L1011 wrote: » It's in the middle of nowhere. The junction between the Isle of Wight normal railway and the preserved one is the same, it's not unique
end of the road wrote: » why did they bother reopening it instead of just having the connection for the westport services continue to be at claremoris, given that trains i believe had to go there to run around anyway? presumably it was to get in more round trips and connections with the westport services?
Del Monte wrote: It may be in a remote spot but there was road access in the past but CIE wisely flogged off the land leaving the station landlocked.
Losty Dublin wrote: » Also, the requirements of the day dictated that wooden bodied stock couldn't work passenger trains on a mainline. Using Manulla as the transfer point for passengers got CIE around this requirement at a time when they hadn't the immediate resources to buy suitable new stock. .
Utter Consternation wrote: » With the sheer numbers of people disembarking the Westport train for the Ballina train, they can't safely open the station to the public. It would be far too hazardous to add even more people to the millions who use the Ballina branch.
Utter Consternation wrote: » That after Cherryville?
Jamie2k9 wrote: » This is a joke right?
Utter Consternation wrote: » What do you think?
Jamie2k9 wrote: » Considering what some pro railway people think/say I have learned not to assume!
purplepanda wrote: » A strange carry on! :rolleyes: Wouldn't it be better to reopen Balla & maybe pickup some extra potential customers? Some might even like to travel Balla to Ballina or back? :pac:
tabbey wrote: » Some years ago I intended to go from Dublin first to Ballina, then to Westport on the following train. Standing on the Manulla platform just behind the branch train, I took a photo of the ICR departing towards Westport. It would not have delayed the Ballina passengers to have waited ten seconds, but the crew departed, even though with no public exit, it was obvious that I intended to use the train. I had no choice but to exit the junction, walking illegally on the track beneath the bridge, then up some steps to the road. For once the great metropolis of Manulla had a visitor for a couple of hours, but it had no Grand Hotel, not even a shebeen or sweet shop. When I was in the location a few weeks ago, the unofficial exit onto the road was impassable due to vegetation and I think the gate locked. There is a permanent way base beside the railway, but it has high gates and fences. Today anyone in this predicament would have to walk along the Ballina branch to the level crossing across the N60 road. Considering the compo culture which prevails, I should have stayed on the platform and sued Irish Rail for emotional trauma as well as my foregone time in Ballina. The conduct of the branch train crew was not merely negligent but reckless.
tabbey wrote: » Balla station is a considerable distance from the village. Looking at Balla a few weeks ago, it was a sorry sight, slowly disintegrating, sad, but who would want a house in such an isolated place, apart from rail enthusiasts who could see and hear freight trains.
Vic_08 wrote: » I have heard some rubbish from trainspotters over the years but that is just next level entitlement. You seriously expected the traincrew to just wait while you farted about on the platform taking pictures and scribbling numbers? Had you asked them if you had the time to take a photo of the Westport departing you would either have been given a bit of leeway to take your shot and board the Ballina or been told it wasn't possible and you needed to get on the train without delay but you just expected them to know what you were at and stand by delaying their service while you indulged in your hobby? FFS. As for the compo, negligence, reckless drivel, it it any wonder some staff have a negative attitude to enthusiasts.
Utter Consternation wrote: » Ha ha. Fair enough. I was being extremely tongue in cheek. I've heard rumours that even though Manulla is only a transfer point members of the public do use it as a starting/finishing point for their journeys.
whisky_galore wrote: » I'm sorry but the service is not operated to cater for photographers. Let that be a lesson for you. It isn't the 1950s where the train crew might make a pot of tea or decamp to the nearest pub while you take photos or pick flowers.
Sorry for digging up an old thread, but would it be possible for me to exit and enter MJ station to gain access to the local area?
No. There is no public access to the station except by rail.
So much for sustainability…..
It's very sustainable as the only way to access the station is by public transport! 😁
The station is in the middle of nowhere.
In the greater scheme of things on the railway, there are far more important things that need to happen than providing public access to Manulla Junction, which would have to be in compliance with the latest accessiblilty requirements with the added costs that involves.
Bus Éireann and GoBus each provide six and five return services on their commercial routes 52 and 430 respectively between Claremorris, Balla and Castlebar each day in each direction en route between Ballina and Galway, and there are two Bus Éireann PSO route 440 services in each direction each day that also stop at Manulla Crossroads en route between Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris and Knock Airport.
That's probably more than enough sustainability!
What's the exit plan in the case of an emergency situation at Manulla? Admittedly I'm not quite sure what major incident could happen on a concrete platform, but it doesn't seem right that you've no official way of 'leaving the station'. It's presumably just 'pick a random direction and hope for the best'.
The same as if an accident happened anywhere else on the 168 mile line between Heuston and Westport evacuate to wherever possible. Manulla is a quick hop across between the two trains and usually takes no more than two minutes in the down direction and as soon as the up arrives it is away.
In any emergency, plenty of open space to evacuate away from the station. Having a stairwell or lift to a road wouldn’t make it anymore safe in the case of a fire on a train (probably the worst incident possible there).
