Irish Rail's ability to quickly react to problems

KC8

15 August = yet another day that IE's Connolly Services have totally letdown their customers.

I managed to avoid the worst of the morning’s disruption but was stuck rightin the middle of the evening’s disruption.

We all know that Connolly to Pearse is operating at capacity; hence any problemsthat arise are likely to lead to significant disruption, particularly at peaktimes. This very fact should mean IEhave detailed contingency plans to try and address such eventualities.

Today’s event (tree falling at Merrion) should not lead to radio silence atcity centre stations nor should it lead to IE staff disappearing – it shouldhave the opposite effect.

As I understand it the tree fell around 4pm and blocked trains in bothdirections close to Merrion Gates. I don’tsee why within 5 minutes the following plans could not have been implementedand communicated with ease (as there is no reason it can’t be rehearsed bystaff in advance).

1. Announcement that all Maynooth Line Commuter Serviceswill operate to/from Docklands (to ease congestion at Pearse/Connolly). Have pre-arranged agreement with Luas to helpcustomers move from Connolly to Docklands at no cost. While this is disruptive to Maynoothpassengers, the certainty of getting a train will outweigh the disruption formost. An “emergency timetable” should beused, depending on available trains, that is easy to communicate e.g. “a trainevery 15 mins alternating between Maynooth and Dunboyne”

2. Terminate all DARTS and Northern Line Commuters atConnolly and use whatever train(s) are most easily available to run a shuttlebetween Pearse and Connolly, or better still, Lansdowne Road and Connolly. An “emergency timetable” should be used,depending on available trains, that is easy to communicate e.g. “a train every 10alternating between DARTS and Commuters with all DARTS to Howth and all NorthernCommuters stopping at DART stations after Howth Junction on the DART route.

This is only an example of probably a dozen plans that need to be developedbut if planned correctly, it should at least ensure some resemblance of a backupservice is in place almost immediately following a problem

Anything is better than the 45 minutes of silent speakers, Displays showing “Delay”and invisible staff.

zagmund

Their contingency plans seem pretty poor alright, at least from a customers perspective.

Before anyone jumps in . . . yes, I know safety comes first.

However, communications are pretty important too. Revenue protection doesn't seem to come into it because most people will not be getting refunds so IE don't lose much money.

It's annoying getting into the train station, swiping in, walking to the platform and *then* seeing the display saying "delay". Why can't they even manage the basics like they do in London - a poster board at the station entrance with a notice in marker - "Services curtailed, delays expected" ? On occasions like this I end up leaving the station, shuffling up to the ticket window and trying to look at the *real* information display which is behind the counter and which shows the *real* situation with the minutes till the next train. It shouldn't be this hard.

z

Meshel

I got the 7.11am from Balbriggan to Dublin train yesterday. Sat for 15-20mins in killbarrack with no explanation what so ever as to the delay! Finally when we get to Connelly they announce the issue but not once did driver apologise. Their backup plan for things like this happening are non existent & really shows they don't give a cr*p about their customers. If I ha the option of driving in I would but sadly due to lack of parking spaces I don't have that option. This is a not a private operation our taxes pay them & then we pay them separately as well can we not make them take action?? I will certainly be sending email to minister for transport today to vent my frustration :mad:

ixoy

I went to the platform and saw "Delay" on all timings. Yet at the same time the Next Train Ireland was showing a train coming and it must be pulling the timing feeds from some location: So why the discrepancy?

As it happened a train came along in a couple of minutes and yet all the displays still showed was "Delay". If a train was coming, why weren't these updating?

woodseb

i was on the train that broke down before connolly yesterday morning. We were about 100m outside connolly station when we stopped just before 7am. It was another 45mins or so before they decided to reverse the train back to Fairview depot where we had to get off the train in the garage and walk around to the clontarf road station where we were told a Dart is waiting

when we got to the station entrance people we're leaving having been told there were no Darts. Didn't get into town until 8.30am

typical irishrail communication....