Docklands station locked again (Wed 9 Jan)

daymobrew

It's happened again (last time was 2 Oct last) - Docklands station was locked this morning.

Again I got this report from a friend who takes an earlier train than me. He said that there was a 10 min delay waiting for the spare keys to come over from Connolly and then a further 15 min delay while they figured out how to open up the shutters and doors.

It seems in addition to the spare keys being held at Connolly, they need to include operating instructions with them.

I think I'll have to write to Richard Fearn CEO again.

daymobrew

I got a reply from Richard Fearn, CEO, Irish Rail the other day.
He apologised (and offered to write to my friend to apologise to him).

The issue this time was that the member of staff rostered for duty at Docklands that morning failed to report to work due to sickness.

To ensure this does not happen again, the station will now be routinely visited at opening time by another official with keys, so that the punctual opening is not dependent on just the one Docklands member of staff. Furthermore a call will then be made to the control office to confirm the station has been opened and that the first train can be routed there. If for any reason that confirmation is not received, the first train will be diverted directly to Connolly.

So, this new procedure should prevent this happening again. Fingers crossed.

bennyx_o

Fair dues to him for addressing the problem and creating a solution for it. I know it shouldn't happen in the first place, but it's nice to see something being done.

Victor

They could of course just wait for the phone call from the guy rostered to work to say he has arrived, which aparently is the procedure. If he doesn't phone, phone him. No answer? Send someone to Docklands.

godtabh

How many people man docklands?

Rashers72

With all the talk of overcrowding on the Maynooth line (Newstalk actually now sending reporters on the trains to confirm how bad it has become), are the trains to Docklands packed?
Or are passengers waiting for the Bray/Pearse bound services, as that is where they work?
Just curious.....

daymobrew

Rashers72 wrote: »

With all the talk of overcrowding on the Maynooth line (Newstalk actually now sending reporters on the trains to confirm how bad it has become), are the trains to Docklands packed?
Or are passengers waiting for the Bray/Pearse bound services, as that is where they work?
Just curious.....

Last April I counted the passengers on an 8:20 service to Docklands - all seats taken and 27 people standing. It was comfortable standing, sufficient space to read without having the book pressed against your face.

jlang

Just on the experience of a few trips on the 7:45am from Clonsilla, I'd say the last seats fill up at Castleknock. A much more pleasant ride than the Connolly bound services, where the last remotely comfortable standing spaces (in the middle of the carriage) are full by the time the train leaves Clonsilla.

Tipsy Mac

<simple solution>Why not just get a copy of the key made and have it kept in the first train that arrives into that station each morning, that way the driver can open it should bellend not arrive for work.</simple solution>

Having another official with keys visit is another waste of resources.

Slice

<simple solution>Why not just get a copy of the key made and have it kept in the first train that arrives into that station each morning, that way the driver can open it should bellend not arrive for work.</simple solution>

Having another official with keys visit is another waste of resources.

This would probably be a huge issue for the unions

Ham'nd'egger

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

<simple solution>Why not just get a copy of the key made and have it kept in the first train that arrives into that station each morning, that way the driver can open it should bellend not arrive for work.</simple solution>

Having another official with keys visit is another waste of resources.

Safety issues would stop that from being a runner. You enter into a situation whereby a driver is leaving his train unattended while in his charge. A driver would risk being sacked if he leaves his train cab, and it has happened in the past. In any case, drivers also have a number of checks and procedures to do from the time a train arrives until it departs so they are tied up, so to speak.

Tipsy Mac

Hamndegger wrote: »

Safety issues would stop that from being a runner. You enter into a situation whereby a driver is leaving his train unattended while in his charge. A driver would risk being sacked if he leaves his train cab, and it has happened in the past. In any case, drivers also have a number of checks and procedures to do from the time a train arrives until it departs so they are tied up, so to speak.

Well this station is the last stop on the route so it would be reasonable to assume that everyone aboard is getting off at this stop and because the station is locked nobody else is getting on so shouldn't be any issue.

I would imagine it's far more of a safety issue in that a train is entering a station which is locked, if for instance the train was ablaze all aboard would be at risk of being massacred because of a lack of a key preventing an easy escape.

Ham'nd'egger

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Well this station is the last stop on the route so it would be reasonable to assume that everyone aboard is getting off at this stop and because the station is locked nobody else is getting on so shouldn't be any issue.

The fact that it is the last stop and that there would not be anybody on it is irrelevant. Although the train is not in motion, the driver would still have to attend to it and is in charge of same until he is relieved; they have enough to concern with as it is without opening stations

Our man in Havana

Also someone could steal the train. I kid you not.

daymobrew

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

I would imagine it's far more of a safety issue in that a train is entering a station which is locked, if for instance the train was ablaze all aboard would be at risk of being massacred because of a lack of a key preventing an easy escape.

Docklands isn't an indoor station like Heuston or Connolly, it is open air and there is a escape route that leads passengers into the adjacent empty yard.

daymobrew

Slice wrote: »

This would probably be a huge issue for the unions

A former Irish Rail employee made the same comment about the proposal that the requirement that employee at Docklands ring the controller each morning. "They won't like their arrival time being monitored."

The Community Voice, a free Dublin 15 newspaper, had a slightly different report of the incident. They said that a "young worker" slept in.

antoinolachtnai

Surely a CCTV camera at the entrance to the station with a link back to the control room at Connolly would resolve this?

daymobrew

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Surely a CCTV camera at the entrance to the station with a link back to the control room at Connolly would resolve this?

This would probably be an even bigger issue for the unions.

dobsdave

Bond-007 wrote: »

Also someone could steal the train. I kid you not.

Just put a lock on the steering wheel, they wouldnt get round the first bend:D:

godtabh

Bond-007 wrote: »

Also someone could steal the train. I kid you not.

I took a joy ride in a train in my youth. Wasnt that difficult to get it going. How far you would actually go before derailing is another question!