[14.10.2013] Reduced peaktime DART capacity due to driver issue

[Mark Gleeson]

This morning, those wonderfully passenger focused DART drivers refused to carry out a basic door interlocking tests on DART trains before bringing them into service. As a result it was 4 coach only this morning as the short weekend trains could not be coupled up

Needless to say the check is trivial and exists for a very good reason

RAIU PER- Wrong side failure of DART doors 10/08/2013, Salthill Dart Station (Ireland)

On 10 August 2013 a southbound DART service departed Sathill station Dublin without all its doors closed

This occurred due to the train not being correctly coupled together as the electrical connections were not made correctly.

In rail industry "Wrong side failure" relates to a failure of a safety critical system which fails in a dangerous state as distinct from safe state which is deemed a right side failure. The doors opened in the correct side.

As a result the door interlock circuit thought the train was short, and the doors on the rear portion of the train while they opened/closed normally there was no interlock to prevent the train moving if they were open.

The driver was able to move the train with passenger doors open, despite the indication given in the cab indicating all were locked.

[Mickey H]

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4929&p=116&n=237

Reduced peaktime DART capacity due to driver issue
14 October 2013

Some DART services are operating with reduced peaktime capacity today due to a driver issue.

Peak time DARTs normally operate with a mix of 8-carriage, 6-carriage and 4-carriage trains. The effect of this issue will be that most DARTs will operate as a 4-carriage train, and a small number will operate as a 2-carriage train. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

This is due to a refusal by drivers to carry out a coupler check before DART trains leave the depot to enter service.

This check verifies that an electrical connection is complete through the train when multiple DART units are connected together. This is to ensure that doors are correctly interlocking.

The check is temporary in nature, as a modification is to be carried out to the fleet which will address the issue. Drivers had been carrying out the check since its introduction last month. However, following SIPTU indicating, outside of agreed procedures, that it would no longer cooperate with this check, they are not being carried out by drivers today resulting in shorter trains.

Should this issue remain unresolved, it will continue to affect morning and evening peak DART services.

[James Howard]

I was wondering why Connolly seemed unusually quiet this morning. Being somebody who works for a company that has to get money from customers who have other options, I can't even begin to understand the mindset involved in this.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4929&p=116&n=237

Additional DART peak capacity to be restored from this evening

14 October 2013

Iarnród Éireann has advised customers that additional peak capacity will be provided on DART services this evening (Monday 14th October), with the company working to restore as much peak capacity as possible. While there may be some shorter trains, most will operate to planned size. Tomorrow morning (Tuesday 15th October), it is expected normal peak capacity will be restored in full.

This follows communication between Iarnród Éireann and SIPTU, which will see the planned talks on this issue go ahead tomorrow, and coupler checks resume.

Iarnród Éireann apologises to customers for the discomfort and inconvenience caused this morning when peak services operated with significantly reduced capacity. This was as a result of the refusal by drivers to undertake the checks, which verifies that an electrical connection is complete through the train when multiple DART units are connected together to form longer trains. This is to ensure that doors are correctly interlocking.

Peak time DART services ordinarily operate as a mix of 8-carriage, 6-carriage and 4-carriage trains. However, this morning’s services were predominantly operated by 4-carriage trains, and some 2 carriage trains also.

Additional peak capacity will be restored for this evening, and normal peak capacity will be provided tomorrow morning onwards, as the issue is addressed through agreed procedures.