New 29k colour livery

dublinman1990 · 03-04-2014 10:54am

You mustn't miss an opportunity to either photograph or film the new repainted set today because I had seen 29117 go pass the level crossing at Sandymount Station at 9:45 am this morning.

It was part of a eight carriage train which was out of service.

But the train had consisted of the two different commuter liveries between each set with the first four carriages having the old livery at the front and it's latest one being on the back four carriages. :eek::eek::eek:

It is becoming the good old days again when the LHB DARTS before their refurbishment were being repainted and joined up with the old DART liveries back in 2003.

dregin · 03-04-2014 4:26pm

Just saw the new livery come through Connolly. Very nice indeed!

whisky_galore · 04-04-2014 10:06am

I'm still channelling my inner Eamonn Dunphy...it was a good livery, not a great livery.

Infini · 05-04-2014 5:24pm

Looks pretty crappy to me tbh when I saw it up close they painted over everything with green even the driver cab handrails/door handle and the black rubber on the windows! Looks like a cheap paint job from a model shop to me tbh. Personally I dont see the need to even change the colour of the livery or drop commuter its gonna cause a lot of confusion with this.

devnull · 05-04-2014 6:44pm

The units badly need repainting, the way they are presented for the most part is a disgrace, the white on the doors is almost fully eroded away in many cases, the livery is very grubby in most part and the colours attract dirt and most trains look like they haven't had a good clean or any TLC to their livery for a long time.

The new colours I would think would not show up dirt so much and wear so badly so that has to be a good thing, since the 29000s are at the moment by far the least presentable of the fleet.

Captain Chaos · 05-04-2014 8:59pm

The 29s are also the hardest worked with at least 96% of the fleet in use every day. The reason the paint was let slide is because the new livery was on the way so the standard was let slide because why bother when it's being replaced soon. The shape of the 29s is also a factor why they look grubby alot of the time, the bottom third of the body curves in and the wash brushed don't get as close to that part .

The paint work on the Enterprise coaches was let go to cat too with it pealing and flaking off in patches before they got the new livery 6 years ago.

GTE · 05-04-2014 11:04pm

Infini2 wrote: »

its gonna cause a lot of confusion with this.

With the greatest respect my compatriots of the human race, if there is really going to be confusion on what train to get based on the colour of the livery, then I think there are more serious problems with the people rather than the train.

whisky_galore · 06-04-2014 12:12am

bbk wrote: »

With the greatest respect my compatriots of the human race, if there is really going to be confusion on what train to get based on the colour of the livery, then I think there are more serious problems with the people rather than the train.

Never ever underestimate the stupidity of the general public.

GTE · 06-04-2014 12:13am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Never ever underestimate the stupidity of the general public.

Oh, I am not but placing responsibility on Irish Rail to have different colours for its trains just to allow for idiots is pretty stupid in itself.

Maybe a nice idea to be different but nothing more then that for me.

bob425 · 06-04-2014 12:29am

The general public have no idea of what colour a train is, They stand on Platform whatever, there is either a display board stating where the next train is going or an announcer stating where the next train is going. They DONT need to look at what colour the train is and if they recognize the colour get on the train. So what if every train on the system is painted the same, we had all trains painted the same for donkeys years

Captain Chaos · 06-04-2014 1:03am

bob425 wrote: »

. They DONT need to look at what colour the train is and if they recognize the colour get on the train. So what if every train on the system is painted the same, we had all trains painted the same for donkeys years

Not on the Dublin city commuter belt. We had DARTs in green since 1983 and everything else in black and orange, till the Commuter livery and DART for the past 10 years so yes it will cause confusion. Trains out of Heuston are a different story because no DART service so people have to read signs, while they generally don't on the DART network stations as you can just go by colour of the trains. People see green trains and think = that stops at all stations and that's that, simple but not anymore.

The amount of times I'm on a DART and we are stopped at a station for a while and then the air compressor stops and the train becomes silent, then you hear comments "oh no the train has broken down" etc. If I had a euro for every time that's happened I'd be a rich man. Alot of people have no clue the DART is electric and just because it makes no noise it's not working. There are an unreal amount of idiots out there.

GBOA · 06-04-2014 9:25am

No idea how folks coped in BR blue days. Maybe that explains how I used to end up in Carlisle all the time instead of Glasgow.

Perhaps roads should be painted different colours too so people know where to go? As for buses, how do the 'general public' manage to get on the right one? Maybe Irish Rail should run a public information campaign - Know Your Train? Seriously.

corktina · 06-04-2014 9:47am

It's easy to get the right train...you ask a Porter....and then you ask a second Porter just to be on the safe side (and to cheese off the first guy ever so slightly) then you ask the Guard again as you board. ...Oh no wait, I'm back in 1960 again...damn timeslip.

thomasj · 07-04-2014 7:51am

bbk wrote: »

With the greatest respect my compatriots of the human race, if there is really going to be confusion on what train to get based on the colour of the livery, then I think there are more serious problems with the people rather than the train.

Even with the current livery, people are constantly asking does the DART standing on the platform go to Drogheda or maynooth or does the commuter go to howth. You'd be very surprised.

In fact (and a bit off-topic but) up to ten years after the introduced closing platforms six and seven at Connolly after half ten and despite the platform displays being empty people are still going there after half ten to catch their train.

GTE · 07-04-2014 9:25am

thomasj wrote: »

Even with the current livery, people are constantly asking does the DART standing on the platform go to Drogheda or maynooth or does the commuter go to howth. You'd be very surprised.

Well, I think that is separate to people using the livery to justify what train to get on. I would not criticise people for getting getting the names of services mixed up a little bit as that relies on a few variables.

The example you give sounds more like an issue with signage.

Cookie_Monster · 07-04-2014 9:37am

just looks like one of these to me
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wAbepuHLKrs/UFd0tZ7Zp6I/AAAAAAAAAwg/bgzta2Suj54/s1600/polyphemus+caterpillar+on+stick+right+profile+b+9-15-12.JPG

edit: HUGE picture

LoonyLovegood · 15-04-2014 11:37am

thomasj wrote: »

Even with the current livery, people are constantly asking does the DART standing on the platform go to Drogheda or maynooth or does the commuter go to howth. You'd be very surprised.

In fact (and a bit off-topic but) up to ten years after the introduced closing platforms six and seven at Connolly after half ten and despite the platform displays being empty people are still going there after half ten to catch their train.

Platforms six and seven are closed after half ten? I've gotten trains later than that from them.

Are there any other units after being painted yet?

Captain Chaos · 15-04-2014 6:29pm

CTYIgirl wrote: »

Are there any other units after being painted yet?

The 29s are in high use daily so I'd imagine each set will be repainted when it requires attention at Inchicore which would not be that often as Drogheda looks after them for most things.

The 29s are all due heavy under body maintenance about now after 10 years of hard use so while that's being done I'd say they will repaint each set.

thomasj · 16-04-2014 12:27pm

CTYIgirl wrote: »

Platforms six and seven are closed after half ten? I've gotten trains later than that from them.

Are there any other units after being painted yet?

Well maybe a bit later, definitely by 11pm all last trains are using platform 5 for northbound westbound and southbound. There's a sign on the wall at the junction/stairs that says so.

Lapin · 16-04-2014 4:10pm

Its time the DART was completly rebranded anyway.

Paint them all in the Dublin colours.

L1011 · 16-04-2014 6:01pm

29k I'm on now has its paintwork scuffed and filler everywhere so I suspect it's next. Does suggest it's a proper job being done anyway.

Captain Chaos · 16-04-2014 6:38pm

MYOB wrote: »

29k I'm on now has its paintwork scuffed and filler everywhere so I suspect it's next. Does suggest it's a proper job being done anyway.

There are alot of 29ks in that state and have been for a while now. There are still another 28 sets to do.

Captain Chaos · 16-04-2014 6:41pm

Lapin wrote: »

Its time the DART was completly rebranded anyway.

Paint them all in the Dublin colours.

Why, they go to Wicklow and in the future to Kildare. Sure Irish Rail are trying to save money by only using green and silver/grey paint lately.:D

Lapin · 16-04-2014 6:55pm

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Why, they go to Wicklow and in the future to Kildare. Sure Irish Rail are trying to save money by only using green and silver/grey paint lately.

A tiny bit of Wicklow. It is a Dublin service.

There's a reason its called DART, not WART !

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the link to Sallins.

I doublt painting all the trains green has much to do with saving on the cost of the stuff.

Jamie2k9 · 16-04-2014 7:06pm

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the link to Sallins.

Either would I, as it was never in the plans!

Lapin · 16-04-2014 7:19pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Either would I, as it was never in the plans!

I didn't think so either.

Although there was a green paper published back in the 80's that invisaged a rapid transit link out to Naas via Tallaght by 2015.

Even back then it seemed like pie in the sky.

LXFlyer · 16-04-2014 7:57pm

Hazelhatch station straddles the Dublin/Kildare county boundary.

Lapin · 16-04-2014 8:09pm

Not a DART Station.

vickers209 · 16-04-2014 8:46pm

Lapin wrote: »

A tiny bit of Wicklow. It is a Dublin service.

There's a reason its called DART, not WART !

Goes 10km into greystones wicklow from Dublin border

LXFlyer · 16-04-2014 9:04pm

Lapin wrote: »

Not a DART Station.

Captain Chaos said in the future that it would go to Kildare - He meant County Kildare by virtue of DART Underground going to Hazelhatch.

There was no mention of Sallins anywhere other than your own post.

It is certainly planned that DART will serve Hazelhatch, which is on the Dublin/Kildare county boundary.

L1011 · 16-04-2014 9:47pm

DART is also intended to serve three stations in Kildare on the Maynooth line; not just Hazelhatch; two of which are nowhere near county borders.

Cookie_Monster · 16-04-2014 10:19pm

Dublin Bus also serve bits of Wicklow and Kildare, maybe ye should get onto them about changing their name too.

Lapin wrote:

Its time the DART was completly rebranded anyway.
Paint them all in the Dublin colours.

Why does it need to be re-branded? DART is one of the few areas of PT around (plus BE) that's maintained a pretty consistent brand since inception in 1984. There no reason to change such a strong brand just for the sake of it.

Lapin · 16-04-2014 11:10pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Captain Chaos said in the future that it would go to Kildare - He meant County Kildare by virtue of DART Underground going to Hazelhatch.

There was no mention of Sallins anywhere other than your own post.

It is certainly planned that DART will serve Hazelhatch, which is on the Dublin/Kildare county boundary.

There was. He edited it out of his post since.

Anyway, its hardly important enough to argue over.

As for the DART being extended to Hazlehatch, no more than Sallins I won't hold my breath to see that happen either.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Dublin Bus also serve bits of Wicklow and Kildare, maybe ye should get onto them about changing their name too.

Exactly. After all, the Tube takes in stations in Essex and Buckinghamshire but it's still the London Underground.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Why does it need to be re-branded? DART is one of the few areas of PT around (plus BE) that's maintained a pretty consistent brand since inception in 1984. There no reason to change such a strong brand just for the sake of it.

Fair point. I still think the Dublin colours would be a better choice for it though.

patrickbrophy18 · 17-04-2014 12:20am

Lapin wrote: »

Fair point. I still think the Dublin colours would be a better choice for it though.

By Dublin colours, do you mean the following?

It's certainly the first result I got when I Google searched "Dublin colours". It would be interesting seeing the DART in these colours!

cython · 17-04-2014 1:43pm

Lapin wrote: »

Fair point. I still think the Dublin colours would be a better choice for it though.

Why? It would be a completely arbitrary choice to align a public transport service with a localised section of a parochial organisation. There are plenty of users (myself included) of both DART and other Dublin area transport that have no connection to Dublin save for having to live here to be in the vicinity of employment, and for whom Dublin colours are utterly meaningless. Sure you might as well decide that the Luas (at least it's contained within Dublin at present) and all taxis in Dublin (à la the yellow cabs in New York, perhaps) should also be painted in the Dublin colours. Should the Bus Eireann buses used for Cork and Galway local services be painted red and white or maroon and white as well?

They're all patently ridiculous ideas with no rational motivation, to be honest, and much like the Bus Eireann approach, I would prefer to see a level of consistency across all the liveries, which we are at least getting closer to now than introducing something as ludicrous as county colours into the mix.

Banjoxed · 18-04-2014 11:40am

Lapin wrote: »

I didn't think so either.

Although there was a green paper published back in the 80's that invisaged a rapid transit link out to Naas via Tallaght by 2015.

Even back then it seemed like pie in the sky.

Any link anywhere? I've read about all the schemes over the last thirty odd years, apart from the risible Circle and Unified proposals, but never heard about that.

roundymac · 22-04-2014 10:40am

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

By Dublin colours, do you mean the following?

It's certainly the first result I got when I Google searched "Dublin colours". It would be interesting seeing the DART in these colours!

Does this mean we can have red and white commuter trains in Cork?:pac:

flazio · 22-04-2014 11:43am

cython wrote: »

Why? It would be a completely arbitrary choice to align a public transport service with a localised section of a parochial organisation. There are plenty of users (myself included) of both DART and other Dublin area transport that have no connection to Dublin save for having to live here to be in the vicinity of employment, and for whom Dublin colours are utterly meaningless. Sure you might as well decide that the Luas (at least it's contained within Dublin at present) and all taxis in Dublin (à la the yellow cabs in New York, perhaps) should also be painted in the Dublin colours. Should the Bus Eireann buses used for Cork and Galway local services be painted red and white or maroon and white as well?

They're all patently ridiculous ideas with no rational motivation, to be honest, and much like the Bus Eireann approach, I would prefer to see a level of consistency across all the liveries, which we are at least getting closer to now than introducing something as ludicrous as county colours into the mix.

Well, now that you mention it,

metrovick001 · 22-04-2014 9:34pm

Tis a Galway car and runs on the route 20. On match days its used to move the team & raises the brand / company profile (very stiff competition in Galway). A good idea.

LoonyLovegood · 22-04-2014 11:07pm

Whenever I get the bus eireann back to Dublin I always seem to end up on that particular coach, actually.

dowlingm · 27-04-2014 1:52am

So we're no longer sending 29000s north of Dundalk then? :rolleyes:

Jamie2k9 · 02-05-2014 11:08pm

Saw another 2900 set sticking out of Inchicore earlier, looks like it will enter service soon.

cython · 30-05-2014 6:00pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Saw another 2900 set sticking out of Inchicore earlier, looks like it will enter service soon.

Just saw 29112 in the new livery in Pearse, so it may have been that, as I think I've only seen it on 29117 before today

The_Wanderer · 30-05-2014 10:46pm

29005 will be the 3rd Green Goddess to grace the rails.

Five Lamps · 05-06-2014 11:26pm

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Your average commuter won't be able to tell the difference between a DART and Commuter train now. If they are the same colour they are the same train, that's what most people go by and don't look for physical differences. Can't wait for the first pic of one of those in the new livery hauling a DART.

If they are all operating around the Dublin area, they should be all the same colour. Makes perfect sense from a branding point of view.

Captain Chaos · 06-06-2014 7:45pm

Five Lamps wrote: »

If they are all operating around the Dublin area, they should be all the same colour. Makes perfect sense from a branding point of view.

Not really, one is called DART and has it's own branding name where as the 29s are no longer in Commuter branding as it's gone and everything bar the DART and Enterprise is Irish Rail branding, yet to the casual commuter on the platform a 29 DMU and DART look exactly the same in the new livery. DARTs stop at every stop on the DART line, 29s only service the "Commuter" stops.

Happened a last month on a train I was on. I young girl ended up crying and panicing because she got on a 29k at Maynooth assuming it would stop at Clonsila as 29s usually do. But on this occasion the 29 was on a Sligo service doing the job of a 22k ICR. People don't read signs, so there first hand is the problem. She started banging on the drivers cab door to get the train to stop and I ended up having calm her down and giver her my phone to make some calls from.

Julius Seizure · 07-06-2014 9:30am

In all fairness she should have noticed the "This is the service to Sligo, all passengers not wishing to travel please disembark as doors will close in 2 minutes". Also, it's a bit unrealistic to have a disjointed brand/public image for the convenience of those who don't read the many, many signs telling you where the train is going. Heuston commuters have survived for a while, I'm sure Connolly side commuters can learn.

LXFlyer · 07-06-2014 9:37am

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Not really, one is called DART and has it's own branding name where as the 29s are no longer in Commuter branding as it's gone and everything bar the DART and Enterprise is Irish Rail branding, yet to the casual commuter on the platform a 29 DMU and DART look exactly the same in the new livery. DARTs stop at every stop on the DART line, 29s only service the "Commuter" stops.

Happened a last month on a train I was on. I young girl ended up crying and panicing because she got on a 29k at Maynooth assuming it would stop at Clonsila as 29s usually do. But on this occasion the 29 was on a Sligo service doing the job of a 22k ICR. People don't read signs, so there first hand is the problem. She started banging on the drivers cab door to get the train to stop and I ended up having calm her down and giver her my phone to make some calls from.

Do we have to hold everyone's hand?

Frankly if people don't read the signs then there is not much more that can be done.

cython · 08-06-2014 9:23am

Julius Seizure wrote: »

In all fairness she should have noticed the "This is the service to Sligo, all passengers not wishing to travel please disembark as doors will close in 2 minutes". Also, it's a bit unrealistic to have a disjointed brand/public image for the convenience of those who don't read the many, many signs telling you where the train is going. Heuston commuters have survived for a while, I'm sure Connolly side commuters can learn.

I'm reasonably sure that announcement is only made on the 22k trains, and may be specific to the announcement systems on them. Certainly I have never heard it on a 29k (which the poster stated was in use in this instance), and when a 22k runs a Maynooth service it has that same announcement for Maynooth.

Having said all that, I agree that people really just need to pay a little bit of attention and not just meander onto trains like oblivious sheep. Irish Rail's existing inconsistency with departure platforms for services in Connolly should teach you that much (e.g. a coin toss as to whether certain services arrive on and depart from 6 or 7 during evening rush hour)

icdg · 08-06-2014 9:48am

Even on the DART not all services take the exact same route. If one only relies on the train colour and not the destination board, as the OP hypothesises, why do we not have a glut of people trying to get to Howth ending up in Malahide and vice versa?

New 29k colour livery

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