New Minister for Transport

Van.Bosch

Shane Ross - thoughts?

Shows how little FG value it I suppose, not a good sign for the short term govt. anyway. Will keep all projects to the end for the next election

Amirani

Interesting choice. He's been highly critical of CIE in the past. One would hope he'd be able to use his independent alliance leverage to get some decent projects through.

Patser

Hasn't he been very active and critical regards toll roads, especially the M50. Wonder if he'll do anything there now he's got some sort of power over them? It'll still be primarily Dept of Environment controlled yes?

2RockMountain

Patser wrote: »

Hasn't he been very active and critical regards toll roads, especially the M50. Wonder if he'll do anything there now he's got some sort of power over them? It'll still be primarily Dept of Environment controlled yes?

Hasn't he been very active and critical regards just about everything? He's made a career out of whinging and back-biting, and relying on the short memories of people to forget that the 'scourge of the bankers' spent the previous decade bigging up Fingleton and Fitzpatrick.

I've a feeling that he's deliberately been given the poison chalice, given the industrial relations atmosphere in that sector, and he doesn't have the brains to realise it yet.

WomanSkirtFan8

An extremely interesting choice indeed. Naturally, his first job will probably be to try and sort out the LUAS mess.
Would like to see him doing something about decreasing bus and train fares as well.
He has indeed been a strong critic of CIE in the past. Hopefully now he's the new minister for transport, he can now actually do something about it.

WomanSkirtFan8

2RockMountain wrote: »

Hasn't he been very active and critical regards just about everything? He's made a career out of whinging and back-biting, and relying on the short memories of people to forget that the 'scourge of the bankers' spent the previous decade bigging up Fingleton and Fitzpatrick.

I've a feeling that he's deliberately been given the poison chalice, given the industrial relations atmosphere in that sector, and he doesn't have the brains to realise it yet.

maybe he does. who knows? he may surprise all of us.

Atlantic Dawn

I think he should make a good change, he has been very vocal on roads and in particular M50 and toll road deals that were done.

Hollister11

Hopefully implements a DART service is major cities like Galway, Cork ect.

Extened rush hour DARTS to 10 carriages. The overcrowding is a joke.

2RockMountain

WomanSkirtFan8 wrote: »

Naturally, his first job will probably be to try and sort out the LUAS mess. .

How will he do that? He doesn't employ the Luas drivers. They are employed by a private business that has a contract with the NTA to provide services. He can't put any money on the table without breaching procurement law. Is he going to give them a jolly good talking to?

WomanSkirtFan8

2RockMountain wrote: »

How will he do that? He doesn't employ the Luas drivers. They are employed by a private business that has a contract with the NTA to provide services. He can't put any money on the table without breaching procurement law. Is he going to give them a jolly good talking to?

true enough. possibly. who knows?. As you correctly say, Transdev are indeed a private company. Different mindset therefore applies. anyway, should be an interesting appointment.

LXFlyer

Hollister11 wrote: »

Hopefully implements a DART service is major cities like Galway, Cork ect.

Extened rush hour DARTS to 10 carriages. The overcrowding is a joke.

They've just extended DART train lengths once again restoring capacity, and are planning a 10 minute service - platform lengths can only fit 8-car trains.

thomasj

Hollister11 wrote:

Hopefully implements a DART service is major cities like Galway, Cork ect.

I'm sure rural politicians may have some influence in the new government but that suggestion might be pushing it a bit too far!

Hollister11 wrote:

Extened rush hour DARTS to 10 carriages. The overcrowding is a joke.

Most platforms at dart stations can only take 8 carriages

HivemindXX

2RockMountain wrote: »

WomanSkirtFan8 wrote: »

Naturally, his first job will probably be to try and sort out the LUAS mess. .

How will he do that? He doesn't employ the Luas drivers. They are employed by a private business that has a contract with the NTA to provide services. He can't put any money on the table without breaching procurement law. Is he going to give them a jolly good talking to?

I guess this is kind of the point. It's easy to say that "they" should fix the M50 and help with congestion and sort out the Luas and so on and so on. It's more difficult to actually do it. It is almost certain that he will not be able to please everyone and then he will have to deal with people asking why the roads down the country are full of potholes while the dubs get handed a free motorway.

As far as the Luas goes who knows what the actual contract says. Perhaps he could take the attitude that they are breach of contract because they are not providing the contracted services every time there is a strike.

HivemindXX

Hollister11 wrote: »

Hopefully implements a DART service is major cities like Galway, Cork ect.

Not very likely, but I for one would be interested in seeing plans for the CART. I can see the news stories now...Ireland to spend 4b on cart, 50,000 commuters per day projected to travel by cart in Cork city.

2RockMountain

HivemindXX wrote: »

As far as the Luas goes who knows what the actual contract says. Perhaps he could take the attitude that they are breach of contract because they are not providing the contracted services every time there is a strike.

That's already in the contract. Transdev are fined €100k by the NTA for every day that they fail to provide the service, so they have already lost €1m in fines this year.

ricimaki

HivemindXX wrote: »

Not very likely, but I for one would be interested in seeing plans for the CART. I can see the news stories now...Ireland to spend 4b on cart, 50,000 commuters per day projected to travel by cart in Cork city.

Wait until Waterford get one, and there is eventually a strike:
"Commuters to expect disruptions due to ongoing WART dispute."

Edit: But on a more serious note, it would be great to see even some of the more minor rail projects being completed, such as removal of level crossings on the Maynooth line, and completing 4-tracking as far as Inchicore. I wonder could we see some of the Metro projects being approved and funded, or maybe even DART Underground in a few years. He is from Dublin after all. I'm not entirely sure of his position on the matter, but I know Fine Gael have preference to the phoenix park tunnel.

MJohnston

thomasj wrote: »

Most platforms at dart stations can only take 8 carriages

Could do what they do on the DC Metro, radio announcements saying "Next stop ____, front 8 carriages only" when the train is longer than the platforms.

Jamie2k9

MJohnston wrote: »

Could do what they do on the DC Metro, radio announcements saying "Next stop ____, front 8 carriages only" when the train is longer than the platforms.

RSC won;t allow it.

I think his time in office however long or shot it will be will go really well or really bad.

snickerpuss

MJohnston wrote: »

Could do what they do on the DC Metro, radio announcements saying "Next stop ____, front 8 carriages only" when the train is longer than the platforms.

Except when the driver enables the doors he can't choose to only enable some of them meaning he would have to rely on passengers in carriages hanging off a platform not to open them and fall out. You can see why that would never be allowed right?

mickdw

ricimaki wrote: »

Wait until Waterford get one, and there is eventually a strike:
"Commuters to expect disruptions due to ongoing WART dispute."
.

Or if Tipperary town was to have one and there was a dispute with the cleaning staff. People would be late for work due to a dirty Tart.

Dyr

Doubt he'll have much support at cabinet level to do anything, but maybe he'll shine a light on the assorted shenanigans that goes on with Dublin transport

MJohnston

snickerpuss wrote: »

MJohnston wrote: »

Could do what they do on the DC Metro, radio announcements saying "Next stop ____, front 8 carriages only" when the train is longer than the platforms.

Except when the driver enables the doors he can't choose to only enable some of them meaning he would have to rely on passengers in carriages hanging off a platform not to open them and fall out. You can see why that would never be allowed right?

Yeah except that seems like a simple matter of technology rather than anything too complex. Wouldn't even need to leave it up to the driver to change manually.

Jamie2k9

MJohnston wrote: »

Yeah except that seems like a simple matter of technology rather than anything too complex. Wouldn't even need to leave it up to the driver to change manually.

No point in discussing it as the RSC will not allow such operations even if the driver than the technology to control it.

MJohnston

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

MJohnston wrote: »

Yeah except that seems like a simple matter of technology rather than anything too complex. Wouldn't even need to leave it up to the driver to change manually.

No point in discussing it as the RSC will not allow such operations even if the driver than the technology to control it.

Yes, I get that, I was just responding to a different point which called me out specifically

end of the road

snickerpuss wrote: »

Except when the driver enables the doors he can't choose to only enable some of them meaning he would have to rely on passengers in carriages hanging off a platform not to open them and fall out. You can see why that would never be allowed right?

of course having every door open when not needed wouldn't be an issue if selective door opening was fitted to the trains, but we know all about that story don't we!!!!!!!!
still though, even if it was fitted such an operation wouldn't be allowed

Listening to Shane Ross on Marian Finnucanes Radio show today, it struck me how little he knows about anything. A huge change from before the Election. Amazing, really how quickly they forget all they knew.

Banjoxed

Deleted User wrote: »

Listening to Shane Ross on Marian Finnucanes Radio show today, it struck me how little he knows about anything. A huge change from before the Election. Amazing, really how quickly they forget all they knew.

What did he say?

foggy_lad

Banjoxed wrote: »

What did he say?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99716867&postcount=3614

"You know these disputes are always resolved. This one will be resolved. But it will be resolved without the intervention of the State and without the State's cheque book."

end of the road

foggy_lad wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99716867&postcount=3614

obviously he is clueless to the fact luas is operated by a private company under contract, so therefore the state cannot get involved. a mouth thinking he's playing hardball, when in fact he is just showing himself up.

foggy_lad

end of the road wrote: »

obviously he is clueless to the fact luas is operated by a private company under contract, so therefore the state cannot get involved. a mouth thinking he's playing hardball, when in fact he is just showing himself up.

I think it is more in reply to union officials like Jack O'Connor pleading for the minister for jobs to bring in an initiative to allow the Labour Court and/or "others" to intervene in the dispute.

GM228

end of the road wrote: »

obviously he is clueless to the fact luas is operated by a private company under contract, so therefore the state cannot get involved. a mouth thinking he's playing hardball, when in fact he is just showing himself up.

foggy_lad wrote: »

I think it is more in reply to union officials like Jack O'Connor pleading for the minister for jobs to bring in an initiative to allow the Labour Court and/or "others" to intervene in the dispute.

No need for any initiative, the state can already get involved in any dispute (private company or otherwise) insofar as they can refer the matter to the labour court (any point though at this stage?), or the state can get outside experts for example to look at the dispute from both sides of the arguement and furnish reports to the government, but realistically what they can actually do is very limited and probably not very helpful-what would either option actually achieve?