Dublin to Waterford - worst train service in Ireland

Emme

I commute on the Dublin to Waterford line. The trains don't run very often and are usually overcrowded. The 5.35pm Heuston to Waterford isn't as bad as it used to be but it still seems to be more crowded than other trains.

Why does the 7.10 train from Waterford to Dublin only have 3 carriages on a Monday morning (or Tuesday after Bank Holidays)? This is barely tolerable in the winter but if the warm weather continues it will be unbearable. There is no way to open a window in the carriages so it is really unpleasant.

The Waterford train generally stops at or goes from Platform 6, 7 or 8 in Heuston. There are often delays boarding this train which results in a near stampede when people finally get to board it. The long walk to the platform isn't a problem for most people but many people using this train are elderly and find the longer walk difficult.

I think that people who travel on the Waterford line (or any other line where trains run infrequently) should have to pay less for their tickets than those who travel on lines where trains are more frequent. For example, Kildare has an excellent selection of trains but Athy, just one stop down and on the Waterford line, has very few trains. Despite this it is €800 more expensive to travel from Athy to Dublin on an annual commuter ticket than it is to travel from Kildare to Dublin. Surely this is unfair given the much wider choice of trains that Kildare commuters have. As far as I know Athy commuters cannot use Kildare station on their taxsaver ticket.

At least alcohol has been banned on the Waterford line at weekends, but if the service was more frequent perhaps that might not have been necessary. However, the fact that alcohol had to be banned on this line shows that trains on this line are overcrowded, and not just at weekends.

Does anyone else think that the Iarnrod Eireann service on the Dublin to Waterford line is poor compared to other lines?

leitrim1

I totally agree with you. I use the service twice a month and its terrible. Dublin to Sligo is much better.

corktina

did you say all this to IE? you should....

leitrim1

corktina wrote: »

did you say all this to IE? you should....

Would there be any point ?

foggy_lad

The problem with Monday mornings and Tuesdays after the bank holidays is a management problem which could easily be sorted out by putting on a 6 car set on the Sunday evening/bank holiday Monday evening to Waterford.

It is a problem that Irish Rail are aware of! how all the highly paid staff in Irish Rail can't figure it out is anybody's guess, are these people just plain overpaid or just plain incompetent?

Slunk

foggy_lad wrote: »

The problem with Monday mornings and Tuesdays after the bank holidays is a management problem which could easily be sorted out by putting on a 6 car set on the Sunday evening/bank holiday Monday evening to Waterford.

It is a problem that Irish Rail are aware of! how all the highly paid staff in Irish Rail can't figure it out is anybody's guess, are these people just plain overpaid or just plain incompetent?

What has their pay got to do with anything? Another sly dig.
If they can fit all the people on three cars why send six?Do people get left behind on platforms? If they sent six people would complain they are running half empty wasting money.

Jamie2k9

The problem is the 5.35 on Saturdays is only a 3 car instead of the usual 6. Now demand would only justify a 3 car and with very few Sunday services with all operate with 6 cars means there is a shortage of sets. Now of course IE know this with around 3 years and have not sorted it out. Also remember that for the new timetable they had planned to drop the 7.10 to 3 carriages all week before it was resorted to a 6 a month lather.

While IE do have money problems and all that they run the 6.30 from Galway on a Saturday as a 6 piece when its a 3 Mon-Fri now people could say that's its a stock movement so when they run services like that there is no reason the same can't and should be happening for Waterford. They have many options as they currently run 2 empty trains between Waterford-Dublin on a Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Will agree always late boarding, the 17.05 to Tralee boards 60-80 minutes before departure most weeks compared to Waterford which will if you lucky at most 15 minutes before departure. Down to poor set rosters.

Part of the problem as well is that passengers using the 7.10 have increased well they have from Waterford anyway.

Emme

Slunk wrote: »

What has their pay got to do with anything? Another sly dig.
If they can fit all the people on three cars why send six?Do people get left behind on platforms? If they sent six people would complain they are running half empty wasting money.

People have to stand for an hour and are crammed into corridors. This morning would have been particularly unpleasant because of the heat. You would be surprised at the amount of people on trains who are lax about personal hygiene (that's putting it nicely) and that would really have been obvious this morning.

My point on this thread isn't empty carriages - I am aware that some trains on other lines have this problem. I can assure you that this does not happen on the Dublin to Waterford line. On the contrary, when trains do run they are nearly always full. 3 carriages on a Monday (Tuesday after Bank Holiday) are not enough for the 7.10am train from Waterford. Since the timetable changed more people have been taking this train which took some pressure off the 6 carriage 6.05 train - people often had to stand if they got on in Kildare or Newbridge.

My point is that the Waterford service seems to be worse than that on other lines. Passengers on the Waterford line get ripped off in comparison to passengers on other lines.

Another point - the last train to Waterford leaves at 18.35 on weekdays! Another train leaves at 20.15 but it stops in Carlow. Abysmal service.

Durlng the winter a number of people had to be taken off the Waterford train in an ambulance at various points. I don't know the exact circumstances but it would not surprise me if a vulnerable person got a heart attack due to the stress of overcrowding or late boarding. Sometimes people only have 5 minutes to board and that often involves a walk from the main area of Heuston station to platform 6, 7 or 8. That's about 200m with everyone pushing and shoving - not easy if you're elderly, disabled or have mobility issues.

murphyaii

I get on the athy service to heuston every day for work during the week.
missed it today but they used to do 3 carriages on a Monday and Tuesday after a bank holiday.but recently it has been 6 carriages.
note: I get the 7.22am service from athy

Jamie2k9

murphyaii wrote: »

I get on the athy service to heuston every day for work during the week.
missed it today but they used to do 3 carriages on a Monday and Tuesday after a bank holiday.but recently it has been 6 carriages.
note: I get the 7.22am service from athy

How recently was it 3 carrages?

I am shocked that the 6.05 has being a 3 car set when its always packed when its a 6 piece. There would of needed to be an operational issue with another set as they have the capacity for 2 6 car services and 1 3 car service after bank holidays.

Emme

murphyaii wrote: »

I get on the athy service to heuston every day for work during the week.
missed it today but they used to do 3 carriages on a Monday and Tuesday after a bank holiday.but recently it has been 6 carriages.
note: I get the 7.22am service from athy

When the timetable was changed there used to be 3 carriages Monday to Friday on the 7.10 Waterford to Heuston. If you get the 7.22 from Athy it must be the 6.05 train from Waterford. That train is always packed to full capacity with 6 carriages so I could imagine what it would be like with 3 carriages. :eek:

corktina

leitrim1 wrote: »

Would there be any point ?

in fairness if there is no point telling IE, there is absolutely no point posting on here!

foggy_lad

Slunk wrote: »

What has their pay got to do with anything? Another sly dig.
If they can fit all the people on three cars why send six?Do people get left behind on platforms? If they sent six people would complain they are running half empty wasting money.

They can fit everyone on 3 cars going down to Waterford but that Saturday evening train then returns to Dublin on Monday morning or tuesday after a bank holiday and a 6 car train is required for that journey. The boffoons in Irish Rail are supposed to know all this and that is why they get the big fat cat salaries but they don't appear to be giving their employer good value for money.

Emme

corktina wrote: »

in fairness if there is no point telling IE, there is absolutely no point posting on here!

I disagree. People here can share their experiences. Maybe other people have had the same experience but think that complaining to IE as an individual would make no difference. If they see others have similar issues then it might encourage people to tell IE.

Not that it would make any difference :rolleyes:

Have you ever travelled on the Waterford line yourself?

BenShermin

There was a thread last week about 22Ks being used on the Dublin to Drogheda commuter. As usual some posters defended IÉ.

Its a ridiculous state of affairs that intercity coaching stock is being used on commuter services when overcrowding is spoken of here on the Waterford intercity line.

Jamie2k9

BenShermin wrote: »

There was a thread last week about 22Ks being used on the Dublin to Drogheda commuter. As usual some posters defended IÉ.

Its a ridiculous state of affairs that intercity coaching stock is being used on commuter services when overcrowding is spoken of here on the Waterford intercity line.

Its not about 22's its about set rosters and how operations plan use of sets. Not a shortage of sets but more sets in wrong place at wrong time. While trying to match capacity and demand it affects other services.

A certain amount of 22's were purchased for commuter routes.

Daemonic

Emme wrote: »

.....
Sometimes people only have 5 minutes to board and that often involves a walk from the main area of Heuston station to platform 6, 7 or 8. That's about 200m with everyone pushing and shoving - not easy if you're elderly, disabled or have mobility issues.

Knowing this I always head straight to 6,7 & 8 and get a ticket from the machine located there but for those not aware of this or slightly worried it'll be changed and they'll have to make their way all the way over to platform 1 (my mum always assumes IE are going to do this to her), an announcement or signage saying to wait in that area would be helpful.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

heyjude

Emme wrote: »

I commute on the Dublin to Waterford line.......



I think that people who travel on the Waterford line (or any other line where trains run infrequently) should have to pay less for their tickets than those who travel on lines where trains are more frequent.

You are being charged for the actual journey you make, not for the number of trains that you could have taken earlier or later, than the one you actually took. Using this reasoning, people living in cities should pay far more for their DART/bus services because of the frequency of the service rather than the length of the journey. High frequency routes is many forms of transport tend to have keener prices, than less popular routes.

I always struggle to see how IR could charge less for longer journeys on an ongoing basis, but then they do run promotional day return fares from Dublin to destinations like Sligo, Galway etc that are far cheaper than some day return fares from stations within the Dublin commuter belt.

IR could possibly justify the big difference in fares between Kildare and Athy, by claiming that the lines from Kildare to Dublin are utilised by trains travelling to Dublin from Kildare, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Tralee and Galway amongst others, so the cost of maintaining lines is spread across a high number of services, while the Waterford spur is only used by services from Carlow, Kilkenny(perhaps) and Waterford, which have a lower frequency, so line maintainence costs per passenger/train would be much higher.

corktina

Emme wrote: »

I disagree. People here can share their experiences. Maybe other people have had the same experience but think that complaining to IE as an individual would make no difference. If they see others have similar issues then it might encourage people to tell IE.

Not that it would make any difference :rolleyes:

Have you ever travelled on the Waterford line yourself?

why would that matter? If I receive sub-standard service or vfm, I make a point of telling the people that matter....

Xenophile

Bring this thread to the attention of George Hook, he loves to have Barry Kenny from Iaran Rod Eireann on his show. They seem to get on great and if George gets the info maybe Mr.Kenny can respond to the genuine complaints.

Emme

heyjude wrote: »

You are being charged for the actual journey you make, not for the number of trains that you could have taken earlier or later, than the one you actually took. Using this reasoning, people living in cities should pay far more for their DART/bus services because of the frequency of the service rather than the length of the journey. High frequency routes is many forms of transport tend to have keener prices, than less popular routes.

I always struggle to see how IR could charge less for longer journeys on an ongoing basis, but then they do run promotional day return fares from Dublin to destinations like Sligo, Galway etc that are far cheaper than some day return fares from stations within the Dublin commuter belt.

IR could possibly justify the big difference in fares between Kildare and Athy, by claiming that the lines from Kildare to Dublin are utilised by trains travelling to Dublin from Kildare, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Tralee and Galway amongst others, so the cost of maintaining lines is spread across a high number of services, while the Waterford spur is only used by services from Carlow, Kilkenny(perhaps) and Waterford, which have a lower frequency, so line maintainence costs per passenger/train would be much higher.

Athy, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford have a lower frequency of use partly because of the limited timetable and poor service.

Jamie2k9

IR could possibly justify the big difference in fares between Kildare and Athy, by claiming that the lines from Kildare to Dublin are utilised by trains travelling to Dublin from Kildare, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Tralee and Galway amongst others, so the cost of maintaining lines is spread across a high number of services, while the Waterford spur is only used by services from Carlow, Kilkenny(perhaps) and Waterford, which have a lower frequency, so line maintenance costs per passenger/train would be much higher.

That doesn't justify it, maintenance costs are only required if there is a problem such as alignment, tack bed. As with all line its required if there is one or 100 trains a day. Less trains means less work required. There is a reasonable service IMO.

On a side note IE could do a lot more to increase speed in parts without cost.

Emme

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

That doesn't justify it, maintenance costs are only required if there is a problem such as alignment, tack bed. As with all line its required if there is one or 100 trains a day. Less trains means less work required. There is a reasonable service IMO.

On a side note IE could do a lot more to increase speed in parts without cost.

Jamie, how can the service be "reasonable" when the last train from Heuston to Waterford leaves Heuston at 18.25 for anyone who lives south of Carlow? The train that leaves Heuston at 20.15 stops in Carlow.

Platforms for boarding could be announced earlier giving people time to get to the train and avoiding stampedes on boarding.

Also try to avoid the three carriage issue on Monday morning or the Tuesday after Bank Holiday.

People on the Waterford line, particularly those from Athy onwards, pay a premium to travel on the train and deserve a proper service. They are not getting value for money at present.

Jamie2k9

Emme wrote: »

Jamie, how can the service be "reasonable" when the last train from Heuston to Waterford leaves Heuston at 18.25 for anyone who lives south of Carlow? The train that leaves Heuston at 20.15 stops in Carlow.

Platforms for boarding could be announced earlier giving people time to get to the train and avoiding stampedes on boarding.

Also try to avoid the three carriage issue on Monday morning or the Tuesday after Bank Holiday.

People on the Waterford line, particularly those from Athy onwards, pay a premium to travel on the train and deserve a proper service. They are not getting value for money at present.

I think the current timetable is reasonable, yes the 18.35 is to early for the last direct service. Would be great if the 20.15 was extended to Waterford or the current 18.35 service moved to 19.15 at least. 100% agree with the set shortage and it needs to be sorted out.

dowlingm

Well, if IE could figure out a way to reduce the use of 22Ks to Cork maybe there would be scope to redirect. Also, wasn't there a muttering recently here about a number of 22Ks in drydock, with the implication that it was a cost saving measure?

foggy_lad

dowlingm wrote: »

Well, if IE could figure out a way to reduce the use of 22Ks to Cork maybe there would be scope to redirect. Also, wasn't there a muttering recently here about a number of 22Ks in drydock, with the implication that it was a cost saving measure?

Would it save much to mothball the mark4s and use the stored 22000s on all Cork-Dublin services?

Possibly not the best idea but it is quite clear that there are serious issues with sets being allocated inappropriately and intercity services being left wanting for these mistakes/poor decisions.

dowlingm

foggy_lad wrote: »

Would it save much to mothball the mark4s and use the stored 22000s on all Cork-Dublin services?

Possibly not the best idea but it is quite clear that there are serious issues with sets being allocated inappropriately and intercity services being left wanting for these mistakes/poor decisions.

Another option would be to get the Mark 4s going on services other than Cork where platform lengths allow - Limerick 0640 to Heuston maybe? Or have IE moving to commit passenger 201s to freight rather than maintain higher availability of 071s? Certainly it seems madness to be operating 3 car trains into Dublin in the peak hours no matter how you slice it.

Jamie2k9

Not overly part of the topic but the 18.15 to Westport has being making up to 3 extra stops due to reduced capacity on what I guess is the 18.10 to Portlaois over the last two days.

Also today IE reduced capacity on the 18.05 to Longford to do a PR stunt at 17.00.

What is the excuse for reduced capacity two days in a row and if you are doing some PR then use trains that don't affect passenger services.

dowlingm

Did you see the same tweet as me Jamie2k9?

https://twitter.com/RailUsersIe/status/342326582041518080

Beat me to the post

Jamie2k9

dowlingm wrote: »

Did you see the same tweet as me Jamie2k9?

https://twitter.com/RailUsersIe/status/342326582041518080

Beat me to the post

Indeed and I actually can't believe they took 3 coaches from one of the busiest services from Connolly in the evenings. Even running a services that wasn't scheduled during peak hours.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

davidlacey

This brings up again the inflexibility of the 22000s. Buying them when they are only capable of aligning in 3/6 car sets was ludricous! Surely on a line like waterford a 4 car set would suffice but as always , no forward planning was thought of, just new rolling stock to bring the railways into the 21st century without the thinking on how to use them correctly!

dowlingm

They are apparently capable of 4/5 car operation but have not been certified as such. In any case messing around with formations like that is mostly pointless on a railway mostly optimised to 90m/176m platform lengths and is likely to just result in a mixumgatherum fleet never in the right place at the right time.

If 6 car trains are running with 4 car loads, then to me the answer is to find ways to fill the train, not to chop its length.

RonanM123

Also why do Irish Rail make all trains stop in Thomastown where nobody gets on or off most of the time.

The 07.50, 13.05 and 18.20 to Heuston should be the only services, while the 10.15, 16.40 and 18.35 should be the only services stopping in the station from Dublin.

The fuel sayings to IE per year would be quiet large as the station is located on a steep hill those ICR's require full engine reves when departing and with that they tend to roll backwords and the approach from the Waterford side requires a lot more breaking. Passengers would be happy passing by at 60mph and IE's pockets would have more money but the complete opposite happens. Thomastown is the Charleville of the Cork line, located miles away from the town and nobody uses it.

And even when they do stop, they are scheduled for 30 seconds but they always stop for up to 90 when nobody gets on or off.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

dowlingm

IE could market a connection with Kilbride Coaches for people in New Ross to connect to Heuston-side trains at Thomastown as a way of making that halt more useful, though a bit of timetable massage and an additional set down at the station would probably be needed.

Mon-Sat
KC Depart New Ross 0715
KC Arrive Thomastown from New Ross 0800
NTA Planner projects a pedestrian to reach the station by 0811
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station 0809
IE Arrives Heuston 1000

KC Depart New Ross 1400
KC Arrive Thomastown from New Ross 1440
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station 1511
IE Arrives Heuston 1706

IE Departs Heuston 1015
IE Arrives Thomastown Railway Station 1155
KC Departs Thomastown 1155
KC Arrives New Ross 1230

IE Departs Heuston 1640
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station for Waterford 1831
KC Depart Thomastown for New Ross 1830
KC Arrives New Ross 1910

RonanM123

dowlingm wrote: »

IE could market a connection with Kilbride Coaches for people in New Ross to connect to Heuston-side trains at Thomastown as a way of making that halt more useful, though a bit of timetable massage and an additional set down at the station would probably be needed.

Mon-Sat
KC Depart New Ross 0715
KC Arrive Thomastown from New Ross 0800
NTA Planner projects a pedestrian to reach the station by 0811
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station 0809
IE Arrives Heuston 1000

KC Depart New Ross 1400
KC Arrive Thomastown from New Ross 1440
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station 1511
IE Arrives Heuston 1706

IE Departs Heuston 1015
IE Arrives Thomastown Railway Station 1155
KC Departs Thomastown 1155
KC Arrives New Ross 1230

IE Departs Heuston 1640
IE Depart Thomastown Railway Station for Waterford 1831
KC Depart Thomastown for New Ross 1830
KC Arrives New Ross 1910

Possible but it's just as quick to use BE services to Waterford and connect by train.

dowlingm

Problem is that BE has no incentive to facilitate connections to the train, having created their own hub on the south quay in Waterford. If IE want feed they'll have to get it themselves.

RonanM123

dowlingm wrote: »

Problem is that BE has no incentive to facilitate connections to the train, having created their own hub on the south quay in Waterford. If IE want feed they'll have to get it themselves.

They have no incentive but many people do still connect. BE even served the train station until recently with one or two inbound buses from Tramore that connected with the 07.10 and 07.40 trains back then.

All I want is for Thomastown to be dropped from most services and one or two dropped from Muine Bheag with the possibility of a limited stop evening services or for IE operations to wake up and drop the extra 15 minutes that are not needed on the 16.40 service, its outrageous.

A little off topic but is it correct that any future track renewal across the network will be with the heaver tracks like the Cork route?

nlgbbbblth

RonanM123 wrote: »

Also why do Irish Rail make all trains stop in Thomastown where nobody gets on or off most of the time.

The 07.50, 13.05 and 18.20 to Heuston should be the only services, while the 10.15, 16.40 and 18.35 should be the only services stopping in the station from Dublin.

The fuel sayings to IE per year would be quiet large as the station is located on a steep hill those ICR's require full engine reves when departing and with that they tend to roll backwords and the approach from the Waterford side requires a lot more breaking. Passengers would be happy passing by at 60mph and IE's pockets would have more money but the complete opposite happens. Thomastown is the Charleville of the Cork line, located miles away from the town and nobody uses it.

And even when they do stop, they are scheduled for 30 seconds but they always stop for up to 90 when nobody gets on or off.

I use it when down going to New Ross. Way better than going to Waterford.
There's usually at least four or five people getting on or off.
As an alternative why not reduce the time spent in Kilkenny station?

RonanM123

nlgbbbblth wrote: »

I use it when down going to New Ross. Way better than going to Waterford.
There's usually at least four or five people getting on or off.
As an alternative why not reduce the time spent in Kilkenny station?

Yes but still no need for all services to stop their, 4 or 5 is a very good day. Kilkenny time can't be reduced anymore apart from the 16.40 to Waterford service. Most trains are down to 4 minutes apart from ones waiting for others which can't be reduced.

omicron

RonanM123 wrote: »

Also why do Irish Rail make all trains stop in Thomastown where nobody gets on or off most of the time.

The 07.50, 13.05 and 18.20 to Heuston should be the only services, while the 10.15, 16.40 and 18.35 should be the only services stopping in the station from Dublin.

The fuel sayings to IE per year would be quiet large as the station is located on a steep hill those ICR's require full engine reves when departing and with that they tend to roll backwords and the approach from the Waterford side requires a lot more breaking. Passengers would be happy passing by at 60mph and IE's pockets would have more money but the complete opposite happens. Thomastown is the Charleville of the Cork line, located miles away from the town and nobody uses it.

And even when they do stop, they are scheduled for 30 seconds but they always stop for up to 90 when nobody gets on or off.

All trains have to slow down to cross the viaduct over the Nore at Thomastown, so passing through at 60mph isn't an option.

The station is located on an extremely slight slope, no idea where you're getting the 'steep hill' idea from.

I use this station weekly, and have never seen it stop for 90 seconds. In fact the stop tends to be very short.

LXFlyer

Adding a stop at any station such as Thomastown adds only 3 minutes to the schedule - that is hardly going to make a huge difference to overall journey times, particularly as trains have to cross at Ballyhale in any event most times during the day.

Jamie2k9

omicron wrote: »

All trains have to slow down to cross the viaduct over the Nore at Thomastown, so passing through at 60mph isn't an option.

The station is located on an extremely slight slope, no idea where you're getting the 'steep hill' idea from.

I use this station weekly, and have never seen it stop for 90 seconds. In fact the stop tends to be very short.

First off there is no speed restrictions over that bridge. 70mph is line speed and trains run at 60 mph through Thomastown like the 07.10 to Heuston. The station is not located on a hill but the slop which builds as you head North. Usage is very low and I would agree that a morning, aftersoon and evening service is acceptable for the regular passengers. 3 minutes saved adds up and I would expect some changes next year. We got a reduction in services calling at Kildare and Newbriidge so Thomastown will follow.

Weathering

At least ypu have trains. In Donegal they got rid of our service in the 1950's

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

LXFlyer

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That's already there in the form of the 07:10 Waterford/Heuston.

omicron

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

First off there is no speed restrictions over that bridge. 70mph is line speed and trains run at 60 mph through Thomastown like the 07.10 to Heuston. The station is not located on a hill but the slop which builds as you head North. Usage is very low and I would agree that a morning, aftersoon and evening service is acceptable for the regular passengers. 3 minutes saved adds up and I would expect some changes next year. We got a reduction in services calling at Kildare and Newbriidge so Thomastown will follow.

There are 29 services from Newbridge to Dublin per day, 33 from Kildare to Dublin, Thomastown has 6, you can hardly compare them as equal.

Jamie2k9

omicron wrote: »

There are 29 services from Newbridge to Dublin per day, 33 from Kildare to Dublin, Thomastown has 6, you can hardly compare them as equal.

Not comparing but just saying many people were not happy with all services calling at both stations when no other intercity service does. Now for most its either one or the other. There is more traffic from those stations onto the Waterford line in a day compared to a week of services calling at Thomastown. The 06.05, 13.05, 14.50, 18.20 have largely no use form Thomastown passengers. The 07.50 from Waterford and 11.00 are best trafficked from their. Don't have anything official but from traveling I am sure stats by IE would back this up.

Didn't hear it very well but Barry Kenny was talking about it on the radio recently and was saying they have being asked why all services stop and nobody uses it and he said they would need to get the correct balance for stopping and non stopping services. Services were reduced before and then restored but that was because of the Ballyhale loop crossings to cut down time but now Ballyhale only see's I think 2 passenger and not the previous 4 or 5 services,

Just to prove demand isn't their IE are not even bothered running services to Thomastown if the line is closed into Waterford for flooding or freight train failure. They just stop at Kilkenny some might say for signalling reasons but in reality they would be running empty trains.

Grandeeod

I thought I was dreaming about a speed restriction over the Thomastown viaduct. Recently sped over it and Thomastown station!