His comment at the end is funny and very true. He mentions they get nervous when people (idiots, my word) pull up maps of the rail network from the 1920’s. They aren’t looking to rebuild that, but build a future focused network that people will actually use.
BTW he mentions that he was looking at the passenger numbers for rail in the 1920’s, but doesn’t mention what it is. I’d love to see such numbers if anyone has them, I’ve looked a couple of times, but only found figures going back to the 1991.
On the topic of speed and improvements to signally etc I suggest ye have a look at this video from a conference two weeks ago. Mentions a desire to increase the intercity from 160km/h to 200km/h.
Once the 5 level crossings between Cork and Limerick are closed it should improve the speed a lot too
This is the key note but a few more specific videos too on the channel about Cork rail improvements for example
Interestingly the regulation includes a number of outs for Ireland. We won't be involved with rail freight and we don't have to switch to standard gauge rail (boooo… lol).
I wouldn't get too excited about a heavy rail network at Dublin Airport. The regulations give various outs on it and say things like "except where specific geographic or significant physical constraints prevent such connections" so it isn't a most.
Also they say Metro connection between the airport and railway network is acceptable, so Metrolink sounds like it covers it anyway.
Cork is already 160km/h, Belfast is 140km/h, but the new fleet that replaces the Enterprise will likely fix that, I believe someone mentioned the tender being 185km/h.
The ICR's already do 160km/h. Obviously the Limerick line would need improving.
Hopefully there is EU Tent-t funding to help fund all this.
Dublin-Limerick is about 128 miles, of which 107 is part of the Dublin-Cork line. That leaves only about 21 miles between Limericj Junction and Limerick. It definitely 70 mph at present (and 60 between Killonan and Limerick). Over such a distance the gains from higher speed are quite small.
From what I can make out, Dublin to LK must be 160 kph all the way, which is what we should be doing anyways to every city.
Great to hear about ETCS. I presume ETCS means lower cost, as IE can buy kit off the shelf?
@Geuze: Comments on this EU proposal:
2. ETCS is being rolled out on Greystones-Drogheda because the new DART+ Alsthom untis will require it. Over the coming years (maybe at least a decade) it will be progressively rolled out over the whole system.
3. Rail connectivity to airports with 12m or more passengers. This really sticks it to the Irish transport planners (DUB is almost 3 times the 12m threshold). I hope the EU make life difficult for them in some way.
I have a question about the implications of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers adopting the regulations below:
Should I start a new thread? In what forum, here or under Infrastructure?
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/sustainable-and-resilient-transport-network-bringing-europe-closer-together-2024-06-13_en
The European Commission welcomes the final adoption of the Regulation underpinning the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by the European Parliament and the Council.
My question is about the three targets below:
The revised Regulation sets ambitious targets for European transport infrastructure:
These targets imply that Dublin to LK and CK and border should be 160kph all the way.
(1) is that the case now?
(2) the mixing with DARTs suggests to me that we need a new line (I know quad tracking isn't possible)
(3) the target means ETCS must be installed. Is any installed now? I think the answer here is no.
(4) the airport target means that DUB airport must be on the national rail netwrork, something which I have long supported. How might this work?
I suggest a new line branching off the existing Belfast line, near Balbriggan, running through Swords, with a station there, linked to metro station, and then a station in airport, again linked to metro station. Maybe another station between airport and city centre, I'm not sure where, and then the line should go through Dockland station in tunnel, to SSG station, to Heuston station.
This means IC trains move off the existing line up to Malahide, which would be DART only.
How might the Govt decide to link the airport to the national rail network?
We need trains to be able to run from CK, LK, GY to the airport.
Timetable consultation next month for implementation in late August.
journeys up 13% on 2023 and intercity at highest ever levels.
No. The suggestion in Trellheims post is that services using the PPT , should be able to use the Midland line (line that Docklands trains use)
Under the DART+ plans , southwest DARTs will use Drumcondra and then the line just after Drumcondra station to go to Spencer Dock.
Sorry unless I missed something isn’t that what they’re gonna do with Dart+ West?
Glasnevin junction IMO should be redone to allow services divert along the southern line and get to and from the Phoenix park tunnel. Operational flexibility if nothing else. Would allow a few Kildare services to go to Docklands as well and take some pressure off Connolly through platform timetabling . Also be good for the odd Point depot gig.
that's correct, existing DMUS being freed up due to dart + will provide any extra services outside the GDA. when that timeline will be i can't say as dart + timelines asside, the 29 sets which run the connolly suburban services are in desperate need of refurbishment so that will take time. the 2800s are based out of limerick and i have no idea when they will be replaced, my guess might be 2040 but that's just going on a 40 year lifespan so they could go earlier, maybe when the 2600s go, or both could run for longer i don't know.
currently the services out of heuston are all run by the inter city trains including suburban services, so electrification of the kildare line will free those sets running the suburban services to go to the inter city and regional services, but again i don't know any timelines for when that will happen.
Given that it seems there are no plans to buy any DMUs to expand services outside of the GDA and Cork, am I correct in thinking that more services outside of GDA/Cork means waiting for existing DMUs to be cascaded from the GDA, as the new Alstom electric/battery trains arrive?
What sort of timeline might this happen in?
185 coaches have been ordered already, that is 37 sets of 5-cars
https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/iarnrod-eireann-and-alstom-sign-contract-for-90-ex#:~:text=This%20order%20of%2090%20carriages,carriages%20to%20be%20ordered%20over
I presume these are due to replace the 36 old DART sets? 36 * 2-car = 72 cars
At what stage might 2800 or 29000 be replaced, so they could be sent to Galway or Limerick?
2026?
Connolly still has points trouble regularly enough. And the up road at north strand junction seems to also have signal/points trouble. While it delays whichever train is at the signal, at least they can still run trains around it.
My assumption is they possibly renewed the points a few years ago or improved overall maintenance in the area. In fact service levels have improced around Connolly as well. It was very bad for disruption maybe 2017/18.
I am fairly sure Drumcondra was also re-signillged not long ago. Glassnavin Junction should have full renewal of points if it hasn't because its now a very important junction.
Did they fix the Howth Junction issue?
The frequant singnal/points failures at Glassnavin Junction need to be addressed as a priorty.
Will be like the old Howth Junction issue if it continues.
We really need also the new long-distance line from clongriffin-Drogheda as mentioned in the AIRR.
Is four tracking only to Malahide sufficient when services as far as Drogheda will consist of ten-minute(?) frequencies for all-stopping trains?
The study into quad-tracking the Northern Line which recently got awarded EU funding, I am now hearing it will go to tender April 2024, with the tender award being August/September 2024.
No, they are still there. They just bunched them up a bit tighter last year, to make room for the new ICR carriages.
I just passed by Inchicore and couldn’t see any 2700s or 8200s, have they been scrapped?
This might be it .
Can I have a link?
Maybe you read the Examiner Article on the subject.
Why did I get it into my head that they were extending platform 5 from then ?
As LXFlyer says, it is a completely new platform being built there. There was a very good Timelapse video on Irish Rail’s Facebook showing some of the works ongoing there.
oh yeah they are extending the platform.
There’s an additional through platform being added on that track.
The line around the back of Kent station that goes passed where the signal cabin used to be has been taken. Theres temporary buffers where it’s been cut. I assume this was done so they can change the track layout there as they’ve done further towards the bridge.
