Western Rail Corridor (all disused sections)

13-01-2010 11:01pm

loyatemu wrote: »

why not start the intercity service now with a bus substitution - it'll give people a flavour of what to expect... (and it'll be quicker!)

Why not test the theory by putting bus transfers between Wicklow-Greystones? How's that Kilcoole station goin for ya?

This could go on in circles for ever.

Back to valid, useful discussion.

westtip: yeah it could be doomed. It could be not doomed. We won't know until we hear something happens.

I personally don't think that northward of Athenry's viability will have anything to do with the Galway-Limerick line's. The potential traffic is different in both directions, what with the completed line hosting trains that'd be city-city, and the unbuilt parts being, well, city-town (tuam) then town-er, town (claremorris).

I advise we all wait and see, and stop making ludicrous "suggestions" to what should have been done. "Should have" is useless, it is built. That's the end of do we/don't we build it. Now let's get on with the "why can't I get a decent cork/dublin/etc. connection?"

And as far as bus is concerned, there will always be those who do not take long-distance buses. I'm one of them. Hate having to take them. With a passion. No peeing or sh*tting facilities. No laptop. No tea. No stability. No standing up and stretching your legs. No elbow room.

I'm not the only one out there who will take a train over a bus if the option's open to me.

Aard · 13-01-2010 11:07pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Why not test the theory by putting bus transfers between Wicklow-Greystones? How's that Kilcoole station goin for ya?

Wicklow-Greystones is an established route; changing it would cause disruption. The WRC isn't running yet - a bus route would would forecast whether the route would or would not be "doomed".

13-01-2010 11:20pm

Aard wrote: »

Wicklow-Greystones is an established route; changing it would cause disruption. The WRC isn't running yet - a bus route would would forecast whether the route would or would not be "doomed".

No it wouldn't. It would be another bus route. Just like any of the other services between Galway/Limerick that you can get right now. Whoever heard of a new route opening with a few spare buses "oh here ya go, we're putting on a service but its not ready so we'll stuff ya onta a bus. d'ya like the service then?"

And can we please stop this "doomed" bullsh*t?

Aard · 13-01-2010 11:44pm

Are you saying that putting on a bus route as a temporary measure is equal to, or worse than, just putting on the train route and hoping for the best?

DoWhatThouWilt · 14-01-2010 12:13am

westtip wrote: »

Providing there are no more floods to interupt driver training again, is that a late summer opening you are thinking - just in time for the autumn flooding season, and remember the infamous words of Mr Dempsey in May - the future development of north of Athenry will depend on usage of phase 1 or words to that effect. Tis doomed from day one.

Incredible isn't it. All that money wasted to get some preist from Mayo a red carpet through the Pearly Gates and a handful of trainspotters a once in lifetime sexual climax...

How much was needed for the cancer unit in Sligo General again? Gas country this.

Judgement Day · 14-01-2010 12:34am

DoWhatThouWilt wrote: »

Incredible isn't it. All that money wasted to get some preist from Mayo a red carpet through the Pearly Gates and a handful of trainspotters a once in lifetime sexual climax...

How much was needed for the cancer unit in Sligo General again? Gas country this.

Nostradamus by another name?

14-01-2010 12:56am

Aard wrote: »

Are you saying that putting on a bus route as a temporary measure is equal to, or worse than, just putting on the train route and hoping for the best?

I'm saying throwing on the extra bus would be retarded when you get no extra benefit from it. Temporary busses are put on for existing services promised that can't be fulfilled. As of right now there's the bus services that you all want to force Galway-Limerick travellers to use. An extra bus service would not deliver anything quicker than what's there. The train, when it comes, will provide guarunteed departure & arrival times (well, a lot more stable than busses ever do!) with the benefits of sanitation, hot drinks and tables.

Guys, the money is spent. It would be more expensive to do anythign other than set up the service. Please, I don't want to keep this hamsterwheel going until the end of boards.ie. The fact is that at some point in 2010 there will be trains running from Limerick to Galway and back again. If you don't like that, then add it to the huge list of things you hate.

Now can we stop the hamsterwheel of useless suggestions?

L1011 · 14-01-2010 1:01am

How would it be more expensive to say "oops, we made a massive mistake, sorry", cessate all work and never run the basically empty trains up and down the line the odd time its not submerged than to continue on and do that?

Maths don't add up.

14-01-2010 1:09am

MYOB wrote: »

How would it be more expensive to say "oops, we made a massive mistake, sorry", cessate all work and never run the basically empty trains up and down the line the odd time its not submerged than to continue on and do that?

Maths don't add up.

Well, think return on investment. If you run trains, you get *some* return on investment. if you don't run trains, you get *no* return on investment. And a lot of people who watched a station being built just down the road from them being told "f*ck off, you don't matter".

Do you really think the anger that would ensue wouldn't cost someone a job?

Whether or not you get enough return on investment, is another issue. At the very least, trains need to be run just to prove it one way or the other.

I mean, if it all comes to pass as the Boards.ie anti-wrc support group (I really think you guys should just get a name and website together) is doing their best to make sure of, then I'll be the first to put my hands up and say "yeah, those trains are empty".

But if we cut now, we will not know. And many people I know will be put out. I have a freind who filled out his CAO form based on being able to get that train to Limerick.

invincibleirish · 14-01-2010 1:50am

Deleted User wrote: »

Guys, the money is spent. It would be more expensive to do anythign other than set up the service.

Money is an ongoing issue, even the most optimistic of forecasts suggests that the WRC will require a large yearly subvention. If IE have to deal with reductions from Government then do they continue to financially support a line which is frequently waterlogged and with probable low patronage (how many passengers currently between Ennis-Limerick?) or do they cut back on services elsewhere?.

Sponge Bob · 14-01-2010 2:18am

invincibleirish wrote: »

patronage

Dublin word, in Galway we "Ride" trains rather than patronageamate them.

crocro · 14-01-2010 2:50am

Deleted User wrote: »

Guys, the money is spent. It would be more expensive to do anything other than set up the service.

106m is spent. this is a sunk cost and we will never see it again.

However, the predicted annual operating loss of €3m for 100k passengers has only just started. It would be less expensive never to operate the service at all and invest the 3m a year in some other aspect of public transport in the west such as bus or bike lanes in Limerick or Galway.

foggy_lad · 14-01-2010 3:16am

when this route starts to operate at a loss initially who is going to foot the bill for the inevitable bus trasfers whenever there is a few days of rain? also it can only be assumed that the staff servicing this route will still be reporting for work at their usual stations and for their usual trains and will be paid even when their trains do not run due to flooding? or will they all be reallocated to other duties while the line is unusable?

L1011 · 14-01-2010 8:13am

Deleted User wrote: »

Well, think return on investment. If you run trains, you get *some* return on investment. if you don't run trains, you get *no* return on investment. And a lot of people who watched a station being built just down the road from them being told "f*ck off, you don't matter".

The line will lose money. That is not a return on investment.

Also, by the time your CAO-taking mate is ready to go to college, the Gort bypass will be open. He's going to have to get used to taking rail replacement buses as is, so that'll be a help...

corktina · 14-01-2010 9:06am

that was a little premature of him wasnt it? Not knowing whether or not there would be a very early train running. To get from Limerick station to UL or LIT by 9am would mean you'd have to arrive there a bit before 8.30 I guess.

I think the point being made is that sometimes you have to cut your losses and bail out of a project once the point is reached where it is obvious that it isnt going to work.In the WRC case, if buses and drivers have to be hired every winter for months on end, this drives a coach and horses through any hopes of viability. Its not a straight bustitution, IE will still have to pay its staff to sit idle and maintain the rolling stock etc.

14-01-2010 9:50am

Well I say no. And none of you have anything but crystal ball predictions to support your "f*ck off and take a bus"

3 million? that's all? you're banging the bells over 3 million being spent on the West? That's 6 banker's salaries, if not less. That's a few miles of motorway. It's sure less than what Aer Arann gets to sub their domestic routes

Get your priorities straight people. Or do the honest thing and officially set up the support group you guys obviously are a member of. There's enough of ye to start the campaign. Go on, write a letter to the Irish times. What are ye gonna call yourselves, eh?

I'm sick to the back teeth of you people. Always *whack* it shouldn't be built *whack* it shouldn't be built *whack* it shouldn't be built whack* it shouldn't be built whack* it shouldn't be built whack* it shouldn't be built *whack* they need to stop building *whack* they need to stop building *whack* they need to stop building *whack* they need to stop building *whack* they need to not run trains *whack* they need to not run trains *whack* they need to not run trains

and soon it'll be *whack* they need stop the trains *whack* they need stop the trains *whack* they need stop the trains *whack* they need stop the trains.

This is going hamsterwheel. I'm just the first guy to stick around and say "no". Not because I beleive that West on Track are right, but because the boardsies of South Galway/North Clare are going to have issues with the line when it's open, and being told "f*ck off from C&T, take a bus" isn't acceptable.

Calina · 14-01-2010 11:28am

I am sick to the teeth of handing out bans and infractions in this thread. When I say sick to the teeth I mean seething with fury that a second/third/fourth chance at this subject is being routinely abused.

If I have to issue one more ban or infraction I will seriously consider closing the thread again.

corktina · 14-01-2010 11:56am

Deleted User wrote: »

Well I say no. And none of you have anything but crystal ball predictions to support your "f*ck off and take a bus"

3 million? that's all? you're banging the bells over 3 million being spent on the West? unquote

Well i dont think you need a crystal ball to see the problems that arent going away with flooding.

I am not concerned with spending 3 million on the Wesht..Im concerned at BADLY spending 3 million on the it ad infinitum. So I think EITHER we should pull the plug OR spend more to make it a proper line stopping in sensible places and travelling at decent speeds and sort out the flooding issue. In the current economic climate, Id say the former is more likely.

crocro · 14-01-2010 11:58am

Deleted User wrote: »

Well I say no. And none of you have anything but crystal ball predictions to support your "f*ck off and take a bus"

Well there is the strategic rail review, 2003, the Faber Maunsell/Irish Rail demand predictions and the Goodbody review of the Irish Rail analysis.

3 million? that's all?

That's just the operational loss, the capital costs are double that. If Irish rail makes its predicted 100k passengers in year 1 that will be 30 quid per journey operational cost. A daily commuter would be subsidised 300 euro per week. The state can't pay people 300 quid a week to take a train to work. It does not make any sense.

It's sure less than what Aer Arann gets to sub their domestic routes

Maybe the regional airport subsidies should also be abolished.

Get your priorities straight people.

the priority should be to generate the largest number of public transport trips for the lowest amount of money per trip.

DoWhatThouWilt · 14-01-2010 3:03pm

Calina wrote: »

I am sick to the teeth of handing out bans and infractions in this thread. When I say sick to the teeth I mean seething with fury that a second/third/fourth chance at this subject is being routinely abused.

If I have to issue one more ban or infraction I will seriously consider closing the thread again.

Here's an idea then. How about not behaving like a frustrated Stasi agent waiting for the East German Marxist People's Party to reform and take back control?

Might cause you less stess and prevent the mass exodus form this forum the mods have been directly responsible for in recent months.

Just a thought... You do realise Calina, that George Orwell's 1984 was a fictional warning and not a blueprint for a perfect society?

Sponge Bob · 14-01-2010 5:13pm

DoWhatThouWilt wrote: »

Here's an idea then.

Is that you again Nostradamus ???

Chris_533976 · 14-01-2010 6:57pm

DoWhatThouWilt wrote: »

Here's an idea then. How about not behaving like a frustrated Stasi agent waiting for the East German Marxist People's Party to reform and take back control?

This thread had been in the gutter for ages but when the mods ban you just to let you know I'm going to shamelessly steal this and use it on other forums

BluntGuy · 14-01-2010 8:08pm

Well I say no. And none of you have anything but crystal ball predictions to support your "f*ck off and take a bus"
3 million? that's all? you're banging the bells over 3 million being spent on the West? That's 6 banker's salaries, if not less. That's a few miles of motorway. It's sure less than what Aer Arann gets to sub their domestic routes

It's none of these things. Subsidising Aer Arann would actually be cheaper! "Banker" is too vague a term, and 3 million wouldn't even buy you 1 mile of motorway let alone "a few".

Nobody has crystal ball predictions to say EXACTLY what will happen. But the evidence provided above by crocro as well as Irish Rail's own Cost-Benefit Analysis clearly demonstrate it is highly likely the project will need an unacceptably high annual subvention.

I'm all for improved transport in the west... but ultimately the line will most likely be closed down, unless its alignment is dramatically improved. That can be done in phases in the future if need be, but it is the ONLY way (barring some sort of enormous population explosion) that the service will be viable in the medium to long-term.

I'm sick to the back teeth of you people.

I admit this thread can sometimes get a little repititive, tiresome and gutterish, but geez, nobody has tied you down to the desk with metal chains mate lol

People are going to give their opinions and it just happens most people seem to be of a similar one.

ardmacha · 15-01-2010 1:36am

The Western line will require a subsidy. The value for this subsidy should be maximised by privatising the line from Athenry to Rosslare to a lean operation which has a vested interest in trying to get as much business as possible by good timetabling etc. There are good precedents in other countries for lightly used lines being run by regional operators.

Propellerhead · 15-01-2010 10:27pm

"Lean"?

The Rosslare to Waterford section is so bloody "lean" that a) it doesnt connect with boats or other trains, often, b) runs twice a day each way and c) doesn't run on Sundays.

On the strength of the spleen vented over Ennis-Athenry, plenty of C&T posters would applaud a poxy service like that. Everywhere. Then the railway could be scrapped and private bus operators take over.

Funny that.

Hungerford · 16-01-2010 4:15pm

Propellerhead wrote: »

b) runs twice a day each way

They've doubled service levels? I thought it was just one service in the morning from Rosslare and one back from Waterford in the evening.

dowlingm · 16-01-2010 9:00pm

The whole Ennis-Limerick-Waterford-Rosslare corridor is compromised by the fact that IE sees Limerick-LJ-Waterford services as primarily there to service connections with Dublin-Cork trains.

Question: suppose IE extended the 0700 ex Rosslare beyond towards Limerick/Galway/Ennis. How far could the equipment go without (a) a crew change and (b) refuelling?

Judgement Day · 20-01-2010 11:58am

This from IRN today - unbelievable stuff!

I can think of no valid reason, other than apathy, why Ennis to Galway Commuter services have not already been introduced. There is no flooding on this route. About 130 lights illuminate the idle new stations at Ardrahan, Craughwell and Gort since the autumn, as Galway and Ennis bound commuters muse at the sight of the mysterious new railway. Its like as if whoever commissioned it took early retirement and no one in HQ realises its there. No doubt the "running" costs are already accumulating in the Accounts Office. It even surpasses the well worn practice of running a token weekday service at inconvenient times to drive down demand in order to justify closure, with an innovative new practice of smothering demand in advance thereby achieving the distinction of becoming the first railway company in the world to close a line before it is even opened. Kinda cuts out the boring old "operating train services" bit in the middle, dos'nt it?

WRC lights.jpg

corktina · 20-01-2010 1:00pm

i can think of several reasons...:rolleyes:

i dont know why the lights are on...perhaps security or safety issues.

dowlingm · 20-01-2010 10:21pm

I note (from IRN) that 2700 sets have been heading to Athlone for training - I wonder if they've been staging some training on the dry bits from there, since they can't be staged out of Limerick?

The lights being on all the time, well compo culture married to skanger culture will make that happen... you'd at least hope a few solar panels would be providing the power, the light pollution is bad enough, not to mention the fact that Ardrahan and Craughwell got day 1 builds in the first place...

popebenny16 · 26-01-2010 5:56pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

This from IRN today - unbelievable stuff!

It even surpasses the well worn practice of running a token weekday service at inconvenient times to drive down demand in order to justify closure, with an innovative new practice of smothering demand in advance

WRC lights.jpg

talk about getting your excuses in early.....

lord lucan · 08-02-2010 9:37pm

29th of March and we'll find out if our worst fears are founded or we'll be eating humble pie. I know what my money is on.;)

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/revamped-galway-to-limerick-train-service-to-launch-445343.html

FlameoftheWest · 08-02-2010 10:03pm

lord lucan wrote: »

29th of March and we'll find out if our worst fears are founded or we'll be eating humble pie. I know what my money is on.;)

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/revamped-galway-to-limerick-train-service-to-launch-445343.html

“There is tremendous public support for this new service along the route, and we look forward to many new customers using our services, both for travel between the cities and for commuter travel to Limerick and Galway.”

I looked at the time table and it is a complete joke! Even if there was huge demand for it there is no way to realistically "commute" on the services planned. It is timetabled like an IE inter-city route in that if you miss your "teatime" train then you better look for a hotel. The only thing modern I can tell about this project is the actual track and stations which seem excessively over engineered to my eyes. Yet by contrast the timetable is pure Percy French! Who are IE kidding, this is a project which is not going to deliver anything other than the Travel Pass Posse to weekday mass and back. Irish Rail do you have any idea that this is the 21st Century...

The whole thing looks like it was planned by engineers who drive to work and have never commuted by public transport in their lives. Ryanair does not use aircraft technicians to plan their routes. Irish Rail have no idea about basic issues such as customer demands and work-life patterns in modern Irish society. It's frightening actually.

Judgement Day · 08-02-2010 10:46pm

FlameoftheWest wrote: »

I looked at the time table and it is a complete joke! Even if there was huge demand for it there is no way to realistically "commute" on the services planned. It is timetabled like an IE inter-city route in that if you miss your "teatime" train then you better look for a hotel. The only thing modern I can tell about this project is the actual track and stations which seem excessively over engineered to my eyes. Yet by contrast the timetable is pure Percy French! Who are IE kidding, this is a project which is not going to deliver anything other than the Travel Pass Posse to weekday mass and back. Irish Rail do you have any idea that this is the 21st Century...

The whole thing looks like it was planned by engineers who drive to work and have never commuted by public transport in their lives. Ryanair does not use aircraft technicians to plan their routes. Irish Rail have no idea about basic issues such as customer demands and work-life patterns in modern Irish society. It's frightening actually.

Why are you surprised? CIE/IE has been run by road using engineers for decades. As you say the line and stations are over engineered for the service being provided and it is going to be an almighty white elephant. The first couple of days it will be busy with Irish Railway Record Society camera swingers and other anoraks plus the West-on-Track crowd and then it will die. Any hope of a future for the WRC depends on it being by somebody other than the morons in CIE/IE.

FlameoftheWest · 08-02-2010 11:48pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Why are you surprised? CIE/IE has been run by road using engineers for decades. As you say the line and stations are over engineered for the service being provided and it is going to be an almighty white elephant. The first couple of days it will be busy with Irish Railway Record Society camera swingers and other anoraks plus the West-on-Track crowd and then it will die. Any hope of a future for the WRC depends on it being by somebody other than the morons in CIE/IE.

Do you really think it'll be that much of a flop? We have been told in the West this will be the best thing since sliced bread for years now. But I would have to be honest here and openly state that I meet noone who ever cared about this rail line. Not a single person. I know this may sound like lies to people who only read the WestTrack site but I am being honest. I think there was always another agenda with this project and it had very little if anything to do with coummuters. It's so depressing to see how we plan nothing in this country and it only takes a handful of loudmouths to have implemented a 100+ million Euro rail project which is pointless to most people living in Galway, Limerick and in between. When I think what could of been done with that money. I am actually very angry about how this all ended up after seeing the stupid timetable. I have my fingers crossed it'll be a success. I fear the worst though.

Bodan · 09-02-2010 1:39am

I am a bit surprised at some of the vitriol in this thread. I have seen people against some projects before but not with this amount of venom. It looks almost organised ... but I digress.

Right now it takes 5 to 6 hours for people from Cork and Waterford to get to Galway by rail, though Dublin. When this line opens, it will half the travel time to around 3 hours, which makes such trips by rail a reasonable alternative.

At present, most of the rail network leads straight to Dublin. It is about time other intercity routes were opened without the need to pass through the capital.

sesna · 09-02-2010 1:43am

Maura Harrington and Co will surely find reason to protest against it

alpha2zulu · 09-02-2010 2:11am

Bodan wrote: »

Right now it takes 5 to 6 hours for people from Cork and Waterford to get to Galway by rail, though Dublin. When this line opens, it will half the travel time to around 3 hours, which makes such trips by rail a reasonable alternative.

3 hours via WRC...I wish!
Right now it takes somebody getting the 0630 from Waterford until 1015 just to get as far as Ennis via Limerick. Add another circa 80 minutes to that and your well into your fifth hour on those noisy commuter trains. Travelling via Kldare is still the only show in town. And since Sunday continues to be a holy day of rest and obligation on the Waterford-Limerick Junction track, the WRC Galway connection is meaningless to any weekend travellers or students.
Given that the WRC is going to be under water at some point between Limerick and Galway for half the winter you really cant blame peoples scepticisim over the project.

Even worse the 1230 from Waterford will get you to Ennis at 1710 so presumably Galway around 1830! It must be faster on a bike:rolleyes:

Victor · 09-02-2010 2:29am

Bodan wrote: »

Right now it takes 5 to 6 hours for people from Cork and Waterford to get to Galway by rail, though Dublin.

Why would you do that when you can change trains in Portarlington or Kildare? Current journey times from Cork to Galway are 4:25 to 5:40. The return journey 4:48 to 5:50.

Current journey times from Waterford to Galway are 04:28 to 06:05 (with an additional connection overnight). The return journey 04:40 to 06:32.

Bodan · 09-02-2010 2:57am

alpha 2 zulu wrote: »

3 hours via WRC...I wish!
Right now it takes somebody getting the 0630 from Waterford until 1015 just to get as far as Ennis via Limerick.

That's true for Waterfordian's. The journey is 3 hours 45 minutes which includes 55 minutes waiting at Limerick Junction(LJ) and then limerick station. The scheduling up until now is not the best. Hopefully that will change in the future as it is too long to wait on such a journey.

(LJ is marked in red)

Looking at the current times, Waterford to Limerick Junction is roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes while Cork to LJ is just one hour. Maybe they need to put on an intercity up to Galway, bringing down the times because right now the trains from LJ west(towards Limerick) are too slow.

If Cork to Galway cant be done in 3 to 3 and half hours, then they really need to go back to the drawing board and look at the quality of the line.

Either way, lets see what happens. The opening is not too far off, we should know soon what their plans are.

Bodan · 09-02-2010 3:11am

Victor wrote: »

Why would you do that when you can change trains in Portarlington or Kildare? Current journey times from Cork to Galway are 4:25 to 5:40. The return journey 4:48 to 5:50.

Current journey times from Waterford to Galway are 04:28 to 06:05 (with an additional connection overnight). The return journey 04:40 to 06:32.

Most of the trains are between 5 to 6 hours, with the odd exception. Funnily there the ones you picked out. Why ?

Victor · 09-02-2010 3:35am

Bodan wrote: »

Maybe they need to put on an intercity up to Galway, bringing down the times because right now the trains from LJ west(towards Limerick) are too slow.

If Cork to Galway cant be done in 3 to 3 and half hours, then they really need to go back to the drawing board and look at the quality of the line.

Congratulations*, well done, you are about 4 years behind everyone else. The project is a sop, a dud, a farce.

Bodan wrote: »

Most of the trains are between 5 to 6 hours, with the odd exception. Funnily there the ones you picked out. Why ?

So I can prove you wrong - that is you are overstating the time. Also you don't give the accurate Cork/Waterford-Galway times.

* Apologies, I don't want to be so condescending, but its true.

dowlingm · 09-02-2010 3:53am

Bodan wrote: »

That's true for Waterfordian's. The journey is 3 hours 45 minutes

Not on Sundays.

As for yourself Bodan, if you're here to talk about the WRC fine. If you are generally in favour of it (and your use of a map which extends to Sligo implies you are) well that's up to you. But don't come on here talking about vitriol and people being organised. We get that kind of sh!te every six or eight weeks on this thread - look back at this one and its predecessors. Make your points and bring some proof - not speculation, not wishing, not whining about how Dublin screws the Wesht - and we'll see where this goes.

If the design and rail-laying resources poured into Ennis-Athenry had been put into accelerating Clonsilla-Navan and then coming back to Ennis-Athenry after, there's a good chance that the rolling stock at the Drogheda Depot could have been recovered to the rest of the network after the Malahide Viaduct and a line which would carry more passengers in a month than Ennis-Athenry in a year would be open - but no.

Bodan · 09-02-2010 4:06am

Victor wrote: »

Congratulations*, well done, you are about 4 years behind everyone else. The project is a sop, a dud, a farce.

I said if the quality of the line was not good enough. Lets wait and see what it is like when it is opened, at least we have a track that can be upgraded if it turns out not to be fast enough.

Victor wrote:

So I can prove you wrong - that is you are overstating the time. Also you don't give the accurate Cork/Waterford-Galway times.

You didn't prove anything, you cherry picked your times to try and make an fictitious point(yeah, im calling you out

). On Irishrail.ie, there are 5 Trains from Waterford to Galway with an average time of 5 and a half hours. And then there are 8 trains from Cork with an average time of 5 hours and 15 minutes.

Here they are:

Wat1 4:28
Wat2 6:05
Wat3 6:05
Wat4 5:33
Wat5 5:40

Cork1 5:10
Cork2 5:48
Cork3 5:47
Cork4 5:35
Cork5 5:40
Cork6 5:35
Cork7 5:03
Cork8 4:25

They are two long im my opinion, where I think people would much prefer to drive or take the bus. The only way to speed up the journey is through the WRC.

Bodan · 09-02-2010 4:25am

dowlingm wrote: »

Not on Sundays.

As for yourself Bodan, if you're here to talk about the WRC fine. If you are generally in favour of it (and your use of a map which extends to Sligo implies you are) well that's up to you. But don't come on here talking about vitriol and people being organised. We get that kind of sh!te every six or eight weeks on this thread - look back at this one and its predecessors. Make your points and bring some proof - not speculation, not wishing, not whining about how Dublin screws the Wesht - and we'll see where this goes.

If the design and rail-laying resources poured into Ennis-Athenry had been put into accelerating Clonsilla-Navan and then coming back to Ennis-Athenry after, there's a good chance that the rolling stock at the Drogheda Depot could have been recovered to the rest of the network after the Malahide Viaduct and a line which would carry more passengers in a month than Ennis-Athenry in a year would be open - but no.

You and your ilk are the ones doing most of the speculating on this thread. If you don't like the line and don't want to use it, that's fine. But others do and they find it useful. A lot pot shots have been taken at the WRC, not just in this thread but other threads. If you folks are so concerned about a waste of money, why not take shots at the Metro North blue line that is estimated to cost €5 billion. If you do think WRC is a waste, it is nothing compared to that white elephant.

The WRC is must needed infrastructure to connect the rest of the rail network up to each other and not just to Dublin. I like this investment outside of capital and I hope there is more of it. Dublin is pretty well served compared to the rest of the country.

btw, if you want to bitch about the Clonsilla-Navan line, please take it to a Clonsilla-Navan thread. Thanks.

Victor · 09-02-2010 6:42am

Bodan wrote: »

If you folks are so concerned about a waste of money, why not take shots at the Metro North blue line that is estimated to cost €5 billion. If you do think WRC is a waste, it is nothing compared to that white elephant.

btw, if you want to bitch about the Clonsilla-Navan line, please take it to a Clonsilla-Navan thread. Thanks.

Much ironing. Its delicious.

corktina · 09-02-2010 9:17am

BODAN..I really do seriously suggest that you read the previous posts and threads on this subject.

Most of the people you see as ANTI- this line are in fact ANTI- the waste of resources put in to create a sub-standard line with a VERY poor service. READ THE THREADS

Victor · 09-02-2010 10:42am

So, travelling Galway-Cork, the first and last connections are still via Portarlington.
The 06:40 from Galway via Limerick is much quicker than the 06:05 via Portarlington.

The 13:55 and 18:50 arrivals into Cork are quicker (i.e. later departure) via Limerick, but gets you in no earlier. Two changes against one in each case.

Otherwise, services are generally complimentary

Generally via Portarlington needs fewer changes and higher quality trains (first class, catering, vestibules) for more of the journey.

From	To	Dep. 	Arr. 	Change	Via		Time	

Galway 	Cork 	05:05	09:53	2	Portarlington	04:48	

Galway 	Cork 	06:40	10:52	2	Limerick	04:12	Shorter time
Galway 	Cork 	06:05	11:50	2	Portarlington	05:45	Longer time &#8211; depart earlier, arrive later

Galway 	Cork 	07:05	12:53	1	Portarlington	05:48	

Galway 	Cork 	09:05	13:55	1	Portarlington	04:50	
Galway 	Cork 	09:45	13:55	2	Limerick	04:10	Shorter time &#8211; depart later, arrive no earlier

Galway 	Cork 	11:05	15:55	1	Portarlington	04:50	

Galway 	Cork 	12:10	16:50	2	Limerick	04:40	

Galway 	Cork 	13:05	18:50	1	Portarlington	05:45	
Galway 	Cork 	14:30	18:50	2	Limerick	04:20	Shorter time &#8211; depart later, arrive no earlier

Galway 	Cork 	15:05	20:50	1	Portarlington	05:45	

Galway 	Cork 	17:25	21:58	2	Limerick	04:33	

Galway 	Cork 	18:05	23:55	1	Portarlington	05:50

Bus Éireann provide 12 services with a standard time of 4:20, no changes.

http://www.buseireann.ie/bubble.php?id=57

Cookie_Monster · 09-02-2010 10:48am

Bodan wrote: »

They are two long im my opinion, where I think people would much prefer to drive or take the bus. The only way to speed up the journey is through the WRC.

They're can always take off two carriages to make them shorter :pac:

Judgement Day · 09-02-2010 11:12am

Bodan. Love the map especially the way that it seems to show that the railway serves all the 'International' airports at Shannon, Galway, Knock and Sligo.

Western Rail Corridor (all disused sections)

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