Tag Archives: Irish Rail

New Sallins Rail Timetable

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Irish Rail recently ran a consultation period on the new timetable which they have now unveiled. A number of submissions were sent in from our NASRUG group and from many individuals using the online process (which is a welcome addition to the timetable loop). The new timetable is broadly similar to the old one but here are a few new highlights:

- More morning services between 8 and 9 am
- New morning train at 9.25am
- Extra train home in the evening at 19.40
- Better Sunday service with later train home (for post Croker :) )

That’s about the main ones. I am told this incorporates our various submissions. There is also a slight change on the Naas feeder bus – I am told it will now stop/start at Post Office.

Happy commuting!

Sallins Train Timetable

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I recently made a submission to Irish Rail (IR) on the new timetable, on behalf of NASRUG and as part of a process of ongoing consultation with IR. The hope is this may be considered as part of the next issued timetable, which is due out in December, but an outside chance of coming onstream earlier due to the new line capacity offered by the Kildare Route Project.

My key timetable points below:

Naas & Sallins Rail Users Group – NASRUG

Timetable Feedback 2010.

Submitted: James Lawless
(Contact 086 834 8869, james@jameslawless.ie)

Morning ex Sallins

Problem: Too large a gap between 8.15 and 8.59
Solution: Restore 8.15 to 8.25 or add new train 8.30?

Evening ex Heuston

Problem: Gap between 18.50, 20.10, 21.10
Solution: Reschedule as 19.30, 20.22, 21.10?

Connecting Trains

Problem: Commuters charged extra for making connections e.g. via Newbridge
Solution: Allow season ticket holders this flexibility.

Capacity

Problem: Some trains now running as three carriages
Solution: Allow extra carriages on busier trains (e.g. 7.45 ex Sallins)

Sundays & Bank Holidays

Problem: No evening Sunday service home (last train departs 6.15pm)
Solution: Schedule later Sunday evening service, e.g. 7.30pm or 8pm

Problem: No bank holiday service at all
Solution: Run Sunday or other reduced service level on bank holidays.

(Later Sunday service especially important during championship summers!)

“Why can’t the trains run on time?!”

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Met with Irish Rail last week as planned. Was a good meeting. Myles (our Irish Rail contact) has an amiable approach and is always willing to hear our side of the story. He’s met us half-way many times in the past and at this stage I feel we finally have the service looking good on paper.

However like any good puzzle, the last piece may be the hardest,  being the perennial question of “why can’t the trains run on time?!”

Funnily enough this seems to a particular problem on our route (the Kildare line). Colleagues on the Maynooth line and elsewhere tell me whilst there may be other issues, their trains at least come when expected. We did get a few answers though and reassuring to hear at least they are cognisant of the problem and that there is work being done in the background. Points in detail below.


Heuston Station ; Multi-modal transport hub!

1. Punctuality
Deterioration of service recently. 8.04 always problematic but other services also becoming less reliable. 7.30, 6.22, 8.49, 8.24 all mentioned as regularly late. Some problems with evening services since Christmas.

Irish Rail response that punctuality was acknowledged below par in December/January and apologised for that. Currently examining timetable to reshuffle some services to remove bottlenecks. 6.30 ex Portlaoise (7.08 thru Sallins), 7.20 ex Portlaoise (8.04 thru Sallins), 6.30 ex Carlow (7.13 thru Sallins), amongst routes being remodeled at present to remove congestion. Will not result in any changes to timetable but will be applied in priority order at signal points etc.

2. Car Park Situation
Two fares currently in operation at car park as previously discussed. Irish Rail share NASRUG frustration and are working on issue in tandem.

3. Feeder Bus
Number of issues identified with feeder bus. Irish Rail committed to review of feeder bus operation. May consider centralising stops rather than current ad-hoc pickups. Acknowledged that traffic in Naas grown considerably since feeder bus journey time originally planned.

4. Kildare Direction Services
Limited service in Kildare town direction from Sallins/Dublin. Irish Rail stated that vast majority rolling stock deployed on inwards journeys morning time, reverse in evening. Leaves few options around opposite travel. Agreed to look at in next timetable.

5. Station Upgrade
NASRUG requested accessibility option, e.g lift across tracks. Not currently in scope but NASRUG to follow up request in writing. Station overall to be refitted and disused buildings to be opened as waiting room, offices, toilets, café etc.

6. Late Night Security on Trains
Security Detail employed around Heuston station and sometimes travel on night trains. NASRUG stated had never seen on Kildare trains. Irish Rail agreed to correct this and ensure included on routes. May not be on every train but randomly. Minimum Irish Rail staff should be present and visible on every train.

NASRUG meet with Irish Rail Weds 30th Jan

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As part of a NASRUG delegation I am meeting with Irish Rail tomorrow evening to discuss recent developments affecting Naas & Sallins commuters. The agenda at present is:

1. Punctuality
2. Car Park situation (fare structure below ground)
3. Feeder Bus
4. Kildare direction services
5. Station Upgrade – more details
6. Security on late trains

Though never great, punctuality has been a particular problem of late. Most people have long given up on the 8.04 ex-Sallins ever being on time but the malaise has spread to other services since the new year. This can also lead to overcrowding as a couple of train loads are waiting by the time one finally pulls in.

The car park goes from overcrowded to overcharged as previously discussed and there have been several requests to enhance the feeder bus service. The other items relate to plan by IR to upgrade Sallins station along with queries on the quality of service the other direction (away from Dublin) and lastly a few nasty incidents on night time trains over Christmas.

The next meeting is tomorrow but we meet up regularly, if there are other burning issues people are aware of please do get in touch.

Fianna Fáil’s record on transport policy

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On politics.ie the other day I participated in a debate on transport policy and Fianna Fáil’s record over the past few years. While I’m always one for objective analysis, credit where credit’s due and likewise when the opposite is the case, I do think the government has made strides in this area that are not always acknowledged. Similarly there are a few areas where I would like to see more being done. I detail below the arguments I made.

To start with I don’t think the party/govt have done all that badly in the rail arena over the past couple of years, in the time I’ve been an activist on either front anyhow.

When I got involved in rail campaigns I was aware of Platform11′s then proposal to ‘Extend the Dart’ by creating three new Dart lines linked by underground tunnel. I was a fan of the proposal and exchanged correspondence with the offices of both the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Transport. I also championed the issue at the Killarney Ard Fheis a few years back. Sure enough Transport 21 was announced and the Interconnector was a key component. So good start.

Other developments in my own area include the Kildare Route project which is certainly in progress, and due for completion on target. The Spencer Dock station opened in 2007 for commuters on the Western/Maynooth line which relieved the slot contention in Connolly and allowed commuters more choice travelling into the IFSC. Recently moves have been made to reopen Broadstone station for trains on the Southern/Waterford line which will improve contention at Connolly and again represents a step in the right direction.

Metro North and West are badly needed and whilst there may be debate about the routes, Metro West in particular will open up a huge corridor all along the west city which is not particularly well served at the moment, and also aid connectivity meaning that a commuter from say my part of the world (Kildare line) could hop an Arrow to Clondalkin and in one change board Metro West for the airport. With the Interconnector make a similar change at Stephen’s green or Pearse and head for the Southside DART.

The LUAS has been a success and is hugely popular. More lines are planned and the railway order went out for the citywest line just before Christmas. The Lucan and other additional lines can only be good news for the residents in those areas.
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