Why doesn't the Sligo train use platform 7 in Connolly station.
 

I note in the timetable that it takes quite a long time (40 minutes!) for the Sligo train to get the short distance from Maynooth to Dublin. It also blocks every other movement coming from Drumcondra direction to the trainshed.

Surely there is a good possibility of speeding this up by at least 10 minutes if platform 7 was dedicated to Sligo/Longford trains heading out the lesser used line along the canal. There are even sidings just north of platform 7 to store trains without getting in the way of any other movements.

Platforms 5 and 6 would then become the DART/Suburban platforms.

Disadvantage:
Lose the cross-platform interchange at Connolly.

Advantages:
Improved Dublin - Sligo running times by making better use of the existing infrastructure.
Sligo train no longer has to cross any other train paths coming into Connolly.
No money required to do it.
Allows the Sligo train to pass out suburban trains leaving Connolly at the same time, by using a faster route.

Additional disadvantages:
P7 sidings are only large enough for a 3-car 22K or 4-car 29K; the usual 6-car 22Ks won't fit.
Using the Newcomen curve means services can't call at Drumcondra
A very valuable through platform is blocked, causing big issues if a Rosslare service is boarding passengers on P5, or a train breaks down in platform, etc.; as-is you just route DARTs to the available platforms
P5 has a very nasty gap

Any advantage gained is nullified by the fact it is impossible to get from the maintenance shed without crossing in-front of everything

Platforms 1-5 can be accessed without interfering with to DART services

It is an awkward to get to platform 7 and is poor from an accessibility point of view

Obviously if you run some Rosslare services onwards to Sligo you would use platform 7

Is there any reason not to run trains as Sligo-Wexford or Sligo-Rosslare.

I realise driver's hours may be a problem, but you could always switch drivers in Connolly.

A great pro would be that you don't occupy a platform in Connolly with a train waiting for ages to depart,

There would also be a benefit to a small number of passengers who want to travel from destinations on the Sligo line to South Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford or vice versa.

There is a reliability issue with through running plus the Sligo line needs 6 coach trains while Rosslare doesn't. So it ain't easy

The trains have to be cleaned and fueled sometime as well

And there's only a limited set of locations with fuelling facilities?

Where are these? Presumably Inchicore, Port Laoise, Drogheda and Cork or is the list broader than that.

Fuel isn't a big problem, 1200-1400 mile range on the ICR fleet

Need to fill/empty the toilet system can be an issue as is an interior clean.

I would say that if trains were rostered to always go from Sligo to Rosslare via platform 7, and all Rosslare trains departed from platform 7 too it could work. Trains could access the trainshed by calling at platform 5 to drop passengers at Connolly before heading to the shed. No intercity trains would then have to wait at platforms 5 and 6 to pick up, and these could used for DART and suburban trains.

There's also the option of terminating Rosslare trains at platform 10 in Heuston to facilitate connections, and avoid having it wait at Connolly platform 7 prior to departure.

Drivers hours with a Rosslare-Sligo would not be an issue- there are crew changes in quite a few places already. Tralee-Heuston in Mallow for example.

They could give it a try, I guess.

The problem is matching arrival/departure times. Rosslare line doesn't match up in either in frequency or train length

The key issue is that intercity trains needs to sit for a number of minutes to unload and load fully. Try to unload a full Sligo train luggage and all and load up again

Rosslare punctuality isn't great either

Sligo trains using the Midland line couldn't stop at Drumcondra - this would be a major drawback if and when Metro North is built. P7 is also a pain in the rear to get to versus Platform 4.

I would like to see through running between Wexford and Sligo though, for two reasons: 1) better paths through the City Centre, and 2) post Interconnector/MN, passengers could go Wexford-Drumcondra-Airport or Mullingar-Pearse-Howth/Heuston/Kildare/Drogheda etc. with 1 change in addition what options would otherwise be.

But as Mark said, there would be a lot of issues to correct first.

Rosslare or Wexford could do with 6 coaches on some services Mark. Whenever SDO is installed, 1 set should be running this line for the busy services. It's only fair. What about a 5 coach set? Would that be possible. Are Irish Rail considering this?

There are no 5-car trains. Having a 5-car train would mean it would be unique in the fleet and not available when it is being maintained.

2600/2700/2800/29000 class trains are generally in multiples of 2 cars (2/4/6/8). 22000 class trains are in multiples of 3 cars (3/6/9 - 9 hasn't been used).

Would it be possible to run a 6 x22 in the following config:

• Southbound - northernmost end carriage intra-train and entry doors locked out manually.
• Northbound - same lockout (although driver in that carriage) until Rathdrum passed at which time the driver could unlock the doors.

Is there a safety issue or is it just they can fill the 6x22 on a different line due to lack of stock?

I suppose that if/when DART Underground is built, you'd also get problems from having to leave massive gaps in the DART schedule if the InterCity travelled the length of the DART route. Unless overtaking was possible somewhere.

Connolly-Broombridge.

That might possibly create problems due to the passing loop being too short at places like Rathdrum and Enniscorthy. Also, it would have to be the rearmost carriage locked out because otherwise the driver may have to overshoot the signal. Station staff could unlock the doors wherever they are going to become available; there's always a guy with a green flag on the platform.

The coach lockout routine would block the rear coach entirely so bye bye wheechair and bike spaces. All 4 doors would have to be locked out as nearly every platform is too short (Rosslare Europort, Wexford and Enniscorthy platform 1 are okay). When a door is manually locked the emergency release is locked as well and you can't have both very rear doors or both very front doors locked so the entire coach has to be locked out

The fact is only 1 train per day on the Rosslare line needs to be 6 coaches and thats the 7:50 Rosslare Dublin. It would be incredibly inefficient to use 6 coach trains elsewhere much better go with more but shorter trains.

I do believe if more than one door is manually locked due to fault etc. then that carriage must be taken off service because of safety issues (i.e evacuation). I am open to correction though.

thanks for the clarification re the platforms Mark, didn't realise the problems were as extensive beyond known offenders like Rathdrum - but presumably the same problems with respect to the wheelchair/bike spaces would be true if the SDO was fitted, since the same coach would have to be locked out?