Heuston - inbound delays waiting for platform

[Kilocharlie]

Frequently trains approaching Heuston are held in the 'gullet' awating platform clearance.

Good example this morning the 0600 ex Waterford was heading for an 0815 arrival ( 5 min early) but was stopped for 6-7 minutes awaiting, according to the driver, platform clearance. When the train finally arrived at 0825 there were 3 empty platforms!

So what is causing these apparently unnecessary delay??

[Mark Gleeson]

Which platform did you end up in? and by front or rear of the carriage shed

platforms 6/7/8 can only be accessed from a single track so if a train is coming out of those platforms you can't go in. Platforms 4 and 5 can be accessed from both sides. Platform 1 is only 90m long and can't be accessed if something is coming in/out of platform 2

Also for operational reasons, not all platforms have fuel and water systems yet so they can get picky to have the train in the right place for its next journey. Back in the day Cork trains were banned from platforms 1,2 & 3

There is a hidden empty train at 08:25 to Portlaoise

[Kilocharlie]

Train arrived at platform 8. 3, 4 and 6 were vacant. All these now have servicing capability. No train passed by while we were waiting unless it was hidden by the valeting shed and that would not affect 6-8.