flazio wrote: » Any Compulsory Purchasing Orders are likely to meet with opposition from home owners who believe a greenway might give burglars new access routes to their property which Gardaí are unable to monitor.
veryangryman wrote: » Due to the lack od disused railway to use for it. Needs to use existing or new roadway which involves negotiations with crusties. This may take time due to the rural crime off the M8 etc
mr spuckler wrote: » yes, it'll take a while to get it from where it currently finishes to the west side of the Shannon, despite it being such a short distance.
spacetweek wrote: » Ah - *in* Athlone. I thought you meant in some other part of the country. So only a short section then.
veryangryman wrote: » Marina apparently. Just beside radison. There will be a new bridge built. According to same politician that part is 2 years away
veryangryman wrote: » Athlone extension to shannon is ongoing. Late summer opening according to local politician. Machinery seen up there last week so things are moving
spacetweek wrote: » Where will it meet the Shannon exactly?
Del.Monte wrote: » Not wishing to fight with you but why run trains at all outside Dublin - buses are cheaper.
Sam Russell wrote: » I think there is a sub-optimising going on here. Why do IR run Darts on a ten minute service using 8 coach trains during off peak? Well, they would require extra drivers to couple or uncouple the trains and that would cost extra. Using 8 coach sets costs extra because of extra electricity and extra maintenance on the trains, but that comes out of a different budget and is not visible as an extra cost, only a larger cost. So they run longer trains than needed to 'save' labour cost, while not saving running cost which I would think is much greater. I would estimate that Darts are less than 25% full during off peak, and probably less than 10% full in late evening. [Edit:] Just to add: Why run trains to Rosslare Europort that do not connect with the ferries?Why run trains to Rosslare Europort when a bus service from Wexford Stn would get there quicker and cheaper, and carry as many passengers, and could easily be scheduled to meet the ferries?
riddlinrussell wrote: » I think there are certain practices that certainly imply either gross incompetence or sabotage, personally I'd err towards gross incompetence. Case in point the Rosslare/Waterford line (and Waterford/New Ross) looks like services were basically only happening during the day, during normal working hours, instead of running a purely commuter schedule/looking at what optimal routes could be run on it like a New Ross/Waterford shuttle in the early morning for commuting. (The same could be done on the 2 train a day Waterford to Limerick Junction - Run Clonmel to Waterford commuter services)
MJohnston wrote: » I'd like to read some reasons why some believe CIE is sabotaging rail routes in order to make them less profitable. I can buy a certain level of incompetence, but it couldn't explain it all over such a long period of time. The routes genuinely being unworkable would explain what is happening, but some here seem to strongly think that is not the case?
end of the road wrote: » the fact the country invested in motor ways and not railways as well as motor ways simply means that ireland is stuck in a 1960s mind set where road regardless of over all cost and i am not specifically refering to monitary costs, can handle transport needs. the fact we have freight trains still proves that even with ireland being a small country and having a restricted network, it works. it also clearly debunks the statement that the freight train has had it's last whistle. i know the area well. there is absolutely no way in hell a greenway will become a revenue generating asset. it might get a few local users if it is lucky, and aeven then that is probably an over-estimation. the infrastructure will be free. there is no problem there. the crossings can be automated. no need for bridges or tunnels. simple and can be done on a rolling basis. where are you getting this 25 passenger figure from? and where are others getting the 39 gate keepers figure from? can you confirm if the gate keeper number is correct del.monte?
end of the road wrote: » the infrastructure will be free. there is no problem there.
end of the road wrote: » the crossings can be automated.
Sam Russell wrote: » Agree totally. The country has invested in motorways, and not railways. If we had drive on drive off freight trains, like used in the Channel Tunnel, there could be some point, but it would be impossible to go that way now we have a very comprehensive motorway network (with a few exceptions - Cork Limerick). Ireland is too small and the rail network is now too restricted to make it work. The ending of sugar beet removed the last bulk freight, Even the fertiliser plant in Arklow has gone. The freight train has had its last whistle.
blanch152 wrote: » That's great news, we could go from a hugely expensive loss-making railway that carried 25 people a day to a revenue-generating amenity open to many multiples all year round.
Zubeneschamali wrote: » Not sure if serious? You were demanding a service on Saturdays, Sundays and earlier and later on weekdays. So 39 gatekeepers on overtime 5 days plus 39 more hired for weekend work. All 25 passengers are going to need to win the lotto to fund this even assuming the trains, drivers, other staff and infrastructure are free. Or spend a bazillion euros to bridge or tunnel all those 39 road crossings, I suppose.
Deleted User wrote: » It would take longer to load and unload a train of freight than it would be to load it onto trucks and drive the 57km
Deleted User wrote: » Trains make no sense for a large portion of Ireland anymore, especially for freight.
Deleted User wrote: » This has been clear for years with the dwindling freight numbers carried by rail.
Del.Monte wrote: » When is Foynes reopening, a lot of talk and little else. There's no rail development planned for Marino Point or is there?
Del.Monte wrote: » I'm not up-to-date as to the number of gatekeepers but how does that affect the useless timetables on the line.
blanch152 wrote: » We won't be putting it back in 10/20 years time at vast expense. Autonomous electric vehicles, will be the final nail in the coffin of trains.
blanch152 wrote: » Is it 39 gatekeepers on the line? They would pay some premium to have it open on a Sunday.
marno21 wrote: » Indeed. Rail connected Dublin Port & Waterford Port, along with the planned Foynes rail line reopening for freight, and the new Port of Cork development at Marino Point are more than sufficient for any rail freight needs.
