Irish Rail September Timetable Changes

Deviso · 29-10-2018 7:33pm

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

Travelling this afternoon (bank holiday) from Pearse to Clongriffin.

The timetable told me to board the northbound DART to Howth for 2 stops, get off at Connolly then board the 17:20 Drogheda service at platform 6.

I thought this was unusual, as I assumed non-peak diesel services no longer stopped at Clongriffin. I hung around at platform 6, (watched the message board cycle through all the stations with lifts out of order) before realising Drogheda wasn't on the board.

Spotted a diesel train on platform 4 so decided to run downstairs, under the tunnel, up to platform 4. The diesel train showed no information on the side. There are no message boards on platform 4 either - other than 1 which shows the final destination only. I walked down to the Information booth at the bottom of the platform, which of course was closed. I went out to the guy on the turnstiles and was told the Drogheda train doesn't stop at Clongriffin. I headed back in, before looking up at the overhead message boards in the foyer, which told me it in fact did go to Clongriffin. Directly above your man's head too.

So I sheepishly boarded, and here I am, on my way, with no driver's announcement, a broken on-board display, heading to Drogheda with absolutely no idea if I can get off at Clongriffin.

Take a bow Irish Rail.

Wish me luck!

Did you get to Clongrififin alright? Only a small % of Drogheda Commuter trains stop there.

Jamie2k9 · 29-10-2018 9:26pm

17.20 stopped there like most N Commuter services today.

Hilly Bill · 29-10-2018 9:36pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

There was a SPAD yesterday which probably resulted in a driver taken down.
I’d hazard a gues the services cancelled had something to do with this. No proof mind you, just a guess.

That was a signal fault. Driver OK.

Working class heroes · 29-10-2018 9:39pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

That was a signal fault. Driver OK.

You are incorrect.

Hilly Bill · 29-10-2018 9:56pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

You are incorrect.

I'm not, I'm looking at the email

Working class heroes · 29-10-2018 10:12pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I'm not, I'm looking at the email

If you say so.

Hilly Bill · 29-10-2018 10:13pm

Infini wrote: »

Actually have to wonder if the driver overshot due to poor Rail Adhesion rather than passing it due to other reasons.

The signal bounced back to red as the train was approaching.

Jamie2k9 · 29-10-2018 10:35pm

The signal bounced back to red as the train was approaching.

So there was a SPAD caused by a signal fault then...

Hilly Bill · 29-10-2018 10:37pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

So there was a SPAD caused by a signal fault then...

Yes,

Cookie_Monster · 29-10-2018 11:36pm

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

Travelling this afternoon (bank holiday) from Pearse to Clongriffin.

The timetable told me to board the northbound DART to Howth for 2 stops, get off at Connolly then board the 17:20 Drogheda service at platform 6.

I thought this was unusual, as I assumed non-peak diesel services no longer stopped at Clongriffin. I hung around at platform 6, (watched the message board cycle through all the stations with lifts out of order) before realising Drogheda wasn't on the board.

Spotted a diesel train on platform 4 so decided to run downstairs, under the tunnel, up to platform 4. The diesel train showed no information on the side. There are no message boards on platform 4 either - other than 1 which shows the final destination only. I walked down to the Information booth at the bottom of the platform, which of course was closed. I went out to the guy on the turnstiles and was told the Drogheda train doesn't stop at Clongriffin. I headed back in, before looking up at the overhead message boards in the foyer, which told me it in fact did go to Clongriffin. Directly above your man's head too.

So I sheepishly boarded, and here I am, on my way, with no driver's announcement, a broken on-board display, heading to Drogheda with absolutely no idea if I can get off at Clongriffin.

Take a bow Irish Rail.

Wish me luck!

what am I missing that you would not just stay on the DART for this?

Colonel Claptrap · 29-10-2018 11:38pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

what am I missing that you would not just stay on the DART for this?

Howth DART does not go to Clongriffin.

Happy to report that I got off at my stop

Rashers72 · 30-10-2018 9:08am

Your experience of complete communication breakdowns for customers during bank holiday weekends is pretty much the norm. Check out Irish Rail twitter from last weekend with customers desperate for basic information. It was made far worse due to engineering works with station signage for alternative transport modes non existent even at bigger stations. Irish Rail desperately need someone with a genuine customer focus in their management team.

thomasj · 30-10-2018 11:12am

Rashers72 wrote: »

Your experience of complete communication breakdowns for customers during bank holiday weekends is pretty much the norm. Check out Irish Rail twitter from last weekend with customers desperate for basic information. It was made far worse due to engineering works with station signage for alternative transport modes non existent even at bigger stations. Irish Rail desperately need someone with a genuine customer focus in their management team.

Like I said before , it should be a basic requirement in the contract between the NTA and transport providers, that there needs to be someone Manning social media and online throughout the companies operating hours.

FitzElla · 30-10-2018 4:53pm

thomasj wrote: »

Like I said before , it should be a basic requirement in the contract between the NTA and transport providers, that there needs to be someone Manning social media and online throughout the companies operating hours.

Well if you want a good laugh have a read of the NTA Performance reports for Irish Rail. From the most recent (Q2 2017):-

LCD displays

Available in 88% of trains covered.
100% of announcements deemed to be clear.
96% of announcements deemed to be accurate.

PA Announcements

100% perceived as being clear.
100% perceived as being accurate.

So nearly every announcement and LCD display is accurate according to the NTA. No problem here, move on :rolleyes:

Ohmeha · 30-10-2018 8:29pm

More rush hour DARTs were cancelled this evening due to the mysterious 'operational problems'

At my station anyway nothing on the displays to advise of cancellation, no announcement at the station, nothing was on the app to indicate DART was cancelled, twitter appears to be the only medium this company will communicate cancellations and then it's still too much for them to communicate exactly why trains are being cancelled. They're pathetic

Colonel Claptrap · 31-10-2018 6:34pm

14 services cancelled this evening.

What a mess.

LEIN · 31-10-2018 7:06pm

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

14 services cancelled this evening.

What a mess.

Would love to see totals since new timetable commenced.

Jamie2k9 · 31-10-2018 11:49pm

LEIN wrote: »

Would love to see totals since new timetable commenced.

Around 50+ I suspect.

Jamie2k9 · 31-10-2018 11:53pm

A complete mess over the BH weekend in terms of capacity planning.

ixoy · 31-10-2018 11:56pm

Is there anyone able to give a reason for all these cancellations? I thought they were training in new drivers to handle the increase in frequency?

devnull · 01-11-2018 12:03am

ixoy wrote: »

Is there anyone able to give a reason for all these cancellations? I thought they were training in new drivers to handle the increase in frequency?

The trouble is drivers are not trained overnight and the issues with mentoring heavily delayed the training up of new members of the driving grade and that isn't fixed overnight as they don't just all magically start a few days later.

The simple fact is that there is no Irish Rail driver who is driving the train that operates those services that are on the timetable and obviously if that is the case then the train cannot operate.

Jamie2k9 · 01-11-2018 12:06am

devnull wrote: »

The trouble is drivers are not trained overnight and the issues with mentoring heavily delayed the training up of new members of the driving grade and that isn't fixed overnight as they don't just all magically start a few days later.

The simple fact is that there is no Irish Rail driver who is driving the train that operates those services that are on the timetable and obviously if that is the case then the train cannot operate.

Will be surprised if all the cancellations are down to drivers.

They got all the trained drivers out so either they miss judged the number required or possible disruption around rosters, we know they were not happen about the new schedule.

devnull · 01-11-2018 12:12am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Will be surprised if all the cancellations are down to drivers. They got all the trained drivers out so either they miss judged the number required or possible disruption around rosters, we know they were not happen about the new schedule.

The issue is not really about the total number of DART drivers, but obviously having more spare to cover for higher levels of staff who are not driving as regularly rostered for whatever reason, be it sickness, leave or other issues, would help.

ixoy · 01-11-2018 12:13am

devnull wrote: »

The trouble is drivers are not trained overnight and the issues with mentoring heavily delayed the training up of new members of the driving grade and that isn't fixed overnight as they don't just all magically start a few days later.

So is there any sort of idea when the drivers would be ready to go alone? I've no idea how long it takes or how far along they were before the disruption. I assume the mentoring is taking place without any hassle?

loyatemu · 01-11-2018 10:20am

It hasn't affected me personally but considering there's only a train to Greystones every 30 minutes and trains to Bray every 10, it's extra annoying that they are cancelling Greystones services to cover these issues. It leaves people waiting up to an hour for a train home.

Jamie2k9 · 01-11-2018 1:28pm

devnull wrote: »

The issue is not really about the total number of DART drivers, but obviously having more spare to cover for higher levels of staff who are not driving as regularly rostered for whatever reason, be it sickness, leave or other issues, would help.

Yeah I agree but I still wouldn't think all the cancellations are purely based on driver shortage.

GM228 · 01-11-2018 1:52pm

There are 3 issues at play for the daily cancellations - driver shortages, roster issues and an unusually high failure rate of late.

goingnowhere · 01-11-2018 2:15pm

Its mainly drivers, when you see trains terminating/starting at Clontarf Rd as part of the plan thats rostering.

end of the road · 01-11-2018 2:56pm

GM228 wrote: »

There are 3 issues at play for the daily cancellations - driver shortages, roster issues and an unusually high failure rate of late.

is it a specific unit type experiencing the high failure rate or is it a mix of types?

GM228 · 01-11-2018 9:53pm

end of the road wrote: »

is it a specific unit type experiencing the high failure rate or is it a mix of types?

Mix.

Irish Rail September Timetable Changes

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