Cork train delayed at Limerick Junction

pat ticket

So once again I'm on the Dublin - Cork train and once again we've had to wait 5+ mins at LJ because the connecting Limerick train is delayed. I've been doing this return trip weekly for months and this happens very regularly.

Can anyone explain why this happens? There's not much traffic/stations on the line out of Limerick so shouldn't the Limerick shuttle be on time all the time?

flyingsnail

All of the lines in and out of Limerick are single track so any delay tends to have a knock on effect to other services and residual delays tend to linger for a while.

Del.Monte

And 5+ minutes doesn't amount to a delay in my books.

TheQuietFella

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/it-happened-in-five-blinks-of-the-eye-man-passes-away-on-train-returning-home-from-ploughing-championships-35073107.html

Maybe they were looking after this unfortunate?

Terrible of them to have kept you waiting!

pat ticket

Del.Monte wrote: »

And 5+ minutes doesn't amount to a delay in my books.

Well the 19.00 ex Dublin is scheduled to arrive into Kent at 21.45, it just departed Mallow a couple of minutes ago. Looks like it won't get into Cork until after 22.00. That not late in your books either?

pat ticket

Maybe they were looking after this unfortunate?

Terrible of them to have kept you waiting![/quote]

Yes that happened on Tuesday, did you even bother reading the link before posting it?

TheQuietFella

pat ticket wrote: »

Maybe they were looking after this unfortunate?

Terrible of them to have kept you waiting!

Yes that happened on Tuesday, did you even bother reading the link before posting it?[/QUOTE]

No!

Del.Monte

pat ticket wrote: »

Well the 19.00 ex Dublin is scheduled to arrive into Kent at 21.45, it just departed Mallow a couple of minutes ago. Looks like it won't get into Cork until after 22.00. That not late in your books either?

5+ mins and 15+ mins are quite different things - or they were when I was at school - before the flood.

pat ticket

Del.Monte wrote: »

5+ mins and 15+ mins are quite different things - or they were when I was at school - before the flood.

Good to know mate, cheers for your insightful posts on this thread.

man98

pat ticket wrote: »

Good to know mate, cheers for your insightful posts on this thread.

Actually I believe the point (in general) where any mode of transport is classed as delayed/ late is when it's running 15 minutes or more behind schedule. Five minutes can be an inconvenience, yes, I've missed tight connections over something as simple as that, but for most people it makes little or no difference.

pat ticket

man98 wrote: »

Actually I believe the point (in general) where any mode of transport is classed as delayed/ late is when it's running 15 minutes or more behind schedule. Five minutes can be an inconvenience, yes, I've missed tight connections over something as simple as that, but for most people it makes little or no difference.

The train was over 15 mins late arriving into Kent.

Jamie2k9

The 18,00 and 19.00 Heuston-Cork are always delayed day in day out. Not always to do with Limerick J however.

Heuston really needs a proper timetable review but not happening for a few months.

pat ticket

Bonus post - seat reservations weren't working (again).

savagethegoat

Have you contacted IE with your concerns?

Jamie2k9

savagethegoat wrote: »

Have you contacted IE with your concerns?

Don't wast your time, new timetable is needed overall.

Works in Limerick may be adding to the problem at the minute.

pat ticket

savagethegoat wrote: »

Have you contacted IE with your concerns?

What Jamie2k9 said. One would presume IE are already aware of recurring delays on one of its flagship services.

On the seat reservations not showing above the seat, this appears to be an ongoing issue since its introduction several years ago now (going off posts on here and elsewhere).

BonkeyDonker

One thing I never understood about Limerick junction was why it only has platforms on one side. Surely a lot of delays could be solved by having platforms on both sides of the track and thus saving trains crossing each other?

Jamie2k9

BonkeyDonker wrote: »

One thing I never understood about Limerick junction was why it only has platforms on one side. Surely a lot of delays could be solved by having platforms on both sides of the track and thus saving trains crossing each other?

IE have said they plan a second but it wont solve a lot just reduce the wait for Limerick shuttle.

pat ticket

The latest. On the 19.20 from Cork. Seat reservations again not working, though this time sheets of paper have been left on reserved seats, which is nice.

Approaching LJ with trepidation, surely there can be no delays this time given its a sleepy Sunday (though there has been on the Sunday 19.20 before).

If there is, then lets hope its one of those little delays which shouldn't be a big deal like the lads up thread mentioned and I can make my connection (unlike last Friday).

Jamie2k9

pat ticket wrote: »

The latest. On the 19.20 from Cork. Seat reservations again not working, though this time sheets of paper have been left on reserved seats, which is nice.

Approaching LJ with trepidation, surely there can be no delays this time given its a sleepy Sunday (though there has been on the Sunday 19.20 before).

If there is, then lets hope its one of those little delays which shouldn't be a big deal like the lads up thread mentioned and I can make my connection (unlike last Friday).

19.20 was on time until it was delayed at Limerick J, restricted operations at Lmireick most likely to blame but only a temp thing.

pat ticket

Yup, though it was also delayed coming into LJ (went slow for a while around Charleville). Left Thurles approximately 12 mins behind schedule but made it up on the run into Heuston, was only a few minutes behind schedule in the end.

Good-ish job IE!

Losty Dublin

BonkeyDonker wrote: »

One thing I never understood about Limerick junction was why it only has platforms on one side. Surely a lot of delays could be solved by having platforms on both sides of the track and thus saving trains crossing each other?

Limerick Junction was built as a connecting station only. Having an island platform made changing trains and loading and unloading bags and parcels a lot quicker. Laid out as it was, you could see 4 trains stop there for passenger exchange all at once; no mean feat for any station.

LXFlyer

The main causes of delay at Limerick Junction is the single track between Limerick Junction and Killonan with the passing loop at Dromkeen.

At present most trains between Limerick and Limerick Junction are scheduled to cross another train at Dromkeen - so if one of them is late there will be a knock on effect which means the mainline trains may have to wait.

The second and frankly unforgivable cause of delays to southbound trains was the removal of the set of points just east of the flat crossing that allowed Cork bound trains crossover onto the "up" line and access the platform. It was removed on cost grounds some years back.

As a result any Cork bound trains calling at Limerick Junction have to use the crossover further back (that is used to access the direct curve to Limerick) to access the up line. As a result of the Dublin bound train is delayed, the Cork bound train has to wait a good five minutes until after the Dublin bound service leaves the Junction and clears that crossover before it can proceed.

One of the dafter decisions that was made in recent times - from an operational perspective mind numbingly stupid.

However I have heard noises that a second platform may be on the horizon again which would be welcome news.

Shamrock776

The points removal isn't really a problem, if the shuttle ran to schedule it would not be a problem. All it would take is for IE to add 2-3 minutes padding and once works in Limerick are complete it would not be a problem.

LXFlyer

Shamrock776 wrote: »

The points removal isn't really a problem, if the shuttle ran to schedule it would not be a problem. All it would take is for IE to add 2-3 minutes padding and once works in Limerick are complete it would not be a problem.

Clearly the points removal is not a problem if everything is on time.

That's not the point. The crossover was important in the context of trains running late and the impact they have.

The removal of the points means that if the up service is late the impact on the down service is much greater than it ought to be as you have to double the time taken from the signal it waits at to get to the platform.

Adding padding isn't the solution either.

It also impacts on how late the Limerick Junction-Limerick train will be which in turn could have an impact on the next train from Limerick as it could be late at Dromkeen.

It was a short sighted move that reduced operational flexibility.

Jamie2k9

much greater

That's a little dramatic, no?

If anything the speed out of Limerick J (for Limerick) should be addressed slightly and some TLC to Limeerick line could deliver a constant speed as currently it's poor.

Operationally it would be better if Dublin services arrived a LJ first followed by Cork but then you would need to get every second service to use plt 5a in Cork and depart at xx.40 but something tells me that won't happen even with upgrades to the station. Could easily spend 5+ waiting outside the tunnel on many services.

The average of 15 minutes between services is quiet well scheduled but addressing the Limerick branch is key to solving most of the problem and while a second platform would be welcome it would be just covering over the real issues.

All you have to do is look at Tralee shuttle, IE leave 10-15 minute gap between services arriving/departing Mallow (not waiting for inbound Cork) and it works rather well but a little to much IMO.

pat ticket

Good news - no delays waiting on the Limerick shuttle at LJ on the 18.00 out of Heuston

Bad news - train already 20 minutes late arriving into LJ

Unsurprising news - seat reservations yet again not working (no paper reservation slips this time)

Here's hoping some time is made up between here and Kent.

Cookie_Monster

man98 wrote: »

Actually I believe the point (in general) where any mode of transport is classed as delayed/ late is when it's running 15 minutes or more behind schedule. Five minutes can be an inconvenience, yes, I've missed tight connections over something as simple as that, but for most people it makes little or no difference.

In Ireland maybe, Japan for example doesn't seem to think 5 minutes is acceptable...

And on the Cork line it 5 minutes on an already padded out and slow timetable, simply not good enough IMO.

thomond2006

A bit off-topic but what are the potential journey times from Cork to Heuston after the current improvement works are completed?

Jamie2k9

thomond2006 wrote: »

A bit off-topic but what are the potential journey times from Cork to Heuston after the current improvement works are completed?

Likely around 2h25m mark with some 2h20 and some longer.

LXFlyer

thomond2006 wrote: »

A bit off-topic but what are the potential journey times from Cork to Heuston after the current improvement works are completed?

Fastest train - 2 hours (non-stop headline business express)

Others probably 2:15-2:20 depending upon stops.