Phoenix Park Tunnel open for passengers tomorrow

n97 mini wrote: »

Whatever work was needed should have been done as part of the Croke Park redevelopment. The GAA should have had to pay for a new platform as part of the planning permission.

Looking at google maps I doubt there is room to provide platforms on both lines at that site and maintain navigation on the Royal Canal.

If I recall correctly this was of the reasons put forward at the time, along with crowd control issues due to the proximity of the station to the stadium. Best practice tends to be to leave a clear distance between stadiums and stations rather than having both within the same site.

Rawr wrote: »

Even if they did build a station under the Croke Park, only Sligo/Maynooth line trains would be able to easily access it.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.366111,-6.2758342,18z

In the current layout, any train coming from the Pheonix Park Tunnel would have to reverse towards Broombridge before being able to continue towards Croker on the "Docklands" line.

If this junction were to be modified to allow direct access via the tunnel, then a possible "Croke Park Station" could serve GAA specials from much of the network.

Captain Chaos wrote: »

They also could have run into Northwall via Osery Road and reverse into the Docklands line but they removed that link a few weeks ago.

What would be gained over operating directly into Connolly by doing that? The time spent reversing et al would take far longer.

The issue as pointed out above is primarily one of driver route knowledge. It would require a second driver for each train (with the exception of a very small number of services) from Heuston to Connolly - there are cost implications of this, which at the moment is something that unfortunately has to come into play.

all drivers should have route knowledge of both stations even if they don't drive to them, one never knows when this capability may be needed. mind you theres more chance of hell freezing over

Losty Dublin wrote: »

You can't refuel, discharge or water sets in Docklands though so sooner or later they need to get into Connolly and ideally to the Valet plant or platform one. It's far more practical and quicker to send specials into Connolly directly rather than complex shunting manoeuvres into and out of Connolly via Newcomen or North Wall/Church Road junction.

In the case of a GAA special/event day you'd want to keep the Connolly area as free as possible so reversing trains from the Heuston side of the network would be a good way of avoiding congestion. Again this whole scenario is completely hypothetical anyway.

n97 mini wrote: »

Only one platform is needed



Best practice according to who?

Old Trafford has a platform down one side, like that proposed.

There are 10 metres between the exit of Lansdowne Rd Station and the (Green) turnstyles at the Aviva. The distance from platform to turnstyles in Croker would be much greater. Aviva redevelopment is much more recent than Croker.

Both of those are legacy issues - if you look at any new stadia that are built on new sites the railway stations are always built a clear distance away.

Either way it's irrelevant - the space isn't there.

end of the road wrote: »

all drivers should have route knowledge of both stations even if they don't drive to them, one never knows when this capability may be needed. mind you theres more chance of hell freezing over

A lot of drivers would of had knowledge for both stations but unfortunately if you don't drive a road for 6 months you need a refresher

A nice thing for Halloween - I am sure they could have run it more times for more people to enjoy.

If they can run it for Halloween/barm stoker Festival why not run trains on the line for Matches in croke park particularly when teams from the South, South West and West
And maybe a morning and evening service to the IFSC from Newbridge - Docklands

Judgement Day wrote: »

This sort of thing will never happen as it requires a leap of imagination of which the time markers in CIE/IE are incapable. All their apologists will be along soon to tell you all sorts of technical reasons why it can't be done - such as the toilet rolls have to be changed in Drogheda.

or that god forsaken depot out in bally go backwards thats so far out of the way (sorry i mean portlaoise railcare depot)

trellheim wrote: »

And an early morning Dublin-Cork train from Grand Canal Dock, Pearse, Tara and Connolly , have one or two per day. and before people bang on about pathing, it would be perfectly feasible.

Also could be used for spare sets to run long distance outers into Docklands

And what is so special about Cork people getting a train to the city center when other Intercity passengers won't. Just because its an expensive service and Cork being the second city doesn't justify it.

If anything Carlow/Athlone commuter services should operate along with the Portlaoise services.

end of the road wrote: »

it absolutely does justify it. cork is the "premium" service in the ROI so it will get special privelages other services won't.

What's premium about it?

No premium rolling stock
No premium first class service
Unable to support an hourly service any longer (well without taking rolling stock of other routes).

Just because a few more suits travel on it dons't make it any different to any service on the network. The high fares are equivalent to the distance traveled and people who travel on other routes pay more less the same per mile as Cork passengers do.

Its that mindset from IE management which is a major problem and tbh a real reason why all other intercity routes preform poorly in comparison. No willingness to make them work.

end of the road wrote: »

all down to irish rail. it has specialized rolling stock, which could easily have a small refurbishment to fit such a first class service. but irish rail can't be bothered and weren't in the first place.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Unable to support an hourly service any longer (well without taking rolling stock of other routes).

since when did it become bi-hourly. they have decided to take stock from the other routes because its much easier to run short multiple unit trains then bother to chase for custom. mind you such stock is been taken from those other routes by being operated on the short distance commuter services they aren't suited to rather then the stock that is, but fat chance of irish rail management realizing that because operational convenience comes before the customer.

no, its irish rails mindset and miss management in general thats the reason for that.

I'm well aware of the ins and outs of it but the fact still remains there is no real justification for this service running to the city center over any other long distance service. It will not increase passengers or revenue for them.