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Why is there no railway from Limerick to Galway?

  • 19-06-2008 11:06am
    #1
    Heisenberg.
    Registered Users Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭


    This post has been deleted.


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Comments

  • #2
    mikemac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    Ever hear of the Western Rail Corridor?
    This was discussed for months and months, there's monster thread here somewhere if you do a search

    All possible questions will be answered ;)


  • #3
    murphaph
    Registered Users Posts: 19,017 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    It'll still take 5 hours by train when (if) the WRC is opened! :D


  • #4
    Heisenberg.
    Registered Users Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭Heisenberg.


    This post has been deleted.


  • #5
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    WRC = Water Rail Corridor :D


    00014e9210dr.jpg


  • #6
    murphaph
    Registered Users Posts: 19,017 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    Western Regional Canal perhaps?


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  • #7
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    murphaph wrote: »
    It'll still take 5 hours by train when (if) the WRC is opened! :D

    Realistically, the journey time by train from Cork to Galway, when the WRC is opened, will initially be in the region of 3 hours 40 minutes on some of the trips. There will be scope for bringing that below 3 hours 30 minutes when various other projects are completed (Limerick resignalling being the main one).


  • #8
    testicle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,430 ✭✭✭testicle


    The Scientist wrote: »
    Always bugged me that in the 21st Century to get from Cork to Galway by train, the best they can do is a +5hr round trip.
    That being the Cork - Portarlington - Galway route which, might i add, is less infrequent than the 6hr Cork - Dublin - Galway route thats offered throughout the day.

    Why are Irelands 3rd & 4th biggest Cities not linked by a decent rail network?

    2nd and 3rd. Belfast is not in Ireland.

    Reference - Article 4 of the Constitution - "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland."


  • #9
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    testicle wrote: »
    2nd and 3rd. Belfast is not in Ireland.

    Reference - Article 4 of the Constitution - "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland."

    Who mentioned Belfast ???

    The OP talked on Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway...


  • #10
    Chris_533976
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭Chris_533976


    I thought it was impossible for a train to go from Limerick Junction to Ennis? Isnt there a big gap in the line somewhere? Would make Cork - Galway impossible.


  • #11
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    Chris_533976 wrote: »
    I thought it was impossible for a train to go from Limerick Junction to Ennis? Isnt there a big gap in the line somewhere? Would make Cork - Galway impossible.

    The Limerick/Ennis line reopened several months back.

    Trains go Limerick Junction/Limerick and you either change or stay on board to Ennis.


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  • #12
    spacetweek
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,944 Mod ✭✭✭✭spacetweek


    The Scientist wrote: »
    Always bugged me that in the 21st Century to get from Cork to Galway by train, the best they can do is a +5hr round trip.
    That being the Cork - Portarlington - Galway route which, might i add, is less infrequent than the 6hr Cork - Dublin - Galway route thats offered throughout the day.

    Why are Irelands 3rd & 4th biggest Cities not linked by a decent rail network?
    Under construction as we speak pal. Supposed to open early in new year.


  • #13
    fh041205
    Registered Users Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    spacetweek wrote: »
    Under construction as we speak pal. Supposed to open early in new year.


    Really. You mean 2009. Surely if this was the case IR would be plugging it everywhere and telling us what a great job they've done and how they're brining freedom to the long lost people of the west.

    Personally, I think that the national rail carrier should have a duty to provide these major cities with a quality services, I just worry where the money is going to come from. You could see fares going sky high in a short period of time. (As if they weren't already high enough)


  • #14
    Slice
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,133 ✭✭✭Slice


    Originally Posted by The Scientist View Post
    Always bugged me that in the 21st Century to get from Cork to Galway by train, the best they can do is a +5hr round trip.
    That being the Cork - Portarlington - Galway route which, might i add, is less infrequent than the 6hr Cork - Dublin - Galway route thats offered throughout the day.

    Why are Irelands 3rd & 4th biggest Cities not linked by a decent rail network?
    2nd and 3rd. Belfast is not in Ireland.

    Reference - Article 4 of the Constitution - "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland."

    Surely the term Ireland could refer to the island as well. Sssshhheeessshh, people these days...


  • #15
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    fh041205 wrote: »
    Personally, I think that the national rail carrier should have a duty to provide these major cities with a quality services, I just worry where the money is going to come from. You could see fares going sky high in a short period of time. (As if they weren't already high enough)

    The national rail carrier cannot spend money they do not have... The government has chosen not to invest much money the past 20/30 years.


  • #16
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    The govt are building a high quality dual carriageway between Barefield and Galway, and a low quality rail line between Ennis and Athenry. it will be faster to get the bus, and there will be several bus operators, than the train.

    A more pertinent question, why is there no high quality road between Cork and Limerick?


  • #17
    fh041205
    Registered Users Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    GerardKeating wrote: »
    The national rail carrier cannot spend money they do not have... The government has chosen not to invest much money the past 20/30 years.


    Hey believe me, you're preaching to the converted there mate.


  • #18
    invincibleirish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭invincibleirish


    Who wants to go to Galway from Limerick and vice versa?


  • #19
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    invincibleirish wrote: »
    Who wants to go to Galway from Limerick and vice versa?

    Quite a few people given that both Bus Éireann and Citylink operate hourly bus services seven days a week on the route from early morning (7am) until mid-evening (8pm).

    Other than the Dublin-Galway route, it has the highest density of interurban bus operation in the country.


  • #20
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    Carawaystick wrote: »
    The govt are building a high quality dual carriageway between Barefield and Galway, and a low quality rail line between Ennis and Athenry. it will be faster to get the bus, and there will be several bus operators, than the train.

    A more pertinent question, why is there no high quality road between Cork and Limerick?

    Not necessarily true - you ignore the fact that buses will still need to serve the towns en route to drop off/pick up passengers, which will slow them down.

    The railway is being built to 70mph standard, which I would hardly call low quality. It should be possible to do the journey by rail in 1 hour 40 mins or thereabouts, or possibly less once all of the work is complete, i.e. removing accomodation crossings and the Limerick resignalling project.


  • #21
    Zoney
    Registered Users Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭Zoney


    Carawaystick wrote: »
    The govt are building a high quality dual carriageway between Barefield and Galway, and a low quality rail line between Ennis and Athenry. it will be faster to get the bus, and there will be several bus operators, than the train.

    A more pertinent question, why is there no high quality road between Cork and Limerick?

    You forget that buses are limited to 80 km/h. Also, the new dual carriageway route will be longer than the current road, as the N18 will meet the N6 nearer to Athenry. *Also* the buses will have to divert off the dual carriageway to serve towns, e.g. Ennis as at present. These diversions combined with stopping time will be much more time consuming than train stops, especially as the bus also has to divert into Shannon and often Bunratty (notwithstanding the fact of it not entirely being a good thing that the train can't get to Shannon).

    There may still be an issue in having the train service be attractive compared to car journeys (though traffic jams at Limerick and Galway might factor in) but for sure the train service will improve public transport access between the two cities. It will be far better than the bus, and certainly better enough to just about justify it being a bit more expensive.


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  • #22
    Heisenberg.
    Registered Users Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭Heisenberg.


    This post has been deleted.


  • #23
    invincibleirish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭invincibleirish


    KC61 wrote: »
    Quite a few people given that both Bus Éireann and Citylink operate hourly bus services seven days a week on the route from early morning (7am) until mid-evening (8pm).

    Other than the Dublin-Galway route, it has the highest density of interurban bus operation in the country.


    so 2 full buses an hour? whats that compared to the capacity of a trainset anyone?a trainset that will be slower then the bus.


  • #24
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    invincibleirish wrote: »
    so 2 full buses an hour? whats that compared to the capacity of a trainset anyone?a trainset that will be slower then the bus.

    As I've outlined above, the train will probably be between 1 hour 50 mins initially, dropping to 1 hour 40 minutes. The bus is currently 2 hours 20 mins.

    The bus will continue to have to serve the town centres, so time savings will be minimal. All of the buses serve Shannon airport so I really cannot see how you're arriving at your conclusion that the train will be slower.


  • #25
    fh041205
    Registered Users Posts: 992 ✭✭✭fh041205


    invincibleirish wrote: »
    so 2 full buses an hour? whats that compared to the capacity of a trainset anyone?a trainset that will be slower then the bus.

    Thats a full 4 piece every 3-4 hours. And with 30 mins off the journey it would certainly tempt those people. I still wouldn't be convinced that demand is there. These buses are hardly ALWAYS full are they???


  • #26
    KC61
    Registered Users Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    fh041205 wrote: »
    Thats a full 4 piece every 3-4 hours. And with 30 mins off the journey it would certainly tempt those people. I still wouldn't be convinced that demand is there. These buses are hardly ALWAYS full are they???

    Probably not, but a private operator is not going to operate an hourly service in competition with Bus Eireann seven days a week if the demand is not there.

    The plan is for seven trains per day in each direction, i.e. one every two hours.


  • #27
    de breeze
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39 ✭de breeze


    KC61 wrote: »
    Quite a few people given that both Bus Éireann and Citylink operate hourly bus services seven days a week on the route from early morning (7am) until mid-evening (8pm).

    Other than the Dublin-Galway route, it has the highest density of interurban bus operation in the country.

    If the bus service is so good and the road is being upgraded, who needs a train?
    WRC is a dumb white elephant.


  • #28
    Chris_533976
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭Chris_533976


    The simple truth about a Cork - Galway train service is that if it costs more than €24 return (Citylink bus return), which it probably will, then I'm not going to take it. I would reckon a lot of people may do that too.


  • #29
    Ham'nd'egger
    Registered Users Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭Ham'nd'egger


    Chris_533976 wrote: »
    The simple truth about a Cork - Galway train service is that if it costs more than €24 return (Citylink bus return), which it probably will, then I'm not going to take it. I would reckon a lot of people may do that too.

    Point taken, Chris though a lot of people will prefer train travel to bus for many reasons aside from price.


  • #30
    gjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,096 ✭✭✭gjim


    Hamndegger wrote: »
    Point taken, Chris though a lot of people will prefer train travel to bus for many reasons aside from price.
    A "lot of people"? I suspect the majority will be those for whom the price is not an issue will be because they have travel cards or students travelsave stamps. Outside of that, you are talking about occasional tourists.


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  • #31
    Zoney
    Registered Users Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭Zoney


    gjim wrote: »
    A "lot of people"? I suspect the majority will be those for whom the price is not an issue will be because they have travel cards or students travelsave stamps. Outside of that, you are talking about occasional tourists.

    I'd say a lot of people travelling one-off (i.e. not a daily commute) will pay the bit extra if they can afford it, for the comfort if nothing else (those new regional railcars are very nice).

    Those who are travelling regularly, although price may be an issue for them, nevertheless may choose the train if they can afford it *because* they're travelling regularly - an attempt to at least improve their sanity some small bit. There'll presumably be a season ticket or some such anyways.

    Travelling by bus is a pretty miserable way to travel - it will help public transport on the corridor a lot to have the option of the train, regardless of how attractive journey time and price are. All in all, it should work as well as train anywhere else in the country. Arguing that bus is sufficient is just as good an argument for say Limerick-Dublin (traffic volumes on the N7 are pretty much as low between Nenagh and Roscrea as they are in the middle of the N18).


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