Recent Cork trip

[EnterpriseUser]

I took the 1200 to Cork yesterday and the 0630 up this morning. It is not a route I use very often. I was very impressed with the train; the helpfulness of IE personnel and overall experience. I had lunch on the way down and breakfast on the way up. Both meals excellent and reasonably priced. Breakfast on Aer Lingus (tiny by comparison ) is around the same price. We were early into Cork and Dublin. A faster service would be worth having; in fact it is someting of a mystery that with the enormous investment in infrastructure and trains that timings are not much faster.

The clockface timetable is a superb innovation; in the old service model there seemed little logic in the timetable.

All in all, the Dublin Cork service is up there with the best in these islands and so much better than anything previously experienced. One does miss the old days of the 1730 down to Cork which was like a club in motion with what seemed like industrial quantities of Paddy and Cork Dry being consumed! Those days are gone forever.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by EnterpriseUser

A faster service would be worth having; in fact it is someting of a mystery that with the enormous investment in infrastructure and trains that timings are not much faster.

Cork-Dublin probably has, on average, the oldest track of the main lines, a lot of it dating back to the late 1980s and there are quite a few sections that aren't up to scratch and have speed restrictions. The next few years, should see improvements with a new (to Ireland) type of track and the bedding in of Hazelhatch-Heuston.

[Mark Gleeson]

Late 1970's in places, though the very oldest sections of track near Templemore are still taken at 90mph.

Its all about proper maintenance, the track north of Portlaois is in much worse condition than that south of, different local management.

[kieran4003]

Is it true there is some heavier track being put down or something and the train will be smoother? Sometimes i find the train very shaky and it can sway too from side to side i think.

[Mark Gleeson]

All renewed track is going to be UIC60 type, there are stretches between Portlaoise and Portarlington, around Charleville and the pair of new Kildare route tracks.

Its heavier, stiffer and significantly smoother and boy you notice it when you cross onto the good stuff!

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Its heavier, stiffer and significantly smoother and boy you notice it when you cross onto the good stuff!

Yup, its more a metal rolling on metal sound than shake, rattle and roll.

[dowlingm]

UIC60 might make rail neighbours happier too:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/growth/...tion-rail.html

[finnyus]

Its now in place on stretches between Cork and Mallow as well.