[PR] Iarnród Éireann: New timetable from 9th December

Victor

http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/news_centre/general_news.asp?action=view&news_id=299

Iarnród Éireann: New timetable from 9th December by Corporate Communications

Iarnród Éireann has unveiled a series of major service improvements for rail customers in the coming year.

For the fifth year in a row, the record investment programme in our railway, funded by the Irish Government under Transport 21 and the European Union, will deliver direct benefits to commuters on Intercity and Commuter area services.
Most of the improvements will take effect from this weekend, with the new national timetable operating from 9th December, but with further improvements during the year.

Full timetable details are available on this website.

Customers across all services are advised to check the new schedules before travelling, as some departure times on existing services have changed.

SLIGO-DUBLIN INTERCITY SERVICES – NEW FLEET DELIVERS EIGHT TRAINS EACH WAY DAILY (FROM 21ST JANUARY 2008)

Sligo-Dublin Intercity customers are set for major improvements in the daily schedule. Just two years after the service increased from three trains each way to five trains each way, the fastest growing route on the network will have eight trains each way daily (Mon-Fri) from 21st January 2008.

This includes a new Monday to Friday early bird service departing Sligo at 05.45hrs, and an early evening 16.00hrs service from Dublin to Sligo. Other services will depart on a clockface pattern, from Sligo every two hours from 07.00hrs to 19.00hrs, and from Dublin every two hours from 07.05hrs to 19.05hrs.

The improvements are made possible by the introduction of a brand new fleet of trains on the Sligo-Dublin route. Sligo-Dublin will be the first route to benefit from a €400 million fleet of 183 Intercity railcar carriages, starting on the Sligo line in the coming weeks, and being rolled out across the network through 2008.

ROSSLARE INTERCITY – EXTRA SERVICES; ENNISCORTHY COMMUTER SERVICE BEGINS; NEW SERVICE FOR GOREY

Rosslare Intercity services are set for expansion, while Enniscorthy gain a daily commuter service for the first time (both from 10th December), with an additional Gorey commuter service to be added in May.

A new early morning service from Rosslare Europort will operate at 05.35hrs, providing a commuter link from Enniscorthy at 06.23hrs. In the evening, the 17.25hrs Connolly to Gorey will be extended to Enniscorthy, connecting with a train to Rosslare.

Furthermore, boat connections from Fishguard will be reinstated with the introduction of an 18.55hrs Rosslare to Connolly service (change at Enniscorthy). A new evening commuter service for Gorey commuters will also be introduced from 6th May 2008, at 16.40hrs.

ENNIS/LIMERICK-DUBLIN – ADDITIONAL MORNING SERVICE

A new morning connection will be offered to rail customers travelling from Ennis or Limerick to Dublin – customers departing Ennis at 08.00hrs and Limerick at 08.55hrs now have a connecting service at Limerick Junction to Dublin. This brings to 15 each way the number of weekday services between Limerick and Dublin, and follows major expansion in the service last year.

CARLOW COMMUTERS – NEW EVENING SERVICE

A new service at the heart of the evening peak is being introduced for Carlow commuters on 10th December. The service at 17.35hrs will also deliver an additional service for Athy. Carlow and Athy commuters will now have three evening service options, at 16.25hrs, 17.35hrs and 18.25hrs.

PORTLAOISE COMMUTERS – NEW MORNING SERVICE

Commuter service expansion will also be delivered for morning peak commuters from Portlaoise, with a new service at 06.30hrs from 10th December. This brings to six the number of morning peak services for Portlaoise commuters.

MILLSTREET-CORK COMMUTER OPTIONS INTRODUCED

A daily commuter service between Millstreet and Cork begins from 10th December. Three morning options will be available from Millstreet to Cork at 06.24hrs, 06.55hrs (new service) and 08.22hrs (change Mallow). Evening options will be at 16.55hrs (change Mallow), 17.55hrs (new service) and 18.55hrs (change Mallow).

MAYNOOTH COMMUTER SERVICES

New services on the ever-growing Maynooth line include (from 21st January 2008) 06.38hrs Maynooth-Connolly; 08.10hrs Maynooth-Connolly (non-stop to Drumcondra), and extra evening services at 16.20hrs (from Connolly) and 19.29hrs (from Pearse). Additional Sunday evening services will also operate.

Additional capacity will also be delivered on key peak services on the Maynooth and Northern lines during 2008.

WEXFORD-WATERFORD LOCAL LINK

A new Wexford-Waterford local link will be delivered from 10th December, with a daily service from Wexford at 06.48hrs (change at Rosslare Strand), and from Waterford at 17.34hrs. This service will also link Wexford with Limerick through connecting services at Waterford.

NENAGH-LIMERICK COMMUTER SERVICE: FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 2008

The Limerick area commuter rail service also expands, from 1st September 2008. Nenagh-Limerick services will be expanded, to include commuting options. A new 07.55hrs service will operate from Nenagh to Limerick (serving Birdhill and Castleconnell), with evening returns at 16.45hrs and 17.47hrs.

CORK – IMPROVED SUNDAY SERVICE

Following the overwhelming success of the hourly Monday to Saturday service on the Cork-Dublin route, introduced this year, further improvements are delivered with an additional Sunday morning service in each direction.

Iarnród Éireann is already Europe’s fastest growing railway, with over 30% growth in since 2004. These new service improvements will ensure the company will expand still further.

In 2008, there will be more progress, as the introduction of the new Intercity railcar fleet is completed, leading to frequency expansion across a range of Intercity routes.

With the support of the Government under Transport 21, the rail network will play the fullest possible role in meeting the transport needs of the country and its communities.

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetables2008.asp

Victor

Timetable Supplement http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2008/IARNROD%20EIREANN%20TIMETABLE%202008%20AMENDMENTS.pdf