Unannounced Timetable Alterations
 

The new platform at Limerick J opens on Sunday, Irish Rail are implementing unannounced schedule changes. Only those who check the journey planner will be aware. I'm sure people who booked reservations weeks ago will not be informed by email of the changes either.

All services departing Limerick J, Charleville and Mallow advanced up to 6 minutes. There will be no changes to scheduled arrivals in Cork.

It seems to have presented a welcome opportunity for even more padding in the timetable. Trains from Dublin mostly leave Limerick Junction 3 mins earlier; they leave Mallow 3 mins earlier. They have given themselves a whopping 28 mins to get from Mallow to Cork.

Even allowing that the Mallow to Cork track isn't the greatest section of the Dublin-Cork mainline, that should easily be possible in 20 mins (maybe give 22-23 mins with reasonable padding) and most trains accomplish it in this.

How will we ever get a faster service if every improvement is used to flatter the punctuality statistics.

There might be taking a wait and see approach to see if improvements materialise.

Quite remarkably, the new platform, which was supposed to make things at Limerick Junction smoother, and consequent timetable changes have actually disimproved the service between Limerick/Dublin and Cork.

The 09:05 from Limerick has now become the 08:55, with the same arrival time of 10:30 in Cork (longer wait time in Limerick Junction and the 08:00 ex-Dublin now takes 60 mins to get from Limerick Junction to Cork instead of 57 mins). Not as bad, but the 16:50 has added a minute (the 16:00 ex Dublin is now scheduled for 61 mins between Limerick Junction and Cork, where it was 57 mins).

Thats just careless scheduling, 08.00 now departs at 09.31 instead of 09.33. So regular 08.55 Limerick-Heuston calls at 09.21 followed by 09.05 calling at 09.31.

Can they just advance 09.05 to 09.00?

It all comes back to them continually adjusting the core Heuston schedule instead of sorting out the growing list of problems.

Any news of how people are coping with the climb up over the footbridge when connecting from a Dublin-Cork train into a Limerick Junction - Limerick connection? Is extra time allowed for this? It used to be a half-minute cross-platform walk.

I assume there is only one lift on each side of he new footbridge. I'd hate to see the mess when a lift breaks down (as they do all too regularly). For such an important footbridge with such a high proportion of users likely to have luggage, there should have been escalators as well as steps. IF they didn't have the money for this, they should have left well enough alone.

As so often with Irish Rail, passenger convenience is totally neglected.

Perhaps the "we have to wait for the annual schedule change" will be deployed here. IE have made a mess of small changes in the past - like the Alan Kelly Express - so caution on the destination timing is not untoward. Not communicating the advancement of departure times is bad though.

Looking at some photos of the new down main Limerick Junction platform, there are no shelters and it's a very exposed spot. Should be real fun on a windy wet day. Also the platform appears to be rather narrow, so the scope for a good shelter may be limited.

Once again: Irish Rail show contempt for passenger comfort.

Looks like shelter spaces are marked out on platform where the concrete is.

Good to see PIS installed however not sure they are operational yet. Very slow construction and its not even fully finished.

There is space set aside for at least 4 shelter on the platform.

Poor show the shelters not installed at opening.

From Monday (18th)

06.20 Galway-Limerick advanced to 06.15.
06.30 Galway-Heuston advanced to 06.25 and will now serve Kildare at 08.12.

https://www.irishrail.ie/news/Galway...metable-Change

The Galway route serving Kildare is to ease pressure on the 05.20 from Westport given the capacity issues.

So when will Cork take it's fair share of traffic considering the rolling stock used isn't a IV and general capacity issues, both the 06.30 ex Galway and 07.05 ex Waterford have had stops added and journeys extended in recebt years.

The 05.50 passes Kildare before the 05.20 ex Westport and the 06.15 straight after and this service is usually cautioned behind the 05.20 until after it stops at Newbridge.

The 05.50 should be scheduled to stop or the 06.15 at Kildare. Both services have plenty of capacity and benefit passengers even more. The 05.50 could even serve Newbridge and drop it from 05.20 ex Westport and give this and the non-stop ex Cork a clear run and arrive on time!

Will there be a December timetable change this year. Cork services could definitely have a few minuets shaved off the journey time due to the new limerick junction platform and ongoing lime improvment works from the last 2 years.
Also is the 06:30 ex Galway full by the time it reaches heuston, or is there spare capacity for the extra stop.

Finally, could the 14:00 Heuston-Cork (Mon-Thu) which is an ICR that does not arrive back in dublin till around 8pm, be swapped for a mkiv, freeing up the 5icr for an additional service.