[DWCommuter]

I believe intercity rail travel in Ireland is DEAD.

[westtip]

Originally Posted by foggy_lad

surely for most people if they live in Limerick or Galway there is nothing they would need from the other city which would neccessitate such an arduous journey on a clapped out railcar for two hours, and even if there were reasons to travel between the two cities people can do the journey faster cheaper and in more comfort on the express coach service which runs twice as often as the train at least

Touche, exactamundo, precisely. I wonder just how much is this line losing in operating costs now...... On forecast to only lose x or beating forecasts and losing xxxx.

I wonder if we can get this information from IE (LOL) I intend writing them a very strongly worded letter about the lack of ginger beer on the refreshments trolley on this INTERCITY route - actually I might even mention there is no refreshment trolley on this INTERCITY route and just how long are you expected to sit on a train without being offered a very expensive cup of coffee (roughly two hours I think is the answer)....... and I will tell them in no uncertain terms, mark my words, that next time I will get the bus and still have time for lunch at the other end before the train I could have got arrives. That will make them listen......

Wait for it......It hasn't been properly promoted and marketed there are not enough price promotions la di da - same old record about to come out soon.

But no heavy rain to close it down this year ----- so far.

[foggy_lad]

As far as refreshment goes they have been cutting back on the number of refreshments trolleys on trains with many of the cork trains now running with no trolly service at all just the snack car open for the premier class end of the train, and some of the Dublin-Waterford trains having no refreshment at all bar water from the toilet.

So I can't ever see them having any kind of refreshment at all on this laughable inter-city service or they would have to provide the same level of service for Waterford-Limerick passengers.

[westtip]

Originally Posted by foggy_lad

and some of the Dublin-Waterford trains having no refreshment at all bar water from the toilet.

.

I think I would rather drink the water from the Calcutta public water supply

[dynamick]

Kenny sees old railway as tourist trail

FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has lent his support to plans for a walking and cycling “greenway” on part of the western rail corridor, implicitly ruling out its reinstatement as a railway.

“I favour this kind of development . . . which will have a considerable impact in respect of tourism,” Mr Kenny told Sligo-based greenway promoter Brendan Quinn, saying it should be subject to a feasibility study by Mayo and Sligo county councils.

The proposal is to create a greenway on the corridor between Claremorris, Co Mayo, and Collooney, Co Sligo, based on the success of the Great Western Greenway from Newport to Mulranny, Co Mayo, which is now being extended to Achill Island.

Last summer, the existing route attracted 300 walkers and cyclists on weekdays and up to 1,000 at weekends. It has been a “phenomenal success”, according to Mr Quinn. “Imagine what that is doing for these sleepy backwaters of Irish tourism,” he said.

more...

[CIE]

Originally Posted by DWCommuter

I believe intercity rail travel in Ireland is DEAD

If that's the truth, then that's only because the government policy killed it. There's no sense in operating an "intercity" service at average speeds at 40 mph and slower. The technology is there to make operations on the general railway network up to date in terms of speed and efficiency (and has been there for close to two-thirds of a century), but instead, government policy is to keep Ireland stuck in the dark ages on the rails and in the early latter half of the 20th century as far as the roads go.

[corktina]

Originally Posted by CIE

If that's the truth, then that's only because the government policy killed it. There's no sense in operating an "intercity" service at average speeds at 40 mph and slower. The technology is there to make operations on the general railway network up to date in terms of speed and efficiency (and has been there for close to two-thirds of a century), but instead, government policy is to keep Ireland stuck in the dark ages on the rails and in the early latter half of the 20th century as far as the roads go.

link please to Government policy for this...

[Judgement Day]

Like so many other things in Ireland it's the lack of any 'policy' that has CIE where it is today. Things are just let drift until the whole lot ends up on the rocks.

[westtip]

Originally Posted by dynamick

more...

Yes its rather a good piece I thought!!!!! Along withe double page spread in Sligo weekender and the five minute coverage on Mid West Radio this morning!

took the train to Dublin Friday on the sligo line - got to say it's a bloody good service now - made me thinkg all this nonsense about the WRC what would be a much greater service to the west woudl be to see double tracking to Galway and the same as far as Longford. This whole WRC line is a distraction that will dilute what could actually be done with the mainline services to Dublin, which wil die without real express services, but overall I have to give the sligo line a much improved services mark for the journey I took and the addition of a mid morning and mid afternoon service is a big fillip.

[Judgement Day]

Westtip - I bet there was no dining car for 1st class patrons though and even the poxy trolley won't have had any ginger beer! I remember when..........

[westtip]

Originally Posted by Judgement Day

Westtip - I bet there was no dining car for 1st class patrons though and even the poxy trolley won't have had any ginger beer! I remember when..........

Indeed, First class seems to be a rather distant past memory of the halcyon days of steam, Are you looking forward to the bike ride down the Burma road?

[foggy_lad]

If anyone wants first class they should get a limousine which would probably still work out cheaper!

[westtip]

Originally Posted by dynamick

more...

West on Track are having a dicky fit!

[wild handlin]

Interesting article, although I must admit the logic of having a "green way" over what essentially is nothing more than 'standard Western countryside' is beyond me. You already have the spectacular green way out to Achill-already renouned for it's high tourism appeal (as well as Westport-only being a stones throw away) gives is a good footing to begin with, with the added bonous of building on the tourism industry which is already there.
What does Claremorris attract to tourists at present? Correct me if I'm wrong but there is no big "tourism attraction" or magestic scenary to attract any real numbers at present. Equally what is there between there and Collooney to attract tourism (bar the small Museum in Kiltimagh) With the exception of the Ox Mountain range visible from Tobercurry - Leyney what other highly scenic attractions are there?
Please correct me if I'm wrong but it's coming across as if this is just giving the 2 fingers to WoT for the extension to Collooney.
Which leads me onto another point. What are cyclists going to do when they reach Collooney? Brave the N4 race-track to the tourism hot-spots of Sligo and Strandhill!?
Westtipp, if you're serious about promoting dedicated cycle routes (which I'm all for BTW) then you have to have something to attract tourists to. Eg. What about a dedicated cycleway from Sligo-Glencar Valley- Manorhamilton, or Sligo-Strandhill or Sligo-Rosses Point, or even Tobercurry-Ballina via Lough Talt? It just appears to me that this proposal is to stop WoT having any chance of getting the line open from Collooney from Claremorris. And whilst I agree that Collooney-Claremorris is very unlikely in the short-medium term, still, never say never. Oh BTW I've no part of WoT or any other transport campaign, I'm just curious as to why Collooney-Claremorris has been chosen for a cycleway as opposed to many other routes which would have a lot more tourism appeal to begin with...

[Judgement Day]

I think these guys (The Ox Mountain Gang) will not be too happy to see their railway turned into a cycleway for ginger beer swilling cyclists - unless, that is, it will be suitable for Honda 50s too?