More commuter stops needed at Woodlawn

Nigel Fitzgricer · 24-08-2006, 00:27

http://www.athloneadvertiser.ie/index.php?aid=2084

More commuter stops needed at Woodlawn
BY SINEAD MCGOVERN

Woodlawn Station.

People from Woodlawn in east Galway are having a hard time trying to commute to Athlone and Ballinasloe at the minute with just four trains per day stopping at the Woodlawn station.

These trains are scheduled at times which are not convenient for a commuter - 6am, 3.30pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

That's why the Woodlawn Heritage Group called a meeting on the issue at Ballymacward Hall in east Galway last Friday. The meeting was attended by close to 400 people from the local community, two representative from Iarnrod Eireann, and a number of public representatives that included Senator Michael Kitt, east Galway TDs Paul Connaughton, Paddy McHugh, and Joe Callnan, and Cllrs Thomas Mannion and Dermot Connolly.

The campaign was clear - more stops are needed in Woodlawn on the Galway to Dublin service.

Woodlawn station services a large catchment area that includes Ballymacward, Woodlawn Mount Belllew, Menlough, Castleblakney, Kilconnell, and Loughrea, and while campaigners at the meeting praised Iarnrod Eireann for developments at Woodlawn station and for improvements on the service to Galway, returning services from Galway heading east to Woodlawn leave commuters an extra two to three hours in Galway because of the irregularity of trains stopping there.

Campaigner and PRO of Woodlawn Heritage Group, Michael J Kilgannon, tied himself to the railings at Woodlawn station 25 years ago when the station was downgraded, and he remains as motivated today to keep the service coming into the station at a high standard; "The 11 o'clock stop at Woodlawn on the Galway to Dublin run was stopped last December and that's what spurred us to get this campaign going," he told the Athlone Advertiser.

"Now people are unsure as to what trains stop here and this has given way to a lot of confusion and anxiety. People don't know what trains are going to stop because timetables haven't been properly published.

"There is a new level crossing at the station and about €2 million has been invested in the station over the last two years.

I mean, if they are prepared to spend so much money on the station, they should be prepared to use it," he said.

Deputy Paul Connaughton agrees with Mr Kilgannon.

The Mountbellew TD is a regular commuter from Woodlawn to Dublin on his way to Dail Eireann, and he says more stops at the station are badly needed.

"I am a great user of the train service and Iarnrod Eireann must be complimented for the improvements on the line in the direction of Galway, but they must too provide as good a service to the large catchment area that uses the Woodlawn station to commute to Ballinasloe, Athlone, and Dublin."

Service planning manager with Iarnrod Eireann, Myles McHugh, was also at the meeting, and he said he is confident that the service that will be put in place at the time of the next timetable change in December will reflect the pattern of travel of people using the station.

"We have made a commitment to look at the pattern of travel from the station because in order to make changes we need to be confident that new services will be supported locally so that it can be sustained. Hopefully we will be able to meet some of the aspirations of the local people there," he said.

"The gap in the timetable during the morning is quite clear anyway, and we are looking at that."

Retired school teacher Michael J Kilgannon says that the campaigners will not be satisfied unless at least three or four more stops are added at Woodlawn. The campaigners are due to meet with representatives of Iarnrod Eireann again in two to three weeks time.

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 09:15

I have very little time for people who do crazy and stupid things, blocking a railway is an offence and you should be thrown in jail to think it over that kind of behaviour gives supporters of rail travel a bad name, it seems to be a recurring trend in the west to put lives and risk its not helpful and delays passengers who are not so forgiving

All services currently operating at commuter times call at Woodlawn thus unlike say Nenagh it is possible to reach Galway do a full days work and get home, or even have a meal and return shortly after 9pm

Services Woodlawn Galway
7:34 arrive 8:20
9:07 arrive 9:47
13:25 arrive 14:07
21:12 arrive 21:46

Galway Woodlawn
5:30 arrive 5:57 (Dublin 8:20)
15:00 arrive 15:27 (Dublin 17:40)
18:30 arrive 19:06 (Dublin 21:22)
21:10 arrive 21:39 (Athlone 22:15)

A perfectly acceptable service is provided for commuters to Galway, the principle direction of travel, it is possible if you have the stamina to make to Dublin and back also allowing a full working day. We have with relation to Oranmore proposed a further morning/evening service into Galway

The level crossing has zilch to do with anything its upgrade (in 2003) was required under the rail safety rules now in force, its upgrade combined with the new signalling meant a massive safety improvement and reduced operating costs, the new Athlone Galway commuter service commenced as a result

Woodlawn is tiny and does not justify staffing nor does it justify adding 4 to 5 minutes to the already slow Galway Dublin timings which has knock on effects due to the single track. Unless a proper development approach is followed which is unlikely since Woodlawn doesn't exist as any kind of serious village. Galway CC are focusing quite correctly on the Galway Athenry section its future as any kind of station remains firmly in doubt a second platform would require full section M accessibility and that comes to several millions against a extremely low demand. Both Woodlawn and Attymon are odities, Attymon is much closer to closure though since it lacks a passing loop

I can name the 2 IE managers based on there terrible record at public meetings in Kildare nothing will be delivered despite promises. There will be a almost hourly service Galway Dublin in 2009 thats agreed already I'm sure the local vote grabbers will pass that off as a concession they got from IE this year its not

Donal Quinn · 24-08-2006, 10:16

check it out - woodlawn is the little box on the line between attymon and ballinasloe - note the lack of villages - btw afaik 'cloonymorris' is a graveyard at a t-junction - no village there either

woodlawn station is a total anomaly as it was only built to serve the nearby, magnificent but decaying, Woodlawn house - there's no nearby village at all. MAYBE if woodlawn house was saved and developed into a 5star hotel then the staff might perk up the area a bit but in the mean time...

there are probably less than 10 houses within walking distance which means everyone has to drive and if so they are better off driving a bit further and going to athenry or ballinalsoe

fortunately this is unlikely to go any further as there are practically no votes here and even fewer swing voters - actually i'd like to know who exactly all these woodlawn to athlone and ballinasloe commuters are????
considering the morning commuter train to galway arrives into athenry with about 30-40 people on board and most surely got on at athlone and ballinasloe... i wonder where Michael J Kilgannon's offspring work....

Quote:

Woodlawn station services a large catchment area that includes Ballymacward, Woodlawn Mount Belllew, Menlough, Castleblakney, Kilconnell, and Loughrea

I also question this - loughrea is closer to attymon than woodlawn and mountbellew is a long way off and the population of the rest is tiny (it includes New Inn which for a while was famous as being the only village in ireland without a pub)

attymon station is less useless but basically similar - this is real WRC type stuff (and you can see the famous WRC on the left hand side

Mark · 24-08-2006, 11:57

Quote:

Campaigner and PRO of Woodlawn Heritage Group, Michael J Kilgannon, tied himself to the railings at Woodlawn station 25 years ago when the station was downgraded, and he remains as motivated today to keep the service coming into the station at a high standard

Oh my god, he must be starving!

A novel idea might be to close down one and build a new town/village around the other or even close down both and build a new town/village in between.

Fitzgricer eh? Hmm, are you of the Fitzgricer clan in Mayo?

comcor · 24-08-2006, 12:35

Why do these stations even have a stop on the Galway to Dublin service?

About 30 minutes before a Galway-Dublin train, a 2 car commuter should leave and stop at Oranmore, Athenry, Attymon, Woodlawn and Ballinasloe. It should arrive in Athlone just before the Galway-Dublin train and passengers should have a seamless transfer. You could knock 15 minutes off (or provide an extra 15 minutes padding to...) the Galway-Dublin time with this set up.

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 13:13

That doesn't work since you have to be able to cope with a train each hour in each direction to Dublin, we did the assement on this last July (as in 2005) and found best case it is only possible to operate 3 trains per hour between Athenry and Galway, so you can't do a proper service, also you can't have two trains following each other on a single track section under mini CTC so the gap between trains is excessive, i.e A train can only depart Athenry when the proceeding train crosses the bridge into Galway station

As a result of that we had to expand out to two tracks Galway Oranmore, to Athenry if you want to go to Tuam etc. A loop at Oranmore wouldn't really cut it

http://www.platform11.org/reports/#galway

ACustomer · 24-08-2006, 13:19

This has been discussed on this site before. Woodlawn and Attymon should be closed; there can be little doubt that they are an impediment to improving timngs on the Galway route, and intercity passengers must be lost due to the time wasted in picking up the occasional punter from the middle of nowhere.

Its a pity more money was wasted on extending the platforms recently; should have been agolden excuse to close the lot. If IE had any gumption they would publish (a) the passenger and revenue date for these places and (b) the cost in terms of time lost and wear and tear on brakes, extra fuel, etc for the stops.

Why is it that all rationality vanishes West of the Shannon?

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 13:36

Certainly Woodlawn and Attymon should be stripped of all intercity status services

Given they are unstaffed the cost to maintain them is less than €20k pa annum, the likelyhood is proper regional commuter service for Galway is coming thus Woodlawn and Attymon remain serviced and to a higher standard

Slight issue with Woodlawn if I remember the track layout correctly means a non stop train has to slow since the platform is on the through track and line speed is no permitted through the loop points, Woodlawn is just plain werid it only has one platform, until 2003 there was no loop just a siding which made for some fun if trains had to pass

Thomas J Stamp · 24-08-2006, 15:02

Anyone got figures as to the loadings at Woodlawn and Attymon?

Oisin88 · 24-08-2006, 20:31

Has there even been any sort of campaign to have the whole lot doubled to twin track all the way from Portarlington to Galway?

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 20:35

It was always single from Portarlington to Athlone which makes life troublesome

Oisin88 · 24-08-2006, 20:35

That article also states

Quote:

The Mountbellew TD is a regular commuter from Woodlawn to Dublin on his way to Dail Eireann, and he says more stops at the station are badly needed.

Can anyone verify this???
A TD not claiming travel expenses to drive????

Oisin88 · 24-08-2006, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

It was always single from Portarlington to Athlone which makes life troublesome

The victorians designed most of the bridges on this stretch for two tracks though. The cutting in Tullamore and the embankment through the bog east of Tullamore are a bit narrow though.

Was it ever double from Athlone to Galway though?

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 20:42

Galway Dublin via Athlone and Mullingar was double till 1917, the primary route was via Mullingar, Portarlington is the secondary route infact

Its really a cost and time issue, if there had been a second track no planning permission works orders etc would be needed otherwise is seriously messy. Irish Rail have no plans to double the Portarlington Athlone section, its a lot more critical to get Galway Athenry done or else the commuter service will be a joke

Oisin88 · 24-08-2006, 20:45

I remember some sort of spatial plan a few years back that said that the main Galway route would be reverting to the Mullingar line (!???)

Will th eupgrading of commuter services on Athenry-Galway involve the doubling of the track?

Oisin88 · 24-08-2006, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

its a lot more critical to get Galway Athenry done or else the commuter service will be a joke

Looks like the Dublin Commuter belt is pushing into Tullamore and Clara (see ads on Platform 3 Heuston

Mark Gleeson · 24-08-2006, 20:50

The single track configuration between Portarlington and Athlone is quite interesting

Loop at Greashill, Tullamore, Clara and Clonydonnin are all about 8 miles apart so it is in theory possible to have 5 trains an hour passing through

Mark · 25-08-2006, 08:32

The loop in Tullamore is going to be extended eastwards with the planned rebuild of Spollardstown Bridge underway.

Mark Gleeson · 25-08-2006, 08:40

As in towards Portarlington ? through that nasty rock cutting ?

Mark · 25-08-2006, 08:58

Well the bridge is being rebuilt to double track and Irish Rail said they intend extending the loop as far as there from the station. No timescale tho.

24-08-2006, 00:27	#1
Nigel Fitzgricer Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 140	More commuter stops needed at Woodlawn http://www.athloneadvertiser.ie/index.php?aid=2084 More commuter stops needed at Woodlawn BY SINEAD MCGOVERN Woodlawn Station. People from Woodlawn in east Galway are having a hard time trying to commute to Athlone and Ballinasloe at the minute with just four trains per day stopping at the Woodlawn station. These trains are scheduled at times which are not convenient for a commuter - 6am, 3.30pm, 6pm, and 9pm. That's why the Woodlawn Heritage Group called a meeting on the issue at Ballymacward Hall in east Galway last Friday. The meeting was attended by close to 400 people from the local community, two representative from Iarnrod Eireann, and a number of public representatives that included Senator Michael Kitt, east Galway TDs Paul Connaughton, Paddy McHugh, and Joe Callnan, and Cllrs Thomas Mannion and Dermot Connolly. The campaign was clear - more stops are needed in Woodlawn on the Galway to Dublin service. Woodlawn station services a large catchment area that includes Ballymacward, Woodlawn Mount Belllew, Menlough, Castleblakney, Kilconnell, and Loughrea, and while campaigners at the meeting praised Iarnrod Eireann for developments at Woodlawn station and for improvements on the service to Galway, returning services from Galway heading east to Woodlawn leave commuters an extra two to three hours in Galway because of the irregularity of trains stopping there. Campaigner and PRO of Woodlawn Heritage Group, Michael J Kilgannon, tied himself to the railings at Woodlawn station 25 years ago when the station was downgraded, and he remains as motivated today to keep the service coming into the station at a high standard; "The 11 o'clock stop at Woodlawn on the Galway to Dublin run was stopped last December and that's what spurred us to get this campaign going," he told the Athlone Advertiser. "Now people are unsure as to what trains stop here and this has given way to a lot of confusion and anxiety. People don't know what trains are going to stop because timetables haven't been properly published. "There is a new level crossing at the station and about €2 million has been invested in the station over the last two years. I mean, if they are prepared to spend so much money on the station, they should be prepared to use it," he said. Deputy Paul Connaughton agrees with Mr Kilgannon. The Mountbellew TD is a regular commuter from Woodlawn to Dublin on his way to Dail Eireann, and he says more stops at the station are badly needed. "I am a great user of the train service and Iarnrod Eireann must be complimented for the improvements on the line in the direction of Galway, but they must too provide as good a service to the large catchment area that uses the Woodlawn station to commute to Ballinasloe, Athlone, and Dublin." Service planning manager with Iarnrod Eireann, Myles McHugh, was also at the meeting, and he said he is confident that the service that will be put in place at the time of the next timetable change in December will reflect the pattern of travel of people using the station. "We have made a commitment to look at the pattern of travel from the station because in order to make changes we need to be confident that new services will be supported locally so that it can be sustained. Hopefully we will be able to meet some of the aspirations of the local people there," he said. "The gap in the timetable during the morning is quite clear anyway, and we are looking at that." Retired school teacher Michael J Kilgannon says that the campaigners will not be satisfied unless at least three or four more stops are added at Woodlawn. The campaigners are due to meet with representatives of Iarnrod Eireann again in two to three weeks time.

24-08-2006, 13:13	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	That doesn't work since you have to be able to cope with a train each hour in each direction to Dublin, we did the assement on this last July (as in 2005) and found best case it is only possible to operate 3 trains per hour between Athenry and Galway, so you can't do a proper service, also you can't have two trains following each other on a single track section under mini CTC so the gap between trains is excessive, i.e A train can only depart Athenry when the proceeding train crosses the bridge into Galway station As a result of that we had to expand out to two tracks Galway Oranmore, to Athenry if you want to go to Tuam etc. A loop at Oranmore wouldn't really cut it http://www.platform11.org/reports/#galway Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 24-08-2006 at 13:20.

24-08-2006, 13:36	#8
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Certainly Woodlawn and Attymon should be stripped of all intercity status services Given they are unstaffed the cost to maintain them is less than €20k pa annum, the likelyhood is proper regional commuter service for Galway is coming thus Woodlawn and Attymon remain serviced and to a higher standard Slight issue with Woodlawn if I remember the track layout correctly means a non stop train has to slow since the platform is on the through track and line speed is no permitted through the loop points, Woodlawn is just plain werid it only has one platform, until 2003 there was no loop just a siding which made for some fun if trains had to pass Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 24-08-2006 at 13:38.

24-08-2006, 15:02	#9
Thomas J Stamp Chairman/Publicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Home of Hurling Posts: 2,708	Anyone got figures as to the loadings at Woodlawn and Attymon? __________________ We are the passengers

24-08-2006, 20:31	#10
Oisin88 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 608	Western Wonderland Wailway Has there even been any sort of campaign to have the whole lot doubled to twin track all the way from Portarlington to Galway?

24-08-2006, 09:15	#2
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	I have very little time for people who do crazy and stupid things, blocking a railway is an offence and you should be thrown in jail to think it over that kind of behaviour gives supporters of rail travel a bad name, it seems to be a recurring trend in the west to put lives and risk its not helpful and delays passengers who are not so forgiving All services currently operating at commuter times call at Woodlawn thus unlike say Nenagh it is possible to reach Galway do a full days work and get home, or even have a meal and return shortly after 9pm Services Woodlawn Galway 7:34 arrive 8:20 9:07 arrive 9:47 13:25 arrive 14:07 21:12 arrive 21:46 Galway Woodlawn 5:30 arrive 5:57 (Dublin 8:20) 15:00 arrive 15:27 (Dublin 17:40) 18:30 arrive 19:06 (Dublin 21:22) 21:10 arrive 21:39 (Athlone 22:15) A perfectly acceptable service is provided for commuters to Galway, the principle direction of travel, it is possible if you have the stamina to make to Dublin and back also allowing a full working day. We have with relation to Oranmore proposed a further morning/evening service into Galway The level crossing has zilch to do with anything its upgrade (in 2003) was required under the rail safety rules now in force, its upgrade combined with the new signalling meant a massive safety improvement and reduced operating costs, the new Athlone Galway commuter service commenced as a result Woodlawn is tiny and does not justify staffing nor does it justify adding 4 to 5 minutes to the already slow Galway Dublin timings which has knock on effects due to the single track. Unless a proper development approach is followed which is unlikely since Woodlawn doesn't exist as any kind of serious village. Galway CC are focusing quite correctly on the Galway Athenry section its future as any kind of station remains firmly in doubt a second platform would require full section M accessibility and that comes to several millions against a extremely low demand. Both Woodlawn and Attymon are odities, Attymon is much closer to closure though since it lacks a passing loop I can name the 2 IE managers based on there terrible record at public meetings in Kildare nothing will be delivered despite promises. There will be a almost hourly service Galway Dublin in 2009 thats agreed already I'm sure the local vote grabbers will pass that off as a concession they got from IE this year its not

24-08-2006, 12:35	#5
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	Why do these stations even have a stop on the Galway to Dublin service? About 30 minutes before a Galway-Dublin train, a 2 car commuter should leave and stop at Oranmore, Athenry, Attymon, Woodlawn and Ballinasloe. It should arrive in Athlone just before the Galway-Dublin train and passengers should have a seamless transfer. You could knock 15 minutes off (or provide an extra 15 minutes padding to...) the Galway-Dublin time with this set up.

24-08-2006, 13:19	#7
ACustomer Really Regular Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 767	This has been discussed on this site before. Woodlawn and Attymon should be closed; there can be little doubt that they are an impediment to improving timngs on the Galway route, and intercity passengers must be lost due to the time wasted in picking up the occasional punter from the middle of nowhere. Its a pity more money was wasted on extending the platforms recently; should have been agolden excuse to close the lot. If IE had any gumption they would publish (a) the passenger and revenue date for these places and (b) the cost in terms of time lost and wear and tear on brakes, extra fuel, etc for the stops. Why is it that all rationality vanishes West of the Shannon?

24-08-2006, 20:35	#11
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	It was always single from Portarlington to Athlone which makes life troublesome

24-08-2006, 20:42	#14
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Galway Dublin via Athlone and Mullingar was double till 1917, the primary route was via Mullingar, Portarlington is the secondary route infact Its really a cost and time issue, if there had been a second track no planning permission works orders etc would be needed otherwise is seriously messy. Irish Rail have no plans to double the Portarlington Athlone section, its a lot more critical to get Galway Athenry done or else the commuter service will be a joke

24-08-2006, 20:45	#15
Oisin88 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 608	I remember some sort of spatial plan a few years back that said that the main Galway route would be reverting to the Mullingar line (!???) Will th eupgrading of commuter services on Athenry-Galway involve the doubling of the track?

24-08-2006, 20:50	#17
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	The single track configuration between Portarlington and Athlone is quite interesting Loop at Greashill, Tullamore, Clara and Clonydonnin are all about 8 miles apart so it is in theory possible to have 5 trains an hour passing through

25-08-2006, 08:32	#18
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern line Posts: 1,311	The loop in Tullamore is going to be extended eastwards with the planned rebuild of Spollardstown Bridge underway.

25-08-2006, 08:40	#19
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	As in towards Portarlington ? through that nasty rock cutting ?

25-08-2006, 08:58	#20
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern line Posts: 1,311	Well the bridge is being rebuilt to double track and Irish Rail said they intend extending the loop as far as there from the station. No timescale tho.

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