M3 Parkway-City Centre Train loadings

Rashers72

While there is another post underway about the impact of carriage shortages, this all stems from the decision to open a new rail line, but have to take carriages from already overcrowded suburban train lines to put them on here. Note: I have not heard a valid explanation about how the planning for the launch of the new service overlooked the need for carriages (perhaps the service was 12 months ahead of schedule, and only then will the carriages arrive???I honestly don't know....)
But what I am wondering is while I have now to put up with worse overcrowding, extra services delayed due to overloading and trains now so full no one can get on them (try Donabate on the 07.10 Dundalk-Bray train), are the passengers on the new line flocking in their droves, or what are the loadings like? I can accept a trade off if the trains on the new line were full enough, and required all the carriages re-allocated to them, but if the loadings could be achieved with shorter trains perhaps we could reach a happy medium....All feedback welcome!

TheChrisD

Rashers72 wrote: »

are the passengers on the new line flocking in their droves, or what are the loadings like? I can accept a trade off if the trains on the new line were full enough, and required all the carriages re-allocated to them, but if the loadings could be achieved with shorter trains perhaps we could reach a happy medium....All feedback welcome!

Nope. The fullest I've ever seen a Docklands-M3 train was actually today at around 5pm - and that was going in the opposite direction, and stopping at all stops between Docklands and Clonsilla as well. Even then I'd say only about 30-40 people max on that 4 carriage train on it's way to Dunboyne and M3.

Outside of peak hours, it's practically empty, the amount of people you usually get on it, you could probably fit into a single carriage.

The weekends though are a different scenario, as the direct trains from Connolly to Clonsilla, Dunboyne and M3 get quite some use, although how much of this is down to (a) the weekend; (b) going to Connolly; and (c) them only being once an hour with a reduced number of journeys per day; I have no idea.

thomasj

I have to agree with chris. It would have been better to have more frequent maynooth line services and pace-Clonsilla shuttle services. One thing I did notice is alot of people coming from Meath get off at Clonsilla.

It would make more sense to have them trains calling at all stops to docklands.

Having said that it's too early too call this. This service does better at weekends.

I also think it's a waste of having drogheda trains going all the way to bray and back. If it ran to Connolly and empty back to skerries it could help resolve capacity issues

dowlingm

Since M3 trains are to stop at Broombridge that will probably fill some seats and IE would probably prefer that than admit the Hansfield fiasco and the failure of the park and ride by replacing 4 car 29s with 2 car 28s.

Edit @thomasj could be that turning the train back in Connolly would block too many tracks?

Aaron1

The peak services to Docklands are noticably busier since the Dunboyne extension was opened. The 7.40 (usually a 3 carraige inter city) has all seats full by Coolmine, where before there was enough seats for all stations. However, the 7.10 service is still quiet.

In the evenings the 17.25 and 17.55 from Docklands usually have all seats full, with a few people standing.

Rashers72

While not taking my topic off topic(!), I would estimate 50-75% of the passengers that get off the Maynooth and Drogheda originating services that arrive around 8.25am go straight over to the DART platforms, as the passengers want to go south of Pearse street. This leads to problems with the sheer volumes of passengers who then try to get on the 6 carriage 07.10am Dundalk-Bray service. Bring back the 2009 timetable!

Carawaystick

thomasj wrote: »

Having said that it's too early too call this. This service does better at weekends.

Has a single intending passenger been unable to board any train on the Dunboyne line since it opened?

This talk about trains being fairly full and a few people standing seems very far removed from trains being so full people cannot board them.

ongarboy

saw the flyers in Docklands station yesterday about all M3 services will now stop at Broombridge from Oct 18th. Any reason why? Surely not because of the non existent demand and more because one or two sole commuters complained to local TD??!!

I get the 09:17am service (which is relatively peak period) and even in the front carriage, it is rarely more then one third full - the other carriages would be even less full

Also, some of the non stop Clonsilla to Docklands services have also been replaced by all stops to Docklands services (while this adds 5-7 mins to my commute, I think it's fair enough that busy stops like C'knock, C'mine and Ashtown should not be ignored as they seem to have justifiable numbers of commuters)

Polar101

ongarboy wrote: »

saw the flyers in Docklands station yesterday about all M3 services will now stop at Broombridge from Oct 18th. Any reason why?

Because Broombridge is nearest stop to the City Centre where both Docklands and Connolly trains can stop?

KC61

ongarboy wrote: »

saw the flyers in Docklands station yesterday about all M3 services will now stop at Broombridge from Oct 18th. Any reason why? Surely not because of the non existent demand and more because one or two sole commuters complained to local TD??!!

I get the 09:17am service (which is relatively peak period) and even in the front carriage, it is rarely more then one third full - the other carriages would be even less full

Also, some of the non stop Clonsilla to Docklands services have also been replaced by all stops to Docklands services (while this adds 5-7 mins to my commute, I think it's fair enough that busy stops like C'knock, C'mine and Ashtown should not be ignored as they seem to have justifiable numbers of commuters)

Local TD's kicked up a fuss.