Iarnród Éireann is to increase its use of two-carriage DART trains at off-peak times to reduce fuel costs.
“The fleet will be reconfigured to form 45 four-carriage trains and 18 three-carriage trains, allowing greater flexibility in train size as result by combining train sets together.”
Cookie_Monster wrote: » From my reading of the article this refers to the ICR fleet, not the DART
Ernest wrote: » Reducing DART to 2 carriage train sets outside peak hour is a really dreadful idea!. Its bad enough that some peak-hour DART trains currently have only 4 carriages instead of 6 leading to very unpleasant overcrowding, but to reduce off-peak trains to only 2 carriages would make even off-peak travel a very nasty experience indeed with every seat crammed with people and others having to stand for journeys. That's not to mention the fact that people would have to run along the platform to find the part where the train is actually located, since train drivers at the moment insist on bringing the train to the furthest front end of platforms irrespective of where passengers enter of leave that platform. Personally speaking I would probably just go back to using the car instead of public transport if Irish Rail go ahead with this plan.
bikeman1 wrote: » Personally it doesnt bother me. I know on the 2 car DARTs in the past, they felt a lot safer than a vast 6 or 8 car train. Also the drivers seemed to like them, having a 2 car train on a 8 car platform is a dream to drive!
lxflyer wrote: » Why is it such a bad idea? Loads are low enough to allow for it. If it saves money and preserves the service, then why not? Platform signs are now in place to indicate where 2, 3 and 4 car trains stop at. They have already gone ahead with it - it started today!
Changes in train fleet utilisation to save energy costs 09 September 2013 Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail is to implement new energy saving fleet utilisation initiatives to generate fuel savings, which will reduce fuel and maintenance costs by €3.2 million per annum. The range of actions begin this week, focusing on train size for off-peak DART services. Currently, 65% of total daily DART passengers travel in the four hours of either morning or evening peak, with the remaining 35% travelling across the remaining 14 hours of travel. In place of longer trains used currently, the company will increase the usage of 2-carriage DARTs at off-peak times from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and after 7pm, to eliminate unnecessary energy usage and reduce maintenance costs, while continuing existing service frequency to customers. This approach also allows the flexibility for capacity to be increased on off-peak trains at times of higher demand, such as for major events. Furthermore, the company are continuing to monitor peak train sizes and will increase capacity on one peak service in response to demand, the 16.40hrs Bray to Malahide DART, from 6 to 8 carriages. For Intercity services, Iarnród Éireann is to reconfigure the Intercity railcar fleet. Currently, the 234 carriages in the fleet are configured to form 48 three-carriage trains and 15 six-carriage trains. This has lead to capacity shortages on some services and oversupply on others. The fleet will be reconfigured to form 45 four-carriage trains and 18 three-carriage trains, allowing greater flexibility in train size, with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 carriage Intercity trains possible as result by combining train sets together. These changes will be implemented on a phased basis by year end. As well as savings in fuel and maintenance costs, the new fleet configuration will ensure train size can be targeted to meet demand, and increase train size and seat numbers on services which have experienced high numbers travelling. The measures are the latest in a range of initiatives introduced by Iarnród Éireann to reduce energy consumption, yielding environmental and cost benefits. Since 2007, energy consumption – the vast majority of which is for diesel and electricity to power trains – has reduced by over one-third in Iarnród Éireann, through actions including: - New trains incorporating improved energy efficiency - Automatic shutdown of train engines to reduce idling - Reduction in DART power supply voltage and competitive tendering of electricity supply - Extension of regenerative braking on the DART - More efficient DART train software - Reduced train sizes where demand has decreased - Implementation of improved lighting, heating and fan controls in depots - Changes to lighting in station car parks - Temperature and lighting control systems in buildings to prevent wastage In total, energy usage in Megawatt hours has reduced from 793,400 in 2007 to 526,800 in 2012, a reduction of almost 34%. The company’s energy bills were €16 million lower in 2012 than they would have been had these measures not been implemented.
dowlingm wrote: » Post DASH2 it should be possible to run more of the short trains, increasing the attractiveness of the service. Will need a few more drivers though. Will they be there when the time comes Mr Franks? :rolleyes:
dfx- wrote: » I'm looking forward to the next game at the Aviva with two carriage sets - and you know it will happen. Like when the 46A or the 16A was operated by a WV - two horrendous experiences and so was the peak hours WV on the 130.
bikeman1 wrote: » I would much prefer the company to run 2 car trains off peak and maintain the 15 minute frequency than cut services and run 6 car DARTs.
dowlingm wrote: » Post DASH2 it should be possible to run more of the short trains, increasing the attractiveness of the service. Will need a few more drivers though. Will they be there when the time comes Mr Franks?
lxflyer wrote: » Don't be ridiculous - they're not going to have 2-car trains out when there is a big match/event on.
In total, energy usage in Megawatt hours has reduced from 793,400 in 2007 to 526,800 in 2012, a reduction of almost 34%. The company’s energy bills were €16 million lower in 2012 than they would have been had these measures not been implemented.
end of the road wrote: » oh i don't know, this is the same company who thinks operating 29s to bellfast when an enterprise fails is a good idea, or who thought operating horid rickity 27/28s on the rosslare line for years was a good idea or who thinks subjecting people to a 29 on the odd service to rosslare or sligo is exceptable
Losty Dublin wrote: » The only Irish Rail trains that can run to Belfast are the 3 Enterprise sets and a select 29000 and 22000 class railcars which are fitted with TPWS; this is mandatory under UK Law. Should an Enterprise set be unable to run then it's run them or don't run a service at all. Similarly, some NIR DMU's are fitted with CAWS to allow them run to Dublin if required for substitution services and specials.
Losty Dublin wrote: » As regards DMU's on the Sligo/Rosslare lines, it's an open secret that political interference saw to it that they took on services on these lines in lieu of cascaded mainline stock from mainline links.
end of the road wrote: » will you even be there when the time comes mr franks? or will you have took your pentian and said ta ta to ireland
TheBandicoot wrote: » I have no problem with these operational changes and they make sense to me , I just think it's sad that due to terrible planning over decades a city the size of Dublin can only fill 2 carriages on a high quality heavy rail route.
ted1 wrote: » i live in killiney about 5 minutes walk from the DART station. If i'm going to Town i genreally end up heading up to cherrywood to get a luas. this is abotu 20 minutes walk. The reasons being 1.) there way more frequent, No matter when I go i'll only have to wait max 7 minutes. 2.) Luas goes straight to St.Stephens Green. so cuts out the walk from Tara st or Pearse St.
