DOT Announce new trains
 

From DOT website.

I was speaking with Mark earlier about this and we're in agreement that this is a little misguided. New trains are always welcome, but what's with IEs continued ignorance for getting the right train for the right job.

For a start, if these new trains (and we know what they look like) are to operate the existing commuter services from Athlone, Portlaoise and Carlow, how awkward is it going to be when it comes to loading the high volume commuter traffic through single doorways (as opposed to the preferred double door) Add to this the fact that these trains are not designed to accomodate large amounts of passengers standing and this "great" announcement looks decidely dodgy.

Have IE got it wrong yet again?

The doors are issue, we had a chance to buy a suitable regional train, note regional something that is good for say 70-100 mile range and can cope with a reasonable number of standees while still offering a high quailty interior.

I've seen inside the new railcars and they aint going to be standing friendly

Station dwell times are a major issue

There are other issues but I think the RSC have to well worded already

Well I think it's a positive development, I mean come on Athlone? Jayzus that's obviously well into long distance territory. I don't know if Athlone was all P/P or has Arrow DMUs running to it but if it did, that was just retarded.

New, high quality trains are always a good thing IMO and for the length of the journey they should aim to seat as many in as much comfort as possible. Even if these cars turn out not to be the best for the job of long-haul commuting, there will definately be a better use for them somewhere else like regional services like Galway to Limerick, or the lightly used lines ex-Limerick - which may well be where some of these cars end up.

It is true that IE has a has a habit of getting the wrong trains for the job, that can be said of just about everything they bought since their inception in 1986, but given what has been said about these railcars, I'm starting to think they're kinda getting the hang of it. Maybe just a bit.

The REAL question is, what happens to those Push Pull Mk3s now?

are these 33 the options on the previous order?,I thought IE had taken them up already?

As did we, we knew about the first 30 since during our campaign to get proper trains to Sligo we got a written undertaking that a IC railcar was to be allocated to the Sligo line and when I pushed for from where I met a blank that was about a week before IE signed we knew there where more.

Point is someone is now spending a fortune on trains not suitable for intended use. Now I can understand that its a lot easier to order something by adding it on to another order but as it stands today the new railcars have no safety case, no guage clearance etc.

Strangely the perfect train for the job already has a safety case for running in Ireland and has gauge clearance eliminating the risk

Of course note there is nothing on the IE site about this whole thing

I would imagine they'll simply modify the interior for commuting purposes. The fact that there is no actual need to get rid of the mk3 push pulls so fast is irrelevant, i suppose.

im really not liking the sound of this,these trains better be decent,

btw how come the goverment is throwing money at trains that don't need to be replaced,while dublin bus,bus eireann are in dire need of new buses?

IE is not subject to any licensing or competition issues.

Principle problem here is the use of a intercity train on a commuter run, admittedly a long distance one.

Getting off a intercity train in Heuston is a slow process as everyone knows it can be 2-3 minutes before you set foot on the platform, compare this to a suburban type train where you can unload the entire train in under 60 seconds, now try to offload 100+ at Sallins, Newbridge, Kildare etc and you see why the doors issue becomes important in ensuring the fast efficent service

There is nothing wrong with the Mk3 design for intercity use and it can be overhauled to meet all the accessibilty requirements, the cost is about a tenth of a new coach.

So in reality the new trains won't offer a more comfortable experience, they won't offer a interior suitable for standing and a 6 coach Mk3pp set still has more seats and can be fairly sure the ride will still be the best in the fleet again important if you are standing

there options were?

1)Refurb the pp
2) Buy more IC DMUS
3)buy more 29000,(can they?)

have flash lookin Intercity Dmus probably looks better on posters

Or buy the 3CK's NIR have which are perfect for the job

You're right, that would probably have been the best.

Bus Eireann & Dublin Bus in dire need of new buses? huh?? :eek: Have I landed in the bus lovers forum or the rail users one?

They were the perfect buy for our commuter services up to 70 miles. Comfortable, sleek looking, carpeted interior and most importantly they have double doors and plenty of standing room. I think IE are still stuck in a scenario where the DOT actually decide, on the basis of a quick fix. (especially in election year)

We'll wait and see. Still sounds like a very misguided decision.

Well if you ever got on a ten year old dublin bus in the pouring rain,and relise its wetter inside the bus than out,Cracking in roofs on buses seem widespread on the routes that i get.