[03-12-2006] - Delays due to Santa Special
 

The 1616 Connoly - Longford was delayed for 25 mins outside Maynooth due to the RPSI special occupying a platform and having to wait for the sligo - dublin to pass.

After 10 mins the sligo train passed us but we still had to wait 15 mins for the steam train to run around. Good to see that regular customers are delayed at the expense of the seasonal users.

We eventually arrived in Maynooth at 1715.
I passed the train station at 1730 and the Longford train was still waiting to leave...

Ah where's your Christmas spirit!!! :D

If my delayed train had a bar just like the steam train then my spirits would have been a lot better! :)

There was a signalling fault on the Maynooth line today, the DART line was well screwed up thanks to a few trees not helping maters

Again no date or time but it appeared after 16:30

In 21st century Ireland and in the run up to Christmas, Im of the opinion that the RPSI should be told no way to Santa specials in the Dublin City area. I think its time the Government and CIE listened to the pleas of preservation societies and co-operated in the provision of dedicated sites alignments etc.

With all due respect to the RPSI, the failure/delay risk posed by a preserved steam train on a mainline is contrary to the provision of an efficient rail service. Its not beyond the bounds of reality to say that additional train paths are used up by the Santa Specials. As Sunday is a "quiet day", it appears alright. But I was told today that Santa specials could actually effect the operation of the new Kildare Sunday service, if IE saw sense and extended it to Pearse.

One to think about.