New bus station at redeveloped Colbert Station

LimeFruitGum

LOL, no I didn't miss the new construction :) I was talking about the bus yard. The new concourse looked smartened up when I was there, and I hope more people use the station and don't trash it.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122084905#Comment_122084905

The bus yard with the red shelters is gone now. It's being converted into parking.

It being gone and replaced by a new station is essentially the whole point of this thread.

nigra

The bike parking is now in, at the side over by the old bus station. In fairness the overhang from the roof will keep the bikes out of the rain and the stands are the Sheffield type which are pretty robust. I was pleasantly surprised.

LeoD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122098650#Comment_122098650

Unfortunately those stands are too close to the wall, will only suit 'standard' bikes, look like they can be lifted out of the ground with a key, are still in a relatively hidden and non-secure location and make the benches inaccessible.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122106105#Comment_122106105

Ya I was thinking the same about the key thing. The seats are pretty redundant anyway but it still works looks stupid. I wouldn't say hidden though because that will become the busiest section of the car park.

It all kinda looks like they still really don't get it though. I'm gonna hazard a guess that whoever put them there and the station in general have never heard of "last km" commuting.

There are some lockers inside platform 4 that can be rented by long term subscription but the ideal solution is to have some Sheffield stands in there. People have been locking to the railings there for years because it has long ago been figured out as the safest place.

I'm not saying we need this many but I would be familiar with Marylebone and Paddington which both have bike spaces beyond the ticket check.

LeoD

They definitely don't get it. I came across this Arup report last week and it's a great read. Would be good if the powers that be in IR had a look at it. https://www.arup.com/-/media/arup/files/publications/a/active_train_stations.pdf

sleepyman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121974887#Comment_121974887

Just wondering are these finished?As another poster mentioned a general shop would be a good addition in the station.

Cookiemunster

The large retail unit on the right as you enter looks to be finished awaiting a tenant and fitout. The one on the left where the ticket office used to be is still under construction.

They've also installed a second set of automatic doors inside the lobby.

Paddico

Passed through at the weekend. Nice job but definitely need to change the old and very shabby perspexs in the main part of the station. A lot more light needed.

Guessing its not in the plan though but it would make a huge difference

Cookiemunster

I'm surprised at that. I'm sure it was part of the original plans along with reopening and glazing the arch above Starbucks

sleepyman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122412211#Comment_122412211

yeah agree.Also the new paving is already stained//grubby loooking. that needs to be cleaned regularly.

Paddico

Wasnt quite sure where to put this but this is the plan for Galway station.

https://www.railtech.com/all/2025/01/07/galway-terminus-starts-irish-rail-renaissance/?gdpr=accept

Really feel Limerick is been left behind. The new bus station is a great job but the train station needs a serious lift like Galways' plans above.

Cookiemunster

Have you actually been inside? Because the it wasn't just a new bus station. The interior of the train station was completely refurbished, the ticket office was moved and two new retail units were created.

Connectivity between rail and bus services will also be enhanced, making multi-modal journeys more seamless and convenient

This has already been achieved through construction of the bus terminus. And Colbert already has 4 platforms, so doesn't need to be expanded.

Limerick is not in any way being left behind.

Poxyshamrock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033509#Comment_123033509

The roof of the station building wasn't replaced though. It was never part of the plans but it would have made the platform areas a bit nicer. I suspect this is what the poster is referring to.

LeoD

Colbert is no great shakes and the main/only national rail station in Ireland's 3rd city should be more impressive but it's way ahead of Cork's which is woefully inadequate.

Reputable Rog

Where’s the 4th platform? Only 3 are accessible unless you jump from one train to another.

Cork and Galway are getting much more significant upgrades.

Limerick is consistently left behind. There’s seem to be a media campaign promoting Galway as the third city.

Cookiemunster

Whether it's used or not, there are 4 platforms. There isn't a capacity issue so there's no need for expansion.

Galway Ceannt currently has 2 platforms and no room for expansion. That's why it's being expanded.

Cork Kent is getting 1 new platform through the extension of platform 5. That platform is to allow the future commuter services to use the station without disrupting Intercity services.

I've honestly no idea how people can see a €23m investment in Colbert Station as Limerick being left behind.

Poxyshamrock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123035895#Comment_123035895

The 4th platform is the one closest to Jackman Park.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123035895#Comment_123035895

The 4th is closest to where the Bus Docking Area was, you alight from the train further out from the station concourse, a bit like some the Limerick/Dublin stop at platform stop further out from the concourse in Heuston Station.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033202#Comment_123033202

Oh FFS more of this insecure small town self loathing.

The station in Galway is an utter kip. It's a little market town station like Sligo or Kilkenny. The bus "station" is just a slip road.

Colbert is now absolutely perfect for what we need. Boo hoover the roof that doesn't need replacing didn't get replaced because it doesn't look good enough for some.

Platform 4 by the way is used for the Castleconnell/Nenagh train and sometimes Ennis when it's the smaller non Galway service.

sleepyman

It could do with a little shop like it had back in the day-just so you could grab water,bar of chocolate or whatever.

Hopefully one of the vacant retail units could become one.

The roof does look grubby and needs a clean.

LeoD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123036636#Comment_123036636

It's much improved but I don't think it's "perfect for what we need". We still don't make it easy or attractive enough for people living within cycling distance of the station to combine bus and train journeys with cycling as the cycle parking facilities at the station are wholly inadequate. And it's probably not something many people may have even noticed but a car crashed into and broke one of the tall lights on the concourse in front of the station about a year and half ago (I think, could have been 2 years) and it still hasn't been replaced despite all the fanfare at the unveiling of the new bus station only 2 months ago. One broken light doesn't make a difference to the station's functionality but it encapsulates the general lack of attention to detail displayed by IR/CIE. Train transport advocates would say that double tracking to Limerick Junction is a much higher priority than fixing a light and of course it is but all factors that impact customer experience of public transport should be addressed and improved to make the offering a more attractive proposition to current non users.

(Edit: took this photo in Jan 2023 so like this for at least 2 years)

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123037057#Comment_123037057

Sorry you are right about the bike facilities. They should have been put inside the ticketed area.

The concourse also needs bollards to stop the shocking amount of entitled asssholes who drive right up to the door on the path.

Paddico

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123033509#Comment_123033509

Of course I've been inside. I use the trains regularly there and the buses. I hardly use the buses not not going inside

I'm talking about the station building. The concourse has improved but it does feel like a very large sticky plaster. The whole building needs renovation just like Galway plans. The roof is dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose.

I only post here in the hope others pick up on it and it comes to the attention of local councillors. Limerick city deserves much better.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123037949#Comment_123037949

Outside of the roof what part is dilapidated ?

Outside of the roof what will Galway have that Limerick won't ?

And have you been to Ceannt. The current exit is a disaster and it has practically no internal building. Waiting for a train there was dire compared to Limerick even before the Colbert renovation.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123037949#Comment_123037949

Ah here, a sticky plaster? They demolished the old ticket office adding 50% in area to the entrance lobby. They built a brand new ticket office. They demolished a whole side of the station (including the decrepit toilet block) and created an open connection with the bus terminus. They built said bus terminus and new modern toilets. They created 2 brand new retails units in the original station. They added new sliding entrance doors. They replaced the the flooring. In total they spent €23m on that sticky plaster.

And who are you to say the roof is dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose? If it's waterproof it's fit for the purpose it was designed for.

By the way, when Ceannt stations redevelopment is done there will no extra area roofed area meaning most of the two original platforms still won't be under the station roof and none of the three new platforms will be covered.

They're not getting a new bus terminus either.

And finally, it's irrelevant if it gets the attention of any local councillors, the station has nothing to do with them. Only CIE/Iarnrod Eireann can decide if any more work needs to be done.

Reputable Rog

The number of direct connections is derisory.

It’s an insult to Limerick that so the intercity service relies almost entirely on Gowl Luimnigh change.

iR have admitted themselves that the Limerick service has fewer passengers because of having to change.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123044543#Comment_123044543

Thanks to that connection we have 18 trains a day to Dublin whereas Galway have 11. It's also far more direct than any of the other intercity trains in Ireland.

If we didn't have that connection you can be sure Irish rail wouldn't give a fek about Limerick to Cork either. We have 15 connections to Cork which is fantastic by crappy Irish standards.

Personally I always plan my journey so that I get the junction train as it's faster and the direct do be rammed once it gets to the post Portlaiose stops.

sleepyman

I think the concorse/inside could do with some 'warming'up-looks slightly barren and grey.

Do that,clean the roof and add a shop and I think it fits Limerick's needs.

LeoD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123050588#Comment_123050588

The grey and barren concourse is a deliberate design decision based on Ireland's approach to public realm design - keep maintenance cost as low as possible. That might make sense to some but the result is invariable ugly, cold and soulless public spaces and reflects the value we place on high quality public realm.