2011 Proposed Timetable - Heuston Based Services

[Jamie2k9]

On the Irish Rail website there is a option to give timetable feedback for the proposed new timetable. It's about time that IR listen to passengers.

http://www.irishrail.ie/contact_us/t...e_comments.asp

One good thing is that some Waterford - Dublin services will only spend 4 minutes in Kilkenny but the rest remain unchanged at 5 minutes.

IR propose the 13:20 to depart at 13:10 and arrive in Waterford at 15:25.
Spent 6 minutes waiting in Carlow.
Stop in Athy.

[pixiebean22]

What are they delaying the first morning train from Waterford for? I know it's only 5 minutes but that makes all the difference when it comes to Irish Rail.

The 6.10 couldn't arrive on time so they moved it to 6.00 (I'm not saying this was IR's reason for changing the timetable then) and now they're moving it to 6.05 to arrive at 8.25 which probably means around 8.35-8.40

[James Howard]

Why doesn't this apply to Connolly? Are there no proposed changes to timetables out of Connolly or is it that there are potentially negative changes to the Connolly timetables and they would rather present them as a done deal?

[Jamie2k9]

On the above link provided it states:

Connolly and DART related timetables are not available at this time but your comments are still welcome.

[James Howard]

I had noticed that, but while such comments might be welcomed, they can hardly be expected to useful or constructive given the absence of information on which they could be based.

[Mark Gleeson]

Heuston is mainly a change for the 4 tracks and the return of a number of ICR coaches

We have already submitted a comprehensive timetable for Connolly which brings a clockface pattern on all routes

[Jamie2k9]

Heuston is mainly a change for the 4 tracks and the return of a number of ICR coaches

They could of improved the journey times between Newbridge and Heuston. A lot of Waterford trains are taking 30 minutes between Newbridge - Heuston with some taking 34 minutes.

[Kilocharlie]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Heuston is mainly a change for the 4 tracks and the return of a number of ICR coaches

While there are few changes taking advantage of the 4-track - 1425, 1620 and 1855 to Newbridge will run 5 mins ahead for the 1430,1625 and 1900 resp enabling overtaking, there is one glaring exception - the 1725 to Limerick.

The 1725 to Limerick dawdles behine the 1715 Newbridge requiring 43 mins to reach Kildare when this trip can be done in 30mins unimpeded; the proposed timetable leaves the status-quo when a 5 min shift of either the 1715 or 1725 to 1720 would also enable an overtaking and a saving of 13 mins for the Limerick train.

[Kilocharlie]

Originally Posted by Jamie2k9

They could of improved the journey times between Newbridge and Heuston. A lot of Waterford trains are taking 30 minutes between Newbridge - Heuston with some taking 34 minutes.

Agreed. 25 mins is more appropriate for Newbridge-Heuston non-stop. Yesterday the 0600 from Waterford made Kildare-Heuston in 30mins including a Newbridge stop but it was totally unimpeded on the journey.

[Jamie2k9]

25 would be much better. On Sundays the 18:05 Waterford - Heuston can do Newbridge - Huston in 20 mins.

The new timetable proposed that the 1i8:05 will now be behind the 19:50 Newbridge - Heuston which serves all stops to Heuston.

I have suggested that the 18:05 Waterford - Heuston will now depart at 18:45 and arrive in Heuston at 21:05 or 21:15. As a result the 17:40 to Waterford will have to depart at 17:45 and the 18:40 will have to depart at 18:50. These new Sunday evening times affect no other services to/from Heuston so we will see if Irish Rail mean what they say. A lot of passengers feel that the 18:05 arrives in Heuston to early.

I also highlighted the train shortage in Waterford on Monday mornings.

[Colm Moore]

https://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=991

New Public Consultation Process for Rail Timetable Changes Introduced: Check Draft schedules now by Corporate Communications
10th January 2011

Iarnród Éireann has announced a new process for major rail schedule revisions which will ensure that customers have a say in timetable changes before they are formally adopted.

The new process will see draft revisions posted online on this website, and provide a response form for customers to express opinions on changes proposed, or any other schedule issues they wish to see addressed. These are then examined before the final timetable is adopted.

The first customers to benefit from this new process will be those on:
- Intercity and Commuter routes to and from Heuston Station
- Cork-Tralee and Cork commuter routes
- Regional routes such as Galway to Limerick, Waterford to Limerick Jn, and Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh

Draft schedules are now on this website by clicking this link http://www.irishrail.ie/contact_us/timetable_comments.asp – and we are asking customers for their opinions on the proposed schedule over the next four weeks.

These will then be examined to identify major issues and improvements suggested by customers. Iarnród Éireann will endeavour to implement customers’ suggestions where possible. Suggested alterations which cannot be implemented at this timetable change will be retained in a database for consideration at future timetable reviews.

It would then be intended to implement the new schedules, incorporating customer feedback, by April of this year.

This new initiative is the ideal way for customers to see the changes we propose, and for us to hear our customers views on the changes, and on existing schedule issues they wish to see addressed.

It will be easy to access for everybody, ensuring we get the widest possible level of feedback.

We would encourage all customers on these routes to take a few minutes to look at their route and the proposed changes, and to let us know what they think – whether they are completely happy with the schedule we are proposing, or whether it creates difficulties for them.

We will be using this process for all major schedule revisions in the future, with draft schedules for Connolly Station routes, including Intercity, DART and Commuter, to be published in the coming weeks.

Highlights of the new schedule proposals include:
- Journey time improvements, including on some Heuston-Cork and Limerick-Galway services
- Improved connections between Limerick-Galway and key Galway-Dublin services
- Improved Athenry-Galway commuter services, and new evening Galway-Ennis & Ennis-Galway commuter service
- Improved connections between Waterford-Limerick Junction trains and Intercity services
- Extra Sunday Cork-Midleton trains

While these are the more significant changes, Iarnród Éireann advises all customers on all routes to view the draft schedules, as many services will see departure time changes, or changes to stopping patterns of individual changes which may affect their journeys.

[Jamie2k9]

The 6.10 couldn't arrive on time so they moved it to 6.00 (I'm not saying this was IR's reason for changing the timetable then) and now they're moving it to 6.05 to arrive at 8.25 which probably means around 8.35-8.40

They have put the proposed 6:05 Waterford - Heuston back to 06:00 arriving at 08:20.

[Kilocharlie]

Not only the 0600 ex waterford. They have changed their minds about running the 0500 at 0515 ex cork and 0720 at 0705 from Portlaoise. They are reverting to something like the existing morning timetable. Which in my view is better than the 1st draft.

Advancing the 0720 ex Portlaoise by 15 mins essentially removed a train from the busy 0740 to 0805 slot from Kildare inwards and greatly increased the risk of overcrowding on the remaining services especially on 3-car Mondays.

[dowlingm]

Interesting that they felt it was worth adding another late commuter rotation to Athenry-Galway. 32 services a day now on a line that is almost entirely single track!

At least they seem to be "sweating" the line presumably by sending out a train that presumably would otherwise have been polluting the trainshed in Galway doing nothing.

[Mark Gleeson]

Thats is a train that was sitting is sent out and back for a dash to Athenry, you can get out and back in 40 minutes.

32 a day is nothing Greystones manages 60

Really you need 2 tracks Athenry Galway and a few stations, train every 20 minutes peak. Would speed things up greatly for intercity and provide a world class commuter service.

But everyone in the west want to go to Claremorris for some reason you know...

[Alan French]

I have a question about the Dublin-Cork line. The 07.30 from Cork and the 17.00 from Dublin are much faster than the other runs, even after allowing for the number of stops. Does anyone know why? The change actually dates from last October and is repeated in the proposed new timetable. As far as I know, they are the same kind of trains as all the other runs. Have they just less padding?

Before I work out my proposals to send to IR, it would be good if anyone could answer this. You see what I'm getting at? - I would like to know if the other trains could speed up.

[Mark Gleeson]

The times on those trains are strangely different from others and in practice are not delivered

Best reasonably possible times Dublin Cork are currently

2 stops 2:34
3 stops 2:40
4 stops 2:45
5 stops 2:50

Dublin Thurles 74 minutes (70 + 4)
Thurles Dublin 80 minutes (70 + 10)

[Thomas J Stamp]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The times on those trains are strangely different from others and in practice are not delivered

i agree in relation to the 17.00, it just looks good on the timetable..

[CSL]

Is it even worth asking about an earlier outbound 0600 Heuston-Cork ? If you want to do business in Limerick or Cork and get the train you won't get in before 0905 into Colbert, and around 1000 into Ceannt.

(same for Enterprise to Belfast but thats a different service )

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by CSL

Is it even worth asking about an earlier outbound 0600 Heuston-Cork ? If you want to do business in Limerick or Cork and get the train you won't get in before 0905 into Colbert, and around 1000 into Ceannt.

Isn't Ceannt Galway?