Where are the new trains?

JohnnyBalls

Hello everyone, I've been reading here for quite some time and I'd like to say I enjoy very much the discussions on this board

I have a question which I hope one of you could answer...the new trains..where the hell are they?

I have travelled by train from Cork to Dublin FOUR times in the last month due to business and due to an extensive advert campaing by IE I was led to believe the old orange creaky trains (Sorry I don't know their official title!) were replaced by a new fleet opened by Martin Cullen last month? I have seen these new locomotives PARKED at Limerick Junction but never actually seen ONE in service...can anyone explain what's going on?

Also I have a gripe to complain about, my last train journey was absolutely HORRENDOUS...overcrowding is a serious problem and IE doesn't seem to care about it...people were sitting on suitcases in between carraiges and when an IE worker came around he wanted to see tickets when we were literally SQUASHED agaisnt each other for a THREE HOUR journey...I am not complaining for the sake of it I just wanted to know if it is a common occurance on our inter-city services for people to STAND the whole journey...if so it is disgraceful.

I also noticed people smoking out of windows in between carraiges and in toilets...again I am NOT stating this is FACT on all services just what I myself have witnissed on the CORK-DUBLIN route over the last four weeks.

Anyway..thanks for reading!

Stark

It's not unusual for people to be standing the whole way down unfortunately. The online booking system isn't much help either.

The bus can often be a better alternative. It takes a bit longer but it's one fifth of the price and you're guaranteed not to be standing.

MarkoP11

There are 4 serviceable sets of the new train, thats enough to cover 8 of the 14 departures but the unions in particular in Cork are holding the show up. The principle problem is the staff in Cork refuse to use the new maintenance facility which means the trains can't be left overnight in Cork which means they must get back to Dublin normally each set spends every second night in Cork

The unions again are resisting the introduction of train managers which have been standard in the Uk and Europe for close on a decade, there are only 2 trained at the moment as a result

The 9:00, 11:00 Dublin Cork and 13:30, 15:30 Cork Dublin are the new train, the 7:00 Dublin Cork and 11:30 Cork Dublin will be added once more train managers are available

The seat booking thing does actually work, used to last week was spot on even lets you choose the exact seat even in standard (even handles student/weekender and faircard tickets). and its free to book. If you don't book and end up standing thats your fault not the system, incidentally if you booked a seat and you end up standing you get a full refund you can't lose just make sure the ticket checker initials your ticket as proof fill this in http://www.platform11.org/passenger_info/forms/delay_refund_intercity.pdf and quote "reserved seat not honoured" as the reason

Unless you post the date and time there is no way anyone can find out what went wrong on any train, easy get answers with that info

Incidentally IE pulled the TV ad over a month ago and to be honest the new train is nothing to get excited about the old train is actually smoother at speed

Cullen wouldn't know what a train was unless it ran over his car, Cullen had a bit of a fit and fairly well wrecked the lunch on the press run three weeks ago by making us leave Cork earlier than required for his personal connivence

Pet

and to be honest the new train is nothing to get excited about the old train is actually smoother at speed

You sure about that? I found the new trains to be a much smoother, quieter ride, not to mention comfort factor. Although, at certain points, the train was shaking from side to side like mad.

What's the max speed rating for those trains? And what's keeping them from going at that speed?

MarkoP11

I've made 4 trips and on 3 of those its was noticeably less smooth one journey was just about on par, put it this way the catering staff commented that the new train was lighter and more giddy (its actually heavier) and making there job harder. Only diehard passengers will complain, its more than acceptable its a lot better than expected, its nowhere near enterprise style rocking and rolling but Irish Rail have stated numerous times that the ride is not right and that the spanners are out to fix.

Some people like the seats some don't thats the way it is

I like it myself its a big improvement but a lot of work remains to sort out the bugs in the ride and the electronic toys

New coaches as they are today cannot exceed 100mph, the old ones can do 125mph the new ones need extensive modifications to operate at 125mph fairly pointless until they relay Dublin Cork

jjbrien

Slighty off topic but i will ask it here if i dont come back on a return ticket can i get a refund for the unused portion. Where I can get details on the form for refund?

MarkoP11

Once you have not travelled getting a refund on a single or a return where the outward portion has not been used is instant at point of purchase in cash

There is no obligation to refund you if you commenced your journey and decided not to travel on the return, unless you can prove illness a refund is unlikely, the relevant form http://www.platform11.org/passenger_info/forms/ticket_refund.pdf

If the train breaks down etc its a different form http://www.platform11.org/passenger_info/forms/delay_refund_intercity.pdf

If you booked online and decide not to travel you must cancel before outward journey https://www.irishrail.ie/home/terms_and_conditions.asp

Red Alert

The OP didn't see new locomotives, they're a Driving-Van-Trailer (DVT) and Heating Vans in one.

The current Mark-3 set are 125mph capable as it's a design feature of that carriage. We can't do 125mph anyway because the 201 class of locomotives aren't capable of going that fast.

If IE dropped their pig-headedness about Mk3 refurbishment and just did it, then we wouldn't need those railcars now on order, and could get more use out of the well performing 201 and 071 locomotive classes, whilst retiring the Mark2's and Mark1's.

dowlingm

Red Alert - don't forget track replacement/speed restriction elimination, that's the most critical bit!

Red Alert

very true, wasn't in top form this morning

when the 201 class arrived first they used to do some serious speed but then the bad track began to show, so rather than deal with the problem IE cut the speed.

jjbrien

Red Alert wrote:

The OP didn't see new locomotives, they're a Driving-Van-Trailer (DVT) and Heating Vans in one.

The current Mark-3 set are 125mph capable as it's a design feature of that carriage. We can't do 125mph anyway because the 201 class of locomotives aren't capable of going that fast.

If IE dropped their pig-headedness about Mk3 refurbishment and just did it, then we wouldn't need those railcars now on order, and could get more use out of the well performing 201 and 071 locomotive classes, whilst retiring the Mark2's and Mark1's.

Oh no not the 071 loco's they are very noisey very old adn often go on fire. Its time to retire them to the scrap heap or let them pull freigt trains.

Dublinstiofán

JohnnyBalls wrote:

I have travelled by train from Cork to Dublin FOUR times in the last month due to business and due to an extensive advert campaing by IE I was led to believe the old orange creaky trains (Sorry I don't know their official title!) were replaced by a new fleet opened by Martin Cullen last month? I have seen these new locomotives PARKED at Limerick Junction but never actually seen ONE in service...can anyone explain what's going on?

Also I have a gripe to complain about, my last train journey was absolutely HORRENDOUS...overcrowding is a serious problem and IE doesn't seem to care about it...people were sitting on suitcases in between carraiges and when an IE worker came around he wanted to see tickets when we were literally SQUASHED agaisnt each other for a THREE HOUR journey...I am not complaining for the sake of it I just wanted to know if it is a common occurance on our inter-city services for people to STAND the whole journey...if so it is disgraceful.

I also noticed people smoking out of windows in between carraiges and in toilets...again I am NOT stating this is FACT on all services just what I myself have witnissed on the CORK-DUBLIN route over the last four weeks.

Think it was just a bad experience to be honest. I travelled to portlaois yesterday and got one of the old trains on the way down. There were plenty of seats and the toilets were fairly clean.

On the way back I got one of the new intercity trains which was coming from cork as far as I know so they obviously are in commission on the cork to Dublin line. They are wonderful. Will admit a bit shaky from time to time. The standard is brilliant everything was spotless. The toilets were excellent. They had a cleaner on cleaning the carriages while we were on board. And even had a well dressed manager walking up and down the train from carriage to carriage ensuring everybody was satisfied. And on top of that the train was early into Dublin. The train left portlaois at 15:30 and we were back in Dublin Heuston at 16:05 which I thought was great. Considering it had taken us roughly 1 hour to get down there in the first place. You just must have been unlucky with the train times not to pick up one of the intercity ones as three passed us on the trip back from portlaois between 3 and 4 yesterday

Red Alert

The 201's go on fire (as a result of the HEP requirement on Enterprise services), not the 071's. In fact i've never heard of an 071 fire (although i'm sure it has happenned at some stage). Diesel-electric locos have much less wear and tear than buses or lorries, and with a few engine overhauls can approach 50 year's service.

DerekP11

Sorry. Did I just read above that someone left Portloaise at 15.30 by train and arrived in Heuston at 16.05???