[05/03/2013] Delays at Monasterevan for Heuston-bound services

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4777&p=116&n=237

Services into Heuston are currently delayed due to a mechanical problem on a train at Monasterevan
05 March 2013

Services into Heuston are currently delayed due to a mechanical problem on a train at Monasterevan

Services out of Heuston are operating as normal.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for any inconvenience caused

[Jamie2k9]

Services back moving, average delays 50-70 minutes but should clear quick. Some outbound services may have minor delays due to late arrivals.

[Destructix]

In the UK for every minute a train is late the company is fined £150
This really needs to be brought in here. 50-70 minute delays in 2013 are a disgrace

[Mark Gleeson]

As of end March 2013 Irish Rail operations will be subject to penalties for not sticking to the timetable paths provided by Irish Rail infrastructure

[Jamie2k9]

As of end March 2013 Irish Rail operations will be subject to penalties for not sticking to the timetable paths provided by Irish Rail infrastructure

In principal it is good but hope it won't be an excuse to increase journey times to allow for some delays.

[ACustomer]

In this case the delay was caused by a track machine or inspection car breaking down (responsibility of Irish Rail Infrastructure), which was rescued by a locomotive on a freight train operated on a scheduled path.

So who should pay whom?

And if a big delay occurs because some clown strikes a bridge, who will pay? I can see endless disputes about responsibility to pay.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by ACustomer

In this case the delay was caused by a track machine or inspection car breaking down (responsibility of Irish Rail Infrastructure), which was rescued by a locomotive on a freight train operated on a scheduled path.

So who should pay whom?

If that is the case, infrastructure should pay operations.

And if a big delay occurs because some clown strikes a bridge, who will pay? I can see endless disputes about responsibility to pay.

The truck operator or their insurer pays.

There will be some cases of unassignable blame.

[ACustomer]

Mark: you mentioned "penalties for not sticking to the timetable paths". Well, suppose there is a delay for some reason, e.g bridge strike, and as a result trains are out of place. The optimal solution might well be to improvise, use a bit of initiative and run some trains out of the timetabled sequence. The dumb thin might be to stick rigidly to the timetabled pathing sequence. Could the creative option be penalised?

I hope they are aware of the law of unintended consequences.

[James Howard]

Does it really matter who is paying who if it is Irish Rail operations paying Irish Rail infrastructure or some regulator? It is only the left-hand paying the right-hand and the money can be made flow back if it needs to.

The only worthwhile penalty is a passenger refund.

[Sealink]

Originally Posted by Destructix

In the UK for every minute a train is late the company is fined £150
This really needs to be brought in here. 50-70 minute delays in 2013 are a disgrace

The UK is not a good example.
Fining the train companies in the UK has just led to padded timetables, trains not being held for late connecting services and er, the tax payer ultimately plays the fine.