The Cork Dublin Express Train has entered service

[Mark Gleeson]

Well when the drivers swap you don't see the other train till after the other guy moves off

At that hour of night no other reason to stop other than staff, and lets face it the railway is run for the staff not the passengers, we even get this monkey business on the DART and I'm not talking about Fairview

[Mark Gleeson]

Great laugh today 9:30 Cork Dublin

IT went nuts on coach D, but that wasn't all about 2 miles from Lisduff (the quarry beyond Templemore) the PA awakes in the usual robo voice

Due to a mechnical fault on the train there may be a need to detrain, remain onboard until the driver instructs you to leave

Or something close to that

About 15 seconds later the brakes come on hard and I mean as hard as they go and we go from 80-85mph to about 60 mph now of course there is a 70 limit through Lisduff but we dropped to 60 mph which got me somewhat worried

At this point people get really concerned around me, worst case its a suspension bolt nothing that hasn't happened before.

Then the PA does the driver contacting train manager chime and the train manager comes on and instructs us to ignore it

[comcor]

Next week, I get my first run up to Dublin since these were brought in.

The 9:30am set ex-Cork will be a CDE, but the 9pm set ex-Dublin will still be a Mark III.

Is that correct?

[Mark Gleeson]

All Mk4 next week, in fact today should have been all Mk4 bar the 10:40/14:30 but the citygold from Cork this morning was Mk3 since there was a Mk4 breakdown in Heuston last night

21:00 ex Dublin has been Mk4 since September

[portarlington_user]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Great laugh today 9:30 Cork Dublin

IT went nuts on coach D, but that wasn't all about 2 miles from Lisduff (the quarry beyond Templemore) the PA awakes in the usual robo voice

Due to a mechnical fault on the train there may be a need to detrain, remain onboard until the driver instructs you to leave

Or something close to that

About 15 seconds later the brakes come on hard and I mean as hard as they go and we go from 80-85mph to about 60 mph now of course there is a 70 limit through Lisduff but we dropped to 60 mph which got me somewhat worried

At this point people get really concerned around me, worst case its a suspension bolt nothing that hasn't happened before.

Then the PA does the driver contacting train manager chime and the train manager comes on and instructs us to ignore it

I actually noticed some strange noises myself on that train today, sounded like metal dragging type of thing but as I'm suffering a very bad hangover I wondered if it was all in my head!

[Mark Gleeson]

I was back in coach F and apart from being quite wobbly there where no funny noises I picked up on

The noise to listen for is a solid thump under the floor that might indicate a suspension bolt failure

[IHIR]

got mk4 on friday on 13.30 cork to dublin - just took off and got to just past the tunnel at kent station where the train stopped for 10/15 minutes, no explanation, no apology - got in on time though

[Mark Gleeson]

Did another Mk4 pass you? Sounds like a swap from the 11:00 ex Dublin

That was set 4005 when it left Heuston at 9:00 am it stopped at Inchicore for 20 seconds

[IHIR]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Did another Mk4 pass you?

I didnt think so but it may have - either way it shouldnt have happened

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Due to arrive 7:35 in Portarlington, arrived at 8.05 after the station intially announcing a 20 min delay, they changing to a 29 minute delay.

Announcement on train when we boarded to "apologise the the passengers and also to those who have just boarded" (more passengers??) for the delay which was due to electrical failures between Ballybrophy and Port and (I think) Thurles and Templemore.

Got into Heuston at about 8:50, PA announcements there apologising for inconvenience too.

Dying to see how the service goes when it gets pushed back by 10 mins in Jan. Will I ever see 8:30 on the clock in Heuston??

[Mark Gleeson]

There is a well known electrical fault which halts the train when driven from the pointy end

I got stuck in Kildare for 45 minutes as a result in the past

[portarlington_user]

Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz

Will I ever see 8:30 on the clock in Heuston??

I got this train on Saturday just gone - it arrived near enough on time, went at a normal train speed up, and I saw 8.29 on the clock in Heuston. Why can't they do it the rest of the week??

[Mark Gleeson]

Since Monday to Friday there is a train ahead of it arriving at 8:25 and if that one is 30 seconds late so are you

It has been offically recognised that the timetable was impossible should be sorted next year

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Unreal - just got an email from a mate.
She went for the 21.00 last night, which left late for starters and then sat outside Kildare for 40 minutes - only getting into Port at 22.45.

I'll get more details but if anyone was on it, do share - the amount of 21.00's going late in the last while seems a bit OTT.

EDIT
Right - MK4, didn't depart until around 21.20, no reason given.
Reached Kildare at 21:55 after an extra stop at Newbridge.
Announcement outside Kildare train was waiting for platform clearance and train would be off again in 5 mins. This became over 30 mins.
Free tea and coffee offered.

(and tell me if this should be in the Up to Date Travel info forum instead)

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz

(and tell me if this should be in the Up to Date Travel info forum instead)

Not really................... since it happened last night.

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp

Not really................... since it happened last night.

You know what I meant

[2Funki4Wheelz]

21.00 - last night, most reserved seats I've ever seen and a queue to the front door.
No yellow t-shirts, (unsurprising), didn't board until about 20.50 with no preference for the reserved ticketholders. Host hid in first class, as always.
There was a few people turfed out of seats by their rightful owners, some people just didn't see or know about the little electronic name displays.
But not that bad, everyone very civilised!

Ridewise: I was in Coach C, it was the 4006 which was very rocky between Heuston and Clondalkin and again between Monasterevin and Portarlington.

5:30 - this morning, +15 mins late in Port (as was I ), no announcements on board, unscheduled stops at Kildare and Newbridge which didn't show on the electronic display which kept saying Heuston. Despite lateness and stops, got into Heuston at 8:38.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz

21.00 - last night, most reserved seats I've ever seen and a queue to the front door.
No yellow t-shirts, (unsurprising), didn't board until about 20.50 with no preference for the reserved ticketholders. Host hid in first class, as always.

The issue of missing hosts has been discussed with management as has the invisable yellow t shirts

Ridewise: I was in Coach C, it was the 4006 which was very rocky between Heuston and Clondalkin and again between Monasterevin and Portarlington.

Rides crap anyway through those sections, 4006 has the modifications you will notice them a lot less swaying around, its been very wet recently which doesn't help

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

its been very wet recently which doesn't help

Wet? In Ireland?? No wonder we're not prepared for crazy weather like that


tbh - most of the hosts are very good and walk up and down and help people find seats when it's full etc but definitely for boarding they mind the rich people.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz

Wet? In Ireland?? No wonder we're not prepared for crazy weather like that

It unstabilises embankments,

Originally Posted by 2Funki4Wheelz

tbh - most of the hosts are very good and walk up and down and help people find seats when it's full etc but definitely for boarding they mind the rich people.

Name and shame there aren't many of them and given its the 21:00 its a Cork one

Citygold is mean't to have its own host