anything modern is the railcar that trundles along it. (and this is only a recent addition)

There are no plans within IE to do anything. It has no part in either Transport21 or the forthcoming NDP. In a country that is reopening a virtually abandoned railway between Ennis and Athenry (for a Limerick - Galway link) how can an operating railway through the towns of Roscrea and Nenagh en route to the city of Limerick be left to survive on basic maintenence and poor services? The answer is very simple.

The development of rail transport in Ireland is not based on professional understanding. Its not based on evaluation. Its not based on a decision made by a knowledgeable transport authority. It isnt even based on need.

The development of rail transport in Ireland is based on the oul Irish political nod/wink concept. Elections are always looming and if a region is in question for Government parties (especially regions represented by back benchers) then you can bet your heart and lungs that all stops will be pulled out to secure the constituency seats. This applies to General elections, bye elections and to a lessor extent European elections.

The people of the west of Ireland dont actually care about the Western Rail Corridor. Its concept was kept alive by a small few. The Ballybrophy - Limerick line is similarly dismissed by those who live along it. Its accepted that the service is crap and the small few who do actually care have failed to make it an issue that could threaten politicians. Therefore any calls for outright upgrade are so hollow, you can see through them. To further reinforce this viewpoint, we must step back in time to 2002. IE wanted to close the route (along with Limerick - Waterford - Rosslare) and had absolutely no interest whatsoever in reopening the WRC in any shape or form. It was at this point that the almost perverse action that is Government action, kicked in. Both lines were "saved" from closure and the WRC was put on the agenda. Roll forward to 2007 and the "saved" lines are still as poor as before (and getting worse) and a section of the WRC is about to be reopened under a presumedly gold plated build. So we know where IE stand on all this. They are merely the prostitutes who do the pimps bidding. So its the pimps we have to study. Our pimps for the purposes of this piece are obviously the Government and the opposition parties. (afterall, I don't recall Enda Kenny committing to an upgrade of the "cinderella" lines, yet I do recall him committing his party to reopening the WRC in full if they were elected to Government!) I hope readers are starting to get the picture.

Where does all of this political baloney leave us? Well, we have a premier line to Cork that has speed restrictions on it, because IE claim the Government havent provided the funds to remove them. We have similar speed restrictions on many other important lines. The two other lines mentioned in this post continue to struggle on a daily basis. We can wonder if IE will even bother to integrate services on them into the forthcoming services between Limerick and Galway. My money is on the negative. Unless off course a politician or two is made aware of it and hey presto representations to IE will be made.

Ive used the word perverse earlier and its all I can use to describe the blindingly obvious bull**** that pervades in this country. As a nation that has no problem proclaiming its economic rise to stardom, please tell this scribe why we let politicians set up scenarios in rail transport that would embarass any third world nation who suddenly got cash rich. Operating railways are being left to rot, while we open new ones! Trust me, history will be cruel to this.

The phrase, "only in Ireland" must have come from somewhere as its totally at odds with the "only in America" phrase which is associated with great things. I am personally making this shambles an election issue with all relevent candidates in the areas mentioned.

[Tadhg17]

From The Nenagh Guardian


Quote:
Green light for Nenagh rail commuter link

Iarnród Éireann has signalled the green light for a new Nenagh-Limerick rail commuter service, which should be up and running within a year.


By Simon O'Duffy

Iarnród Éireann has signalled the green light for a new Nenagh-Limerick rail commuter service, which should be up and running within a year.

Nenagh Rail Partnership has this week welcomed news that a new, faster and more commuter-suited train service to Limerick will be included in the next Iarnród Éireann timetable to be published in December. It is expected that the service will be fully operational by September 2008.

The announcement was made following a recent meeting in Thurles between the partnership and Dick Fearn, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann.

'This is great news for our campaign to have a proper commuter service on the Ballybrophy line,' said Cllr Virginina O'Dowd, chairperson of Nenagh Rail Partnership.

Under the new timetable the present services will remain but there will be an extra morning and evening train every weekday to suit commuters and students. A four-car train will leave Limerick at about 6.40am, arriving in Nenagh approx 7.40, where it will divide. Two cars will then return to Limerick from Nenagh at around 7.45am, getting to Limerick at about 8.35am, while the other two cars go on to Ballybrophy for the Dublin service, as is currently the case.

In the evenings the present return train leaving Limerick at about 4.40 pm will be ideal for many students, said Cllr O'Dowd. There will then be an extra return train, leaving Limerick at about 5.45pm and reaching Nenagh around 6.35pm, which she said will be ideal for commuters.

Cllr O'Dowd pointed out however that while the service will be included in the coming timetable in December, it will not start until September 2008, 11 months from now.

'There are number of reasons for this, among them the welcome fact that it will allow Iarnród Éireann to continue track work which will eventually see line speeds up to 60mph', she said. 'It will also allow for more services when trains become available from other routes, and will give a better lead-in for promotion of the service.'

Nenagh Rail Partnership has also sought a lunchtime/mid-afternoon service to help promote more leisure use on the line.

'Dick Fearn pointed out that Iarnród Éireann were working on a 'next step basis' but that this might be an option in 2009, if the service was well used, and I would urge people to make sure that this service will be a success and we can then look forward to extra trains, perhaps even allowing for people to socialise more by train', Cllr O'Dowd said.

One of the main incentives to take the train is the tax allowance available on tickets, she added, urging people who could use the service to have their employers register with Iarnród Éireann to buy monthly or yearly tickets.

'Not many people realise that you can get tax back for using the rail service', the Nenagh Rail Partnership chairperson explained. 'You can ask your employer to purchase season ticketsÑit can be done online - and they will make the tax credits in your pay packet,' she pointed out.

Among the other issues raised at the meeting, which was also attended by Duncan Martin, Cloughjordan Rail Action Group; Pat Dempsey, Castleconnell Rail Action Group; Ronan Dodd, Nenagh Rail Partnership, and John O'Flaherty and Paul Quinlan of Irish Railway News, as well as Myles McHugh of Iarnród Éireann, was the possibility of reopening the halt at Annacotty Business Park.

Pat Dempsey of Castleconnell Rail Action Group asked that the halt be re-opened given the fact that 1,200 people work in the park and there were forecasts that an extra 2,000 jobs were to be created there. He felt that a stop there would be of benefit to people coming out from Limerick and people travelling down from Nenagh as the halt is directly beside the business park.

However Mr Fearn pointed out that apart from the fact that every stop means a longer journey time, it would cost up to €300,000 to open the halt as they would be required to bring it up to fully operational standard. The short-term priority is the track and new timetable, he said.

Mr Fearn also gave the go-ahead for greater use of the stations, with particular emphasis on groups adopting their local station and entering the company's best train station awards. 'The initiative is with you,' he told the group.

It was felt that Cloughjordan was ideal for such a venture, and the move was welcomed by Duncan Martin.

'Dick Fearn and senior management in Iarnród Éireann have been great to Nenagh Rail Partnership since our first meeting, and I would like to thank them for all their help over the past couple of years,' said Cllr O'Dowd.

Other members of Nenagh Rail Partnership include Cllr Phyll Bugler, Balllina; Cllr Jim Casey, Cloughjordan; Graham Lightfoot, Cloughjordan, and John McNamara, Castleconnell.

[Tadhg17]

It currently takes 53 mins by train from Nenagh to Limerick, so when they do the track improvements it will then take 50 mins according to the times given above? Will these times be revised around September 2008 after the tack improvements? Not much of an improvement on the journey time by the looks of it.

[dowlingm]

Maybe Dick F should have phrased it differently - "I'll add Annacotty if I can delete a stop - you pick which one. My suggestions are Birdhill or Cloughjordan. Also, let me know which Annacotty businesses will be picking up the 300k tab for the halt".

Are there *any* quick cheap improvements that can be made to Nenagh line to squeeze journey times a bit, or are only root-and-branch improvements possible?

[Oisin88]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Maybe Dick F should have phrased it differently - "I'll add Annacotty if I can delete a stop - you pick which one. My suggestions are Birdhill or Cloughjordan.

Cloughjordan is about to double in population as soon as all the eco-warriors get around to moving into "the village"

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Maybe Dick F should have phrased it differently - "I'll add Annacotty if I can delete a stop - you pick which one. My suggestions are Birdhill or Cloughjordan. Also, let me know which Annacotty businesses will be picking up the 300k tab for the halt".

Are there *any* quick cheap improvements that can be made to Nenagh line to squeeze journey times a bit, or are only root-and-branch improvements possible?

There are, and we're are drafting a real timetable that dosnt involve this pathetic idea of splitting trains and IE then saying to the local population "Up to you now"

Originally Posted by Oisin88

Cloughjordan is about to double in population as soon as all the eco-warriors get around to moving into "the village"

Yep, but its not happening till next summer at the earliest.

This wonderfull plan of splitting the train in Nenagh is irrelevant for all those who would use the train from Clough/Ballybrophy/Roscrea to go to work in Limerick. It does give an extra job to a driver and a guard though, make of that what you will.

[dowlingm]

132 households in the Village - maybe 800-1000 more people at most?

I don't have as much of a problem with the split working, it's something I'd like to see IE do more of to be honest to maximise slots out of Heuston/Connolly. It's the same reasoning as starting with Cork-Midleton in the Ove Arup report - better to have the potential for shorter runs and more workings to make the route a success than to go all the way to Roscrea once or twice.

The question is how to make it fast enough to induce people to get off the Limerick-Dublin road with all its upgrades.