100 trains a month!

OK recently started a new job in Dublin and after doing a few journeys by car, I decided to let the train take the strain.

Problem is that there is no direct train from Athlone to Park West, so there is one change in the morning and two changes in the evening that's 100 trains over a four week period.

Can anyone beat 100 trains a month?

Slippin Jimmy

How long does it take you on the trains?

Duffff-Man

Duffff-Man wrote: »

How long does it take you on the trains?

On the best connections it's 1:45 worst 2:15.

Slippin Jimmy

Deleted User wrote: »

On the best connections it's 1:45 worst 2:15.

That's a long haul each way. I would get the luas 40 odd times in a month. Must cost you a fair bit for the commute.

Duffff-Man

Duffff-Man wrote: »

That's a long haul each way. I would get the luas 40 odd times in a month. Must cost you a fair bit for the commute.

Cheaper than the car, if you include wear and tear and definitly less stressful.

You can't "rest your eyes" when driving.

Losty Dublin

Deleted User wrote: »

OK recently started a new job in Dublin and after doing a few journeys by car, I decided to let the train take the strain.

Problem is that there is no direct train from Athlone to Park West, so there is one change in the morning and two changes in the evening that's 100 trains over a four week period.

Can anyone beat 100 trains a month?

Most train drivers can't even beat that!!

n97 mini

[Deleted User] wrote: »

On the best connections it's 1:45 worst 2:15.

IE don't do connections well at all between intercity trains and the Hazelhatch short hop/commuter zone.

n97 mini

n97 mini wrote: »

IE don't do connections well at all between intercity trains and the Hazelhatch short hop/commuter zone.

You can say that again, 40 minutes in Heuston after having just passed my destination at 100kmh!

n97 mini

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You can say that again, 40 minutes in Heuston after having just passed my destination at 100kmh!

That's crap! My nearest station is Adamstown but I get Citylink to Galway due to stupid waits for connecting trains.

Jamie2k9

That's crap! My nearest station is Adamstown but I get Citylink to Galway due to stupid waits for connecting trains.

They have to focus on the main demand and not connections. They have improved connections a lot though.

Jem72

I think there would be a lot to be said for having intercity trains stop at the station most convenient to the M50. There is a certain level of demand for people to get the train from the city centre but there are far more people living and working around the M50. It would add a few minutes to the trains out of Heuston but the other lines are so slow, that an extra stop would make very little difference.

It is quite ridiculous that it takes well over two hours to get from Athlone to Parkwest (a journey of 125km) when it's a journey that is effectively on the same line. I could see it being reasonable to take 2 hours to get from Mullingar to Parkwest (which would probably take nearly 4 hours). I tried Hazelhatch to Edgeworthstown once, and that took me over four hours due to missing the 1600 to Sligo by 2 minutes.

I only manage about 50 trains a month - point to point from Edgeworthstown to Connolly and then sometimes I take the DART across to Pearse if one is due within a couple of minutes of my arrival. Otherwise, I walk to the office.

LXFlyer

While maximising connections is desirable, it isn't always possible, particularly when you add services in from different lines, which are also single track routes with passing loops.

The basic timetable on the Dublin-Cork line is set up to allow for connections from intermediate stations at Portlaoise into/out of Dublin-Cork trains.

n97 mini

lxflyer wrote: »

While maximising connections is desirable, it isn't always possible, particularly when you add services in from different lines, which are also single track routes with passing loops.

The basic timetable on the Dublin-Cork line is set up to allow for connections from intermediate stations at Portlaoise into/out of Dublin-Cork trains.

The short hop zone starts at Hazelhatch, not Port Laoise. Connections at Hazelhatch are generally non existent.

LXFlyer

n97 mini wrote: »

The short hop zone starts at Hazelhatch, not Port Laoise. Connections at Hazelhatch are generally non existent.

I'm not sure what your point is?

The Dublin-Portlaoise trains call at all intermediate stations and then feed into the Dublin/Cork trains at Portlaoise.

Are you suggesting all Intercity services should serve Hazelhatch?

There is a balance to be struck here - the vast majority of people are travelling from Heuston and every stop that a train makes adds three minutes to the overall journey time.

n97 mini

lxflyer wrote: »

I'm not sure what your point is?

The Dublin-Portlaoise trains call at all intermediate stations and then feed into the Dublin/Cork trains at Portlaoise.

Are you suggesting all Intercity services should serve Hazelhatch?

There is a balance to be struck here - the vast majority of people are travelling from Heuston and every stop that a train makes adds three minutes to the overall journey time.

Sligo trains all stop at Maynooth and most are timed to allow for relatively painless connections between Intercity and Commuter services. (It wasn't always this way)

Hazelhatch (with its five platforms) should serve a similar function as Maynooth. It would make the OP's commute a lot simpler for starters.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Wowzers, 2hrs average each way? 20 hours a week to travel to work. That is some commute.

n97 mini

lxflyer wrote: »

the vast majority of people are travelling from Heuston

And that will continue to be the way with the current poor connections. I get the train to Waterford relatively frequently but as I usually can't make a reasonable connection by getting on at Adamstown or Hazelhatch I get a lift to Heuston and get on there, as it's quicker overall.

LXFlyer

n97 mini wrote: »

Sligo trains all stop at Maynooth and most are timed to allow for relatively painless connections between Intercity and Commuter services. (It wasn't always this way)

Hazelhatch (with its five platforms) should serve a similar function as Maynooth. It would make the OP's commute a lot simpler for starters.

n97 mini wrote: »

And that will continue to be the way with the current poor connections. I get the train to Waterford relatively frequently but as I usually can't make a reasonable connection by getting on at Adamstown or Hazelhatch I get a lift to Heuston and get on there, as it's quicker overall.

The Sligo line is a different set of circumstances:
1) The single line to Sligo starts at Maynooth and the Sligo trains cross one another there - which means they are going to need to stop
2) There is a large traffic generator in the form of the university at Maynooth which would be a good reason in itself to stop there
3) The commuter trains terminate there, while on the Cork line they continue to Portlaoise.

Adding extra stops to intercity services is not a good idea as it will just increase overall journey times. There simply would not be sufficient numbers to justify stopping more trains at Hazelhatch - it would make more sense for the Intercity trains to make one stop as outlined below.

Ideally what should happen is that the timetable is designed in such a way that the Dublin-Portlaoise trains are the feeder services for intermediate stations, connecting at the stations below, which would be the first stop on those services:

a) Kildare for Waterford line stations
b) Portarlington for the Galway/Mayo line stations
c) Portlaoise for Cork/Limerick trains

That however, is easier said than done when you add in the complicating factor of the Waterford and Western lines being single track with passing loops, which makes pathing trains all the more difficult.

There also needs to be a recast of stopping patterns during the evening peak to reduce overcrowding on Intercity journeys and deliver a more consistent service.

end of the road

Deleted User wrote: »

You can say that again, 40 minutes in Heuston after having just passed my destination at 100kmh!

so they actually manage that speed then? who'd have thought

end of the road

if they hadn't put a rail care depot out in portlaoise way out of the way of anything then kildare or hh could indeed be an interchange but to late now

n97 mini

end of the road wrote: »

if they hadn't put a rail care depot out in portlaoise way out of the way of anything then kildare or hh could indeed be an interchange but to late now

Not like there's a shortage of space at Hazelhatch either.

Banjoxed

Stopping InterCity trains at the Hatch makes complete sense; after all, the four tracking runs from there towards Dublin. It wouldn't be rocket science to use it for its intended purpose and provide frequent connections along the rest of the line towards town.

n97 mini

lxflyer wrote: »

Adding extra stops to intercity services is not a good idea

Big snip there. All your points are valid to an extent, but the fact still remains that connections between Intercity services and local services are abysmal on this line, and that's something that if corrected would lead to greater patronage.

n97 mini

n97 mini wrote: »

Big snip there. All your points are valid to an extent, but the fact still remains that connections between Intercity services and local services are abysmal on this line, and that's something that if corrected would lead to greater patronage.

At the moment I appear to be the only one doing that particular journey, I can't believe that I am the only one doing the commute.

Others are obviously using cars instead.

LXFlyer

n97 mini wrote: »

Big snip there. All your points are valid to an extent, but the fact still remains that connections between Intercity services and local services are abysmal on this line, and that's something that if corrected would lead to greater patronage.

And what I suggested above does precisely that, provided the trains are timed correctly.

End to end journey times are critical - IE are losing business hand over fist to coaches because of it - adding an extra stop at Hazelhatch on Intercity services is not the solution when there already is a train running to Portlaoise that can provide that connection at Kildare, Portarlington and Portlaoise respectively.

lxflyer

lxflyer wrote: »

And what I suggested above does precisely that, provided the trains are timed correctly.

End to end journey times are critical - IE are losing business hand over fist to coaches because of it - adding an extra stop at Hazelhatch on Intercity services is not the solution when there already is a train running to Portlaoise that can provide that connection at Kildare, Portarlington and Portlaoise respectively.

True, but the particular train I use doesn't stop at any of those stations, just one extra stop at Newbridge to pick up the commuter train there would do the trick.

laoisfan

Desmond Tinkling Warrior wrote: »

Wowzers, 2hrs average each way? 20 hours a week to travel to work. That is some commute.

I commute from Ballybrophy to Park West each day.

Morning time:
Cycle to the train station, 3 miles.
Ballybrophy 07:44 to Portlaoise 07:59
Portlaoise 08:10 to Park West 09:11

Evening time:
Park West 17:23 Dublin Heuston 17:35
Dubin Heuston 18:00 Ballybrophy 18:54
Cycle home, 3 miles.

Been commuting from Ballybrophy to Dublin nearly 13 years now. Luckily I'm on the main Cork/Limerick - Dublin line. Plus get some regular exercise with the cycling.

I know a guy who drives from Killaloe, Clare (near the M7) to Ballybrophy (approx 45 mins), Laois. Then gets the 07:44 to Dublin Heuston. Hops on Dublin Bikes and cycles 15-20 minutes to work. He does this 3-4 times per week and works the rest of the week from home.

There a few people who commute daily (as in 5 days per week) from Limerick (Colbert Station) to Dublin Heuston. They work within 5 minutes of Heuston.

Also....a few others who commute from Thurles, Tipperary each day, granted they have an hourly train service + do not have to change (which helps a lot).

So yes....some commute :P LOL

blackbelted

I had to do exactly the same commute 2 years ago. Unfortunately it's not the best to wait 40 min at Heuston, on the way back, where you are already dying to go home. You cannot take a kip in the train either, coz you might easily miss Athlone.

I would say, find some people who do this commute daily. (I used to see similar faces everyday in the train stations on both ways) And startup a carpool.

n97 mini

laoisfan wrote: »

Park West 17:23 Dublin Heuston 17:35
Dubin Heuston 18:00 Ballybrophy 18:54

Must be annoying to be going back through Park West around 45 mins after you left it. i.e. 45 minutes wasted effectively going nowhere.

laoisfan

n97 mini wrote: »

Must be annoying to be going back through Park West around 45 mins after you left it. i.e. 45 minutes wasted effectively going nowhere.

Not really. The alternative would be to wait for 1hr or more in Portlaoise (in the waiting room)

e.g.

Park West 17:29 Portlaoise 18:37
Portlaoise 19:46 Ballybrophy 20:01

The 18:00 Dublin-Cork train has Ballybrophy as it's first stop. So I am getting home quicker by going in to come out (if you catch my drift)

Edit: Either way...I have to wait....but I do save time by going into Heuston in the evenings, a hour or so.

Sean9015

Deleted User wrote: »

True, but the particular train I use doesn't stop at any of those stations, just one extra stop at Newbridge to pick up the commuter train there would do the trick.

I presume you are using the 0722 from Athlone? The 0655 calls at Newbridge, and has a local connection to stations to Heuston. Might be worth looking at if you can work on flexi-time. The return still looks pretty horrible though - the four track section works to your disadvantage as the Galways overtake the local

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Has there ever been a poll of commute times on the forum? It would be interesting to see the results.

Something along the lines of the following:
Daily commute times (each way): 0-15 mins, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60-75, 75-90, 90-105, 105-120, 2+hrs

After Hours probably gets more visits, might be better in there maybe.

shedweller

Desmond Tinkling Warrior wrote: »

Has there ever been a poll of commute times on the forum? It would be interesting to see the results.

Something along the lines of the following:
Daily commute times (each way): 0-15 mins, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60-75, 75-90, 90-105, 105-120, 2+hrs

After Hours probably gets more visits, might be better in there maybe.

Good idea. Although quite a few in AH probably commute by learjet!

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Ok... so who wants to take credit for setting up a poll? Haven't a breeze where to even start.

Polar101

laoisfan wrote: »

I commute from Ballybrophy to Park West each day.

1.5 hours on the train doesn't sound super horrible, considering the distance and the fact that you don't work in Dublin City Centre. I guess it could be worse too.

Sean9015

Sean9015 wrote: »

I presume you are using the 0722 from Athlone? The 0655 calls at Newbridge, and has a local connection to stations to Heuston. Might be worth looking at if you can work on flexi-time. The return still looks pretty horrible though - the four track section works to your disadvantage as the Galways overtake the local

Yes, that's the one, I have used the 0655 a few times as well as I work a split shift with a colleague and arriving earlier is OK if I need a longer lunch break.

What I do at the moment appears to be the best of a bad lot.

laoisfan

Polar101 wrote: »

1.5 hours on the train doesn't sound super horrible, considering the distance and the fact that you don't work in Dublin City Centre. I guess it could be worse too.

No, not when compared to to some of the other commutes I hear. The only annoyance is having to change but hey...really can't expect an Intercity train to be stopping at smaller stations.

laoisfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, that's the one, I have used the 0655 a few times as well as I work a split shift with a colleague and arriving earlier is OK if I need a longer lunch break.

What I do at the moment appears to be the best of a bad lot.

Why don't you consider going into Heuston in the evening time to catch the Galway train back out instead? If you do consider trying that, make sure your ticket has Athlone-Dublin Heuston (not Park West)....shouldn't cost you any more money.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

OT: Can I post a poll mods? Not sure how to do it though.

n97 mini

Desmond Tinkling Warrior wrote: »

OT: Can I post a poll mods? Not sure how to do it though.

Start a new thread. Down the bottom is the option to post a poll.

Muahahaha

Deleted User wrote: »

OK recently started a new job in Dublin and after doing a few journeys by car, I decided to let the train take the strain.

Problem is that there is no direct train from Athlone to Park West, so there is one change in the morning and two changes in the evening that's 100 trains over a four week period.

Can anyone beat 100 trains a month?

thats a mad long commute, not sure if any of these would be of use to you but I'd seriously consider it

-Hazelhatch to Parkwest 12km, can be cycled in approx 30 minutes.
-Buy a cheap moped and do the 12km that way, you'd cover it in under 20 minutes
-buy a €500 1.1ltr car and cover it that way.

Seems crazy to go all the way to the city to go back out again