Irish rail fleet and infrastructure plans

There is no 'new' signalling system, nothing on the ground will change. The new control centre will have traffic management software which will provide accurate projections of train arrival and departure based on live conditions, e.g. it will factor in delays waiting at passing loops, non stop trains following a stopping train and so on. Any change made to the timetable will be immediately reflected

This second part is good news. Many were closed down around 15 years ago, and replacing trainsets that had toilets with those that won't would have been a slap in the face for a lot of existing customers of the commuter network. It still won't deal with delays between stations and the lack of immediate toilet access that cars and buses won't provide on any part of that route, but it's a belated recognition of the inevitable problem that the Netherlands had to experience with its Sprinter replacement programme.

In the grand scheme of things, this delay won't affect the delivery timeline all that much. It would be tacked on to the already confirmed order book anyways, even if it was approved months ago.

Have just seen photos on other threads of the last 2750 being transported to Dublin. It’s an awful shame that they never took off in service, there are certain services that could have really benefited from a single car unit, midday services on the Nenagh and Tipperary branches could’ve been potentially run more feasibly with them.

Stadler have recently unveiled a new hydrogen powered single-car ‘bubble unit,’ the RS Zero which actually could be a great way to feel achieve decarbonisation on these branch lines while also accommodating potentially lower passenger numbers. The trains look like they have a larger capacity than the 2750s would’ve had too so could be actually quite feasible for the branch lines. Thoughts?

2750’s and indeed all DMU types north and south have TCA’s fitted so have no issue triggering track circuits

2750’s did venture out alone, but reliability was the concern so 2 car was the standard so you could drag yourself home

The RS Zero is something I have been very interested in (although I prefer the battery versions, like the posts above I am not a fan of hydrogen tech) and I think it is has a lot of potential. However I do question how much use it could get on our network, as there aren't many places they could be used, even post AISRR.

You suggested Waterford-LJ and Nenagh branch services. But Waterford-LJ is going to become an important link between Waterford and Cork and Limerick so it really needs proper sets for capacity. There is rumblings going around that they are already working to make it a 2-hourly service, although I am not sure if there is already sets ready or if they are waiting for a set to be freed because of D+. However that will hopefully start to show what the real demand on the line could look like. Limerick-Nenagh (not -Ballybrophy) is planned to become a more frequent commuter service so it should use whatever they order to replace the 2800s in the LSMA.

Where I think they could make more sense is for Ballina shuttle services and Limerick-Ballybrophy, the former is actually what they are primarily intended for (short branch line services). But then there is the question, is the handful of sets needed to maintian a decent frequency worth the trouble? Or are they better of with a more standardised fleet using 2800s or 22Ks (and their replacements) for the services, even if it is a bit overkill?

Otherwise the only other way I could see these making sense is if more branch lines started to be brought back. There are a good few towns that in the next 10-20 years may become big enough to warrant branch lines being built/rebuilt, some lines that come to my mind include Edenderry-Enfield, Loughrea-Attymon, Carrickmacross-Dundalk, and Ardee-Dunleer. However that then becomes more of a debate about whether or not branch lines should be brought back, rather than about the practicality of something like the RS Zero.

The N65 from Loughrea to the M6 and the N33 to Ardee are nearly entirely on the route of the old rail alignments. Flat land that probably hadn't been sold off makes a good base to start from for a road.

Rathkeale Bypass also uses the rail alignment but that's definitely not likely to ever reopen.

The N33 and N65 may have been built on the original alignments, but that has also somewhat protected them. While they couldn't be rebuilt direcly on the orignal line, it would be easier to build the track to the side of the road than having to design around buildings encroaching the alignment. It would be more expensive than if the alignment was still owned by IE/CIE, such has been a massive debate with Claremorris-Collooney and the potential greenway. However if the alignments are no longer owned by IE or CIE I think a CPO for the alignment would be needed anyways. A quick glance at google maps shown that the Edenderry-Enfield and Carrickmacross-Dundalk alignments have been encroached by buildings, so make of that what you will.

Of the lines I listed I think Edenderry would be the most likely to be built considering its size, proximity to Dublin, and that the 120 is already a heavily used service (more generally I believe many of the GAI outer commuters are reaching capacity). Also from a brief look at timetables I think it would have the most time to save with a train service.

When I wrote that I completely forgot to consider passenger numbers from Castleconnel, Birdhill, and Nenagh, I only looked at Cloughjordan and Roscrea. I am not sure why I did that, as realistically they would be a part of the Limerick-Nenagh service. For example if Nenagh had 30-minute frequency commuter service, every fourth service would be extended to Ballybrophy for a 2-hourly service.

I also don't disagree about Ballina services, it really shouldn't have a single car unit, although with current ridership they could get away with it. During last year's census there were 274 passengers at Manulla Jnc, which averages to 15 passengers across the 18 services (9 in each direction). I am not sure what the heaviest loadings would look like, I would think closer to 30 passengers, which while still enough for a 1-car unit to handle, would not leave much room for improvement. My hope would be that by the time they actually do need to replace the 2800s, the ridership on the branch will be high enough to warrant having a 3-car ICR or equivalent. As assuming whatever replaced the 2800s in the LSMA ( and possibly GMA) is an EMU for commuter services, it might be tedious to get one to Ballina.

Absolutely nothing can come available until probably next summer when there might be some cascading of 29ks from Drogheda to Docklands and Maynooth and release 22ks.

I think there's only four or so sets in use doing those services at peak too. Unless they take some 22ks off Hazelhatch and use actually more suitable 29ks until electrification.

Ie won't use 29s on HH only services unfortunately, unlesss perhapse the NTA interveen and force them to do so which they should but won't.
if a sufficient amount became freed up they would be perfect for it as in reality it's a medium speed outer suburban and the ICR is wasted and horifically inefficient on it.
but yep not going to happen unfortunately.
electrification or BMUfication is the best option to solve the problem now and that's a way off for the kildare line i think?

agreed but there aren't enough of them anyway currently even if they were willing to train heuston drivers on them.

had the 2700s remained in service down in limerick then perhapse the 2800s might have been able to cover it or at least a sufficient amount of them to warrent training drivers at heuston on them but hay, we are where we are.

The longer we wait to even see the new planning app for the D+ Depot, the more chance that some ridiculous stuff has to be done to keep services at workable capacities.

Initial use of the 29ks from Drogheda services, after they've had any outstanding work done (floors, PIS, the bicycle area conversion, any other deferred maintenance etc) is presumably going to be reinforcing any peak time 4 car 29k services on Maynooth, and subbing in the various peak time 22k services on Maynooth and Docklands.

That wouldn't use up everything released from Drogheda surely?