Monthly Archives: March 2010

NASRUG meet with IrishRail

Posted on by
4

NASRUG met with IrishRail at the start of last week to discuss various issues on the rail service from Naas and Sallins station. Full minutes are below.

Meeting Report

NASRUG met with Irish Rail on Monday 25th March.

Present for NASRUG: James Lawless, John Cunniffe, Conor McGarry

Present for Irish Rail: Myles McHugh

1. Timetable

JL queried whether a new timetable could be introduced Summer 2010 due to KRP concluding. MMcH stated that line capacity in place but dependency on rolling stock. Stock on order for delivery 2011. Passenger numbers down at present. Next timetable to be introduced November 2010. Agreed a dedicated meeting would be held Autumn for timetable inputs.

JL Asked whether Docklands station might allow Phoenix park tunnel trains into town – answer no because Meath on track about to link in there via new line at Pace.

2. Punctuality

MMcH acknowledged punctuality had been an issue from Nov 09 thru Jan 10. Measures taken in Jan 10 by IR seem be working. NASRUG acknowledged recent improvement. Noted the 6.31am train still unreliable. MMcH to check this service.

3. Station Upgrade

JL asked when would the station upgrade finally take place? MMcH said that Sallins had “fallen between gaps” with KRP on one side and intercity station revamps on the other. Said design now in progress. Aiming provide disability access by end 2010. Dependent on department transport funding but MMcH said department had always supported disability projects to date. CCTV and other upgrades planned alongside. Access may not take form of lift possibly overhead ramp and bridge instead.

4. Miscellaneous

Smart cards currently being rolled out on DART line, may be rolled out later in year on Sallins line. Discussed repair work at station car park including broken bollards and patch ground. Useful discussion on future of underground carpark also. Asked whether bike rack can be secured with concrete, MMcH to progress. JC raised late boarding of 17.35 MMcH to investigate. Announcements raised (as always) and mismatched station announcements.

5. Infrastructure

Metro West investment received EU approval last week. Interconnector at advanced stage design.

————————————————————————————————————————

Coincidentally an article appeared in some local media last week surrounding the disability access issues at the station and suggesting the issue was in hand - sample coverage:(http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Sallins-train-station-to-get.6176342.jp).

The reports (which obviously followed the script of a press release) did not relate to what was discussed at the meeting, the information (for what it was worth) was not shared with those of us attending the meeting and I would have to wonder as to its timing and why this was released within the same week as the ‘official’ set piece meeting was due to take place. Could it have been an attempt to hog the headlines and displace the ‘official’ meeting in news cycles? Or am I too cynical?

“Excellent in parts”..

Posted on by
11

According to wikipedia the phrase “curate’s egg” refers to something that is partly good and partly bad, but as a result is entirely spoiled. Modern usage has tended to change this to mean something having a mix of good and bad qualities. I am still veering between the two definitions in the context of this cabinet reshuffle.

It is possible to support a party without supporting its leadership. It is possible to support a party without supporting a government led by that party. Neither would be a normal situation but these are not normal times. I suspect there may be a number within the Fianna Fáil family falling into one or both of the above camps at present. A little like Catechism it can be argued that one is either “in or out” and that an a la carte approach is not possible. For my part I continue dining at my preferred restaurant but I do reserve right of judgement on the set menu.

Some good people were promoted yesterday and I am very plased for them. Dara Calleary, whom I know from old, is an intelligent, erudite and hard working politician. Very glad to see him moved up the chain. Pat Carey is another good performer ; a different mould but again capable and articulate – slightly surprised to see him in Gaeltacht affairs (as an urbane city gent) but like all good professionals, one must adapt and change as required. (Which incidentally, is exactly the skill our own commander in chief needs to develop.)

No problem with Tony Killeen and good to see a fellow yellow belly (Sean Connick from Wexford) move up the ranks. Batt O’Keeffee will be a safe pair of hands in enterprise and his robust approach may well bring a hardnosed effectiveness to the various negotiations involved. Bully boy tactics from Mick O’Leary and co won’t be expected cause Batt too much bother.

As for the curate’s egg… I am not about to commit complete hari kiri but .. for my liking .. very conservative… very cautious .. very late. Vacancies were filled and and a swap or two was made. It would appear minimal change was desired. Which is not what I felt was needed. I like Noel Dempsey, I like Dermot Ahern and I like Brian Lenihan (who is doing a fine job, better than many in the full of their health). But on the subject of health, there are many many Fianna Fáilers that could do at least as good if not a far better job than the independent TD from west Dublin. Likewise I would not have put the Tánaiste into Education and I would not have given the greens their power grabbing new junior. There is plenty of talent on the backbences and it appears under the current regime that is where it will stay. I would have thought this was not a time for making the minimum substitutions necessary; rather a time for throwing out the rulebook. I regret this may come to be seen as a lost opportunity up to and far beyond the next general election. Lord, help me to be hopeful.

Bio Energy ; Once bitten, twice shy

Posted on by
10

There has been much furore over the past few days about a proposal to construct a bio-energy, power generation plant at Kerdiffstown (Sallins) to be accessed via the Monread road.

 In brief the plant would ‘compost’ organic waste materials to produce an effluent gas which would then be converted to power / electricity. This is a renewable energy source and has the dual benefit of disposing of waste materials whilst producing essential energy. Such plants are common on the continent and in use in many countries. I am not aware of another in Ireland at present although I am open to correction on that.

Kerdiffstown and surrounding areas (Sallins / Kill / Johnstown / North Naas) have suffered at the hands of waste disposal for some time, with the nefarious Neiphim Trading causing serious problems on the Kerdiffstown road over a period of years cluminating this year when the odours reached an all time high (low?) and in some cases people were literally forced to flee their homes in the surrounding area. Whilst it was always an issue for people on the road, amazingly in the surrounding areas until recently there were those who remained unaware of the problem. I remember people asking me what it was when I mentioned the issues in a newsletter at one stage during the local election campaign. However the past twelve months brought the issue into stark relief as the stench really extended to pollute the atmosphere for miles around. Just this week a high court injunction forced the place into some kind of compliance and the end may be in sight there.

This hangover bodes poorly for another waste disposal facility in the same vicinity. A new applicant, M&M Coldstores, have applied for planning at a nearby site. Their proposal is for a bio-energy plant as mentioned above and the facility would create 50 new jobs once opened. The applicants also claim the facility would consume waste from the surrounding area and return energy to the same locations. Considering we currently purchase energy on the international markets I would be very interested in the technicalities of keeping it local if it could be achieved. (Am a little sceptical until I hear them unfortunately.)

There has been widespread alarm about the proposed facility, a central concern being that it may process thousands of tons of animal carcasses. I gather this is not planned by the operators although the sought permission would enable it were it to be granted. This in itself not necessarily a bad concept, unpleasant as the idea is, the output of killing floors must go somewhere and at least in the best Catholic tradition “from ashes to ashes, from dust to dust” a natural circle converting the waste matter back to energy for the living. Esoterics aside I do not believe this will happen at this site in any event, even if the plant does go ahead.

On a very practical level I would have concerns re the proposals on the following grounds:

  • Traffic volumes in Sallins and Monread are already very high and would struggle to absorb more HGVs
  • The EPA has not inspired confidence in its dealings with the other Kerdiffstown facility; if these are the regulators then I am afraid in recent times the law has been shown to be an ass.
  • Proximity to residential areas is very acute. An even slightly more removed site would be preferable.

There are also many technical arguments on the nature of the scientific processes used although these as always are open to expert debate. I think the more local practical problems are enough of a challenge at this point. I have seen some good letters of objection doing the rounds and I include one here.

UPDATE: I learned overnight that the site location is currently zoned ‘Agricultural’. In planning terms, this means that a change of use proposal would have to go before the council to allow this be zoned ‘Industrial’. This would require a majority of Councillors voting to override the existing planning status in what is called a ‘material contravention’. I cannot really see this happening on something as contentious as this and therefore I would be very surprised at this point were this facility to go ahead.

Ireland’s university town (aka Maynooth)

Posted on by
4

photoI was in N.U.I. Maynooth earlier this week, where I gave a guest lecture on social media. The lecture title was ‘socialnomics’ and I focused on technology and particular the web was changing the world and how it could and should be used by organisations. I can share the slides with anyone interested, just drop me a line.

I was in town (Dublin) in the afternoon, back to the day job, so rather than drive back to Sallins for the regular commute I decided to park up at Maynooth rail station and get the train in from there. I used get the train to Maynooth all the time, back in the distant past of the nineties, when my wife was a student there and I was in lil old Trinity up the road, but it had been a while. It’s a decent little station. Small sandwich shop and newsagents beside the ticket desk and modern conveniences like an electronic next train display. Parking was a bit mad with a very linear strip running alongside the canal - had to go to the very end to get a spot and queueing for little while coming out later on. Pay parking was in operation at the rate of €2 a day, €8 a week, same as Sallins except for the extra option of paying €30 for a four week ticket. The machines were branded CIE rather than Euro Parks, which might allow more flexibility re the tariff options.

A day return to Connolly was €6 so the trip cost me €8 in total. Still a lot cheaper than driving to town but maybe slightly more than I expected. Of course regular trippers will have annual or monthly tickets so likely to work out much better. And Maynooth benefits from being considered inside the commuter zone for Irish Rail so on a per mile basis is better value than Sallins, Newbridge or even Hazelhatch stations.

Good timetable, lots of trains, mine was punctual. Busy though, even middle of the day. I gather this Northern line has less of the punctuality difficulties that trouble its Southern cousin (i.e. the Sallins line) which is obviously a good thing. However given we are currently at a passenger low point, due to recession etc the car park was still brimming over, and there wasn’t a huge amount of spare seating – I imagine the service may struggle under normal / peak conditions. One to watch in future.PS If there are any Maynooth rail groups reading (are there any?) feel free to get in touch, we might compare notes.