Ratoath Road/Reillys Bridge level crossing elimination

L1011 · 12-09-2014 11:24pm

SeanW wrote: »

It will also likely allow a greater number of Maynooth line trains, so that (assuming your journey is "turn up and go") you will likely spend less time waiting for a train.

Not sure it'll have that much of an impact, adding further gate closures to the other LCs will still be difficult to get away with. If train lengths are anything to go by there isn't any stock for more trains in peak and off-peak gate closures aren't an issue.

Porterstown also needs closing ASAP, it would have done but for the five mammies a morning that believe its a quicker route to the schools than the bridge it was pushed out till after the local elections. If you hit the lengthy closures for when two Sligo trains pass its sure as hell not any quicker.

Victor · 12-09-2014 11:38pm

MYOB wrote: »

Not sure it'll have that much of an impact, adding further gate closures to the other LCs will still be difficult to get away with. If train lengths are anything to go by there isn't any stock for more trains in peak and off-peak gate closures aren't an issue.

There are plans to remove as many as they can.

L1011 · 12-09-2014 11:41pm

Victor wrote: »

There are plans to remove as many as they can.

Yet political intransigence for short-term gain means that one that's been obsoleted for years is still open.

cython · 12-09-2014 11:52pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Well it will eliminate potential delays due to the gates not being opened in time for the trains.

But no change in scheduled running times for the trains.

The traffic on the Ratoath Road will benefit greatly due to not being held up any more at the crossing.

Not to mention that any benefit by means of improvement in speed on this section that might arise would be temporary if the station between Broombridge and Ashtown (for which a planning application has been made) comes to pass........

celticbest · 24-11-2014 12:36pm

Is this still scheduled for completion in early 2015 or is there any chance it could open ahead of schedule?

trellheim · 24-11-2014 2:52pm

Drove past the other day with no real sign of "Newlands-cross" type urgency. 2015 early looks like they are on target for.

mackerski · 24-01-2015 9:39pm

It's beginning to look very ready for use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwVYSZUyr6w

mrsdewinter · 31-01-2015 9:21am

Jebus... Any word on when this will open?

Irish Steve · 31-01-2015 11:19am

Probably waiting for the right minister to check his diary to confirm availability to open it.

Carawaystick · 31-01-2015 1:11pm

Is there any plan to close the lc at Broomebridge? Is there any pedestrian over bridge to get to the tram stop to the city bound train line when the lc is closed?

Is there any plan to remove the lc at ashtown? Seems disastrous planning to allow the building so close to the train line/level crossing there

LXFlyer · 31-01-2015 1:16pm

There is no level crossing at Broombridge.

January · 31-01-2015 7:30pm

I don't think they'll ever be able to eliminate the LC at Ashtown, unless they decide to close the road and stop trains going through for a while to build a bridge... there's just no other reasonable pathway for a bridge like there was at Ratoath Road.

Losty Dublin · 31-01-2015 7:41pm

mrsdewinter wrote: »

Jebus... Any word on when this will open?

Bridge is apparently open from this coming Wednesday.

L1011 · 31-01-2015 9:04pm

January wrote: »

I don't think they'll ever be able to eliminate the LC at Ashtown, unless they decide to close the road and stop trains going through for a while to build a bridge... there's just no other reasonable pathway for a bridge like there was at Ratoath Road.

Ashtown is definitely planned, unlike the probably easier crossings beyond Clonsilla which weren't on the last list I saw. Much quieter roads and less train paths on those, though.

Infini · 01-02-2015 12:23pm

At ashtown they wont be able to build over the line as the incline would probably be too much (the finglas side of the bridge is a downward hill. Rather they might build UNDER the line instead since theres plenty of road space on the navan road side and it would be able level with the finglas side much easier.

SeanW · 01-02-2015 4:23pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Bridge is apparently open from this coming Wednesday.

Nice. Will the level crossing be closed right away?

monument · 01-02-2015 6:29pm

Infini2 wrote: »

At ashtown they wont be able to build over the line as the incline would probably be too much (the finglas side of the bridge is a downward hill. Rather they might build UNDER the line instead since theres plenty of road space on the navan road side and it would be able level with the finglas side much easier.

Going under would be a big deal given that there's not just the canal but a deeper canal lock, the train line, the train station, the historic bridge, the old house between the railway and the canal, and the new building (with basements etc?).

Given the above, the minor nature of the road and the fact the new bridge is only a few minutes down the road, maybe the level crossing should be just closed with an under/over bridge just for walking and cycling?

Losty Dublin · 01-02-2015 8:45pm

SeanW wrote: »

Nice. Will the level crossing be closed right away?

Yes, Wednesday is the end of the crossing.

Grandeeod · 01-02-2015 8:59pm

Infini2 wrote: »

At ashtown they wont be able to build over the line as the incline would probably be too much (the finglas side of the bridge is a downward hill. Rather they might build UNDER the line instead since theres plenty of road space on the navan road side and it would be able level with the finglas side much easier.

Hard to believe all that development got planning permission around Ashtown station and no definitive plans for the elimination of the crossing gates wasn't included.

Losty Dublin · 02-02-2015 8:50pm

Once again the opening/closing date has been put back; this time it's due to a few delays in finishing the road works. The new date is Monday 16th at noon when the bridge will open and the level crossing will simultaneously.

mrsdewinter · 03-02-2015 4:42pm

Thanks for that, Losty. I was peering at the scaffolding and loose wires as the bus went over the Level Crossing this morning and I thought, there's no way that will be finished by tmw... Monday the 16th isn't too long to wait. *smiles wanly*

celticbest · 16-02-2015 1:19pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Once again the opening/closing date has been put back; this time it's due to a few delays in finishing the road works. The new date is Monday 16th at noon when the bridge will open and the level crossing will simultaneously.

Is the bridge open?

I passed by it yesterday and it looked like some work is still to be completed.

Skylinehead · 16-02-2015 1:38pm

celticbest wrote: »

Is the bridge open?

I passed by it yesterday and it looked like some work is still to be completed.

I drove by this morning and it kinda looks done, but there was nobody working on it and the barriers are still up.

pclive · 16-02-2015 1:59pm

Just walked by it and there are 15-20 workers still working on the bridge and its surroundings

prettyboy81 · 16-02-2015 10:03pm

The local rumours have it opening very soon. Must email DCC to get some sort of definite answer.

Losty Dublin · 16-02-2015 10:43pm

celticbest wrote: »

Is the bridge open?

I passed by it yesterday and it looked like some work is still to be completed.

It's been put back again as there are still a few outstanding jobs to do on the approach road; this time till March 4th.

mrsdewinter · 17-02-2015 12:49am

Losty Dublin wrote: »

It's been put back again as there are still a few outstanding jobs to do on the approach road; this time till March 4th.

What?? *throws things*

prettyboy81 · 20-02-2015 9:00pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

It's been put back again as there are still a few outstanding jobs to do on the approach road; this time till March 4th.

God Damnnnnnnnnnn!

aliveandkicking · 24-02-2015 2:20pm

https://twitter.com/DCCTraffic/status/570209075096649730

It's open!

mrsdewinter · 24-02-2015 3:27pm

Woo-Hoo!! Heading over there in the next half hour. Can't wait to see it in action!

ongarboy · 24-02-2015 5:26pm

great - one less level crossing to worry about - I wonder will it shave off a minute or two on the rail trips?

Losty Dublin · 24-02-2015 9:05pm

ongarboy wrote: »

great - one less level crossing to worry about - I wonder will it shave off a minute or two on the rail trips?

Not quite. The level crossing will be open for a couple of weeks to allow work traffic in and out to deal with walling and sealing off the old crossing but this will be minimal as such. Once done and the associated signal for the crossing are moved, Reilly's will be history and the city will have just three staff operated level crossings left in service.

The bridge won't make any material different to train times bar the odd minute or two if there was a delay in closing the gates. The main difference will be felt on the Ratoath Road itself; traffic can expect to save up to 10 minutes at peak times.

prettyboy81 · 24-02-2015 9:21pm

A joy to travel over on the way home from work!

mrsdewinter · 24-02-2015 9:23pm

prettyboy81 wrote: »

A joy to travel over on the way home from work!

Cycled over it this afternoon and it looked great. Can't wait to see how much it trims off the journey time of the 120 bus.

Subpopulus · 25-02-2015 12:08am

On Irish Cycle, with a couple of photos.

http://irishcycle.com/2015/02/24/new-bridge-with-cycle-lanes-links-cabra-and-finglas-and-removes-road-crossing-on-royal-canal-route/

StreetLight · 25-02-2015 1:06am

Love the way the Irish Cycle article starts with:
"A new €9.8 bridge opened today...."

Nine euro and eighty cent for a bridge? Not bad!

monument · 25-02-2015 5:39pm

StreetLight wrote: »

Love the way the Irish Cycle article starts with:
"A new €9.8 bridge opened today...."

Nine euro and eighty cent for a bridge? Not bad!

Err... Fixed. Thanks.

mackerski · 25-02-2015 5:43pm

The new layout (including the new ramp that turns out to be a shared pedestrian and bicycle space, oh dear...) is now mapped on OpenStreetMap.

Victor · 25-02-2015 9:30pm

Um, I thought it was meant to cost only about half of this.

Unless, there is improvement in rail services, will this just be moving traffic queues from A to B?

mackerski wrote: »

The new layout (including the new ramp that turns out to be a shared pedestrian and bicycle space, oh dear...) is now mapped on OpenStreetMap.

Shameful that it took a whole day to map! :pac:

L1011 · 25-02-2015 11:07pm

Victor wrote: »

Unless, there is improvement in rail services, will this just be moving traffic queues from A to B?

I would sincerely hope that when this and Porterstown are officially stopped up (Porterstown being delayed by political fiddling and nothing more) that they can tighten the timetables or add paths. Well, both hopefully.

LXFlyer · 25-02-2015 11:15pm

L1011 wrote: »

I would sincerely hope that when this and Porterstown are officially stopped up (Porterstown being delayed by political fiddling and nothing more) that they can tighten the timetables or add paths. Well, both hopefully.

This will not have any bearing on rail timetables.

Trains already operate at line speed at both locations, and are scheduled on that basis.

The main impact will be to improve road traffic flows, while also improving reliability on the railway.

Losty Dublin · 26-02-2015 12:29am

lxflyer wrote: »

This will not have any bearing on rail timetables.

Trains already operate at line speed at both locations, and are scheduled on that basis.

The main impact will be to improve road traffic flows, while also improving reliability on the railway.

The new signal arrangement will be for the signals protecting the crossing to be moved up line to create a new block section. While it won't improve speeds it will offer an additional block section on the line.

athtrasna · 28-02-2015 4:06pm

prettyboy81 wrote: »

A joy to travel over on the way home from work!

Absolutely on the way home it's fab but tried it yesterday morning on the way to work and the queue was unreal. Couldn't get across to the bridge on green for ages. Worse than before!

prettyboy81 · 01-03-2015 9:11pm

athtrasna wrote: »

Absolutely on the way home it's fab but tried it yesterday morning on the way to work and the queue was unreal. Couldn't get across to the bridge on green for ages. Worse than before!

I do be hitting the bridge between 7.30-7.45am and usually just breeze over. I'd imagine the two schools have an impact on the bridge from about 8.30-9.30am.

Losty Dublin · 27-03-2015 12:03am

A quick bump here.

The level crossing will finally be closed and decommissioned at midday tomorrow.

n97 mini · 27-03-2015 6:53pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Trains already operate at line speed at both locations, and are scheduled on that basis.

I doubt that very much. My 9.55 departure (ex Leixlip) to Connolly takes 27 minutes and the next departure at 10.21 takes 36 minutes. That's a third more time to do the same journey.

LXFlyer · 27-03-2015 7:30pm

n97 mini wrote: »

I doubt that very much. My 9.55 departure (ex Leixlip) to Connolly takes 27 minutes and the next departure at 10.21 takes 36 minutes. That's a third more time to do the same journey.

What has that to do with Reilly's Crossing and it's removal? That's a completely different issue.

My point was that there are no speed restrictions on that section of track either side of the level crossing and as such line speed is applicable.

Removing the crossing is not going to change the speed of the trains, but it ought to mean better reliability.

L1011 · 28-03-2015 2:55am

Where is the delay / padding though?

I've had a train leave Maynooth nearly 10 minutes late and arrive on time, although it's dwell time left one girl in Clonsilla as she assumed she had time to select a carriage and didn't...

factnee · 08-05-2015 11:12am

Is it just me or has this made any difference to other people in the morning? The queues on the Ratoath Road are still crazy

Carawaystick · 08-05-2015 1:05pm

factnee wrote: »

Is it just me or has this made any difference to other people in the morning? The queues on the Ratoath Road are still crazy

Only in one direction...

Ratoath Road/Reillys Bridge level crossing elimination

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