Irish Rail September Timetable Changes

TheChrisD · 01-09-2018 11:03pm

Ireland trains wrote: »

On the new pdf timetable it shows some maynooth services start from grand canal dock but on the journey planner these are not show
Which one is a mistake

Note in the footer: Times in italics indicate a connecting train.

GM228 · 02-09-2018 11:15am

There were some last minute adjustments which sees several off-peak Maynooth and Drogheda/Dundalk trains operating to/from Connolly only on weekdays aswell.

Jamie2k9 · 02-09-2018 1:14pm

Of course there was peak alterations will follow soon!

Only question though is why are they terminating the train's at Connolly at the weekends. It actually make's sense during the week since this would take those train's off the loop line which do block up services alot but I don't know why they're only doing this at weekends though.

Suggestion elsewhere is the Pearse roof works might be a reason but to be honest I don't think when complete they will restore the schedule.

Rashers72 · 02-09-2018 1:32pm

GM228 wrote: »

There were some last minute adjustments which sees several off-peak Maynooth and Drogheda/Dundalk trains operating to/from Connolly only on weekdays aswell.

Yes, don't know how I had not been spotted before.
All weekday suburban trains from Drogheda after 10am till 3pm now cease at Connolly. And leaving Pearse, all weekday trains from 10am till 3.45pm require an additional change at Connolly. So much longer journey times from Pearse.
So the Northern suburban line passengers have been really shafted by this timetable. Longer journey times in the weekday peak morning (despite less stops), lots of crawling into Connolly. Off peak weekday journeys now all much longer. Saturday services all now much much longer (as per previous post) for same passengers.
Some evening peak services are 1-2 minutes shorter, but that's it.
Despite what IE think, passengers will leave eventually if you make their suburban journeys so long. I fully accept we need to get used to changing transport modes (I walk, train and cycle[Dublin bike] 5 days a week). But the train part of the journey is getting longer every year, with no improvements in customer experience. More mechanical failures, more signal faults, more timetable paddling leading to long dwell times everyday outside Connolly and Malahide.
The NTA should be held accountable, and should face train passengers to explain what is going on.

GM228 · 02-09-2018 1:39pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Suggestion elsewhere is the Pearse roof works might be a reason but to be honest I don't think when complete they will restore the schedule.

There will be a few weekend closures to facilitate the roof works, but that has nothing to do with it, the NTA want the commuter trains operating to/from Connolly bar weekday peak.

Infini · 02-09-2018 4:18pm

GM228 wrote: »

There will be a few weekend closures to facilitate the roof works, but that has nothing to do with it, the NTA want the commuter trains operating to/from Connolly bar weekday peak.

They give any reason to why or its because we said so reasoning?

Sam Russell · 02-09-2018 7:10pm

Bray Head wrote: »

There are five level crossings in Dublin 4. The new timetable means that one train will be going through every five minutes. This will leave the barriers down around 20 minutes per hour all day, including rush hour.

This means no vehicular access at all. Not just cars, but buses, bicycles and delivery vehicles too. There will be traffic chaos.

Please note: a large new primary school has just opened in Sandymount, and there are plans to put several thousand new dwellings on the glass bottle site too.

This whole plan simply will not work without biting the bullet and building an overpass at Merrion Gates and one other point closer to the city.

The Merion Gate plan was good, but an underpass would work as well with less visual impact. The road must rise or fall be 5 metres to cross the line.

The only other place that I think could be crossed is Serpentine Ave with the railway rising by 3 or 4 metres, and the road dipping by 1 or two metres. There is enough distance to have a gradient between Landown and Sandymount stations without too much problem, and dropping the road by a metre r two again is not much. The stations would be unaffected.

Just an idea.

[Edit: Checked the gradient - a rise of 3 m in 350m each direction so about 1%. ]

Cookie_Monster · 02-09-2018 11:00pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

The Merion Gate plan was good, but an underpass would work as well with less visual impact.

you run the risk of flooding issues with an underpass though, especially with rising sea levels.

Working class heroes · 02-09-2018 11:33pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

you run the risk of flooding issues with an underpass though, especially with rising sea levels.

Jaysus really? How in gods name does the channel tunnel survive :rolleyes:

highdef · 02-09-2018 11:58pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

Jaysus really? How in gods name does the channel tunnel survive :rolleyes:

One fantastic reason is that the Channel Tunnel does not come above ground level until it is several kilometres inland. Dublin Port Tunnel has more chance of flooding than the Channel Tunnel!

no.8 · 03-09-2018 12:05am

Cookie_Monster wrote:

you run the risk of flooding issues with an underpass though, especially with rising sea levels.

Adequate drainage should solve that.

Cookie_Monster · 03-09-2018 2:19am

Working class heroes wrote: »

Jaysus really? How in gods name does the channel tunnel survive :rolleyes:

It's not in a very low lying area with a shallow bay 10m away or on a road that's prone to flooding...

Working class heroes · 03-09-2018 7:23am

highdef wrote: »

One fantastic reason is that the Channel Tunnel does not come above ground level until it is several kilometres inland. Dublin Port Tunnel has more chance of flooding than the Channel Tunnel!

I’m sure it’s not beyond the scope of man to figure out a solution, would you not agree?

Kh1993 · 03-09-2018 7:26am

According to here (http://davidhealy.dublin13.com/?p=876) Jarrett Walker has described the potential 15+ minute connections brought up as ‘bad timetabling’.

lawred2 · 03-09-2018 7:32am

What's this about many commuter trains no longer stopping at Portmarnock?

Sam Russell · 03-09-2018 9:24am

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

you run the risk of flooding issues with an underpass though, especially with rising sea levels.

Not so. The original plan had an underpass just metres from the sea at Merrion Gates, so flooding is not such a risk according to the planners.

The crossing is quite a distance from the sea, going from the two car parks, but I take the point that flooding is a risk, but it is a risk in the whole area, which is just metres above sea level as it is.

The sea wall needs raising as it is, but that is another issue.

Bray Head · 03-09-2018 9:31am

Sam Russell wrote: »

Not so. The original plan had an underpass just metres from the sea at Merrion Gates, so flooding is not such a risk according to the planners.

The 'original plan' as you describe it came down in favour of a bridge.

Any plan that involves digging on the foreshore is fraught with risk and potential delay via the planning and EIS system.

GM228 · 03-09-2018 11:26am

Infini wrote: »

They give any reason to why or its because we said so reasoning?

Less interference to DART traffic and attributed delay minute's at Pearse when trains are late apparently.

thomasj · 03-09-2018 11:33am

Are they giving us their word that when connecting trains are late, the Maynooth/northern trains will wait? Especially when the connecting trains are listed on the timetable and especially when there's an hour gap between trains.

loyatemu · 03-09-2018 11:34am

still no notices in the local station about the timetable change.

GM228 · 03-09-2018 11:35am

With regards to Merrion Gates that plan has been dropped.

An underpass was mentioned, but that was only to be a small pedestrian/cyclist underpass at the gates with a road over bridge further north linking Strand and Merrion Roads.

No road over or under the railway will or can be provided at Merrion Gates themselves.

GM228 · 03-09-2018 11:36am

thomasj wrote: »

Are they giving us their word that when connecting trains are late, the Maynooth/northern trains will wait? Especially when the connecting trains are listed on the timetable and especially when there's an hour gap between trains.

I understand they will wait yes.

Working class heroes · 04-09-2018 1:37pm

I’m hearing the new timetable is in bother. Anyone else hear anything?
*paging GM228*:D

GM228 · 04-09-2018 1:50pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

I’m hearing the new timetable is in bother. Anyone else hear anything?
*paging GM228*:D

Issues with DART drivers may be what your "hearing", all I'll say is you may have perfect hearing!

Working class heroes · 04-09-2018 2:07pm

GM228 wrote: »

Issues with DART drivers may be what your "hearing", all I'll say is you may have perfect hearing!

Yep!

n97 mini · 04-09-2018 2:37pm

GM228 wrote: »

There were some last minute adjustments which sees several off-peak Maynooth and Drogheda/Dundalk trains operating to/from Connolly only on weekdays aswell.

Am I correct in saying that when I checked the timetable pdf online a few days ago that it showed most weekend Maynooth trains going to/from GCD. Then in the last day or two it was replaced with a timetable containing lots of italics, signalling the loss of service to Tara and Pearse (and GCD)?

GM228 wrote: »

There will be a few weekend closures to facilitate the roof works, but that has nothing to do with it, the NTA want the commuter trains operating to/from Connolly bar weekday peak.

Is there any operational reason for Maynooth and Northern Commuter trains not to serve Tara and Pearse off peak and at weekends? Or are journeys being made needlessly longer? 10 minute DARTs are only 06:50hrs-20:00hrs approximately, Monday to Friday.

Infini · 04-09-2018 2:44pm

Actually wish they'd just delete the itallic times. People are going to misread them and think the trains still there. Theyre unintentionally misleading.

markpb · 04-09-2018 2:51pm

GM228 wrote: »

Issues with DART drivers may be what your "hearing", all I'll say is you may have perfect hearing!

Surprise surprise!

n97 mini · 04-09-2018 2:53pm

Infini wrote: »

Actually wish they'd just delete the itallic times. People are going to misread them and think the trains still there. Theyre unintentionally misleading.

The journey planner has too much padding. For example, it says on Saturday night the last DART to meet the Maynooth train is 22.51, whereas the pdf timetable says the last connection in italics is 23.06.

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:04pm

n97 mini wrote: »

Am I correct in saying that when I checked the timetable pdf online a few days ago that it showed most weekend Maynooth trains going to/from GCD. Then in the last day or two it was replaced with a timetable containing lots of italics, signalling the loss of service to Tara and Pearse (and GCD)?

No, the current PDF uploaded a few days ago has not changed.

n97 mini wrote: »

Is there any operational reason for Maynooth and Northern Commuter trains not to serve Tara and Pearse off peak and at weekends?

I suppose there is an argument to be made for off peak weekday services as the 10 minute DART is in operation, but I can't see any logical reason for weekends.

thomasj · 04-09-2018 3:05pm

GM228 wrote:

No, the current PDF uploaded a few days ago has not changed.

It has, what they're seemed to have done is that they have bolded the actual departures to distinguish more from the connecting trains

n97 mini · 04-09-2018 3:07pm

thomasj wrote: »

It has, what they're seemed to have done is that they have bolded the actual departures to distinguish more from the connecting trains

I'm nearly sure it has too. Talking to someone else who here who's nearly sure he saw lots of weekend trains going to/from GCD. You think they were always changing at Connolly, and the only difference is bold?

thomasj · 04-09-2018 3:08pm

They're also still making adjustments . For example , the new DART timetable has a rosslare bound train going northbound towards Dundalk so they said they'll be updating the timetable for that .

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:09pm

thomasj wrote: »

It has, what they're seemed to have done is that they have bolded the actual departures to distinguish more from the connecting trains

They were always in bold, I got the PDF before it was made public and it's identical to the one on the site currently.

Riskymove · 04-09-2018 3:10pm

n97 mini wrote: »

Is there any operational reason for Maynooth and Northern Commuter trains not to serve Tara and Pearse off peak and at weekends?

I suppose they are removed from the north south trainline

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:13pm

thomasj wrote: »

They're also still making adjustments . For example , the new DART timetable has a rosslare bound train going northbound towards Dundalk so they said they'll be updating the timetable for that .

That's the 05.45 ex Rosslare which has been running to Dundalk for years and is also on the old timetable.

thomasj · 04-09-2018 3:17pm

No the mistake they made is the 09:30 Connolly rosslare is on the dart timetable (page 38) as heading towards Dundalk. Even says to rosslare on the timetable but has departure times on Drogheda and dundalk , looks as if it's heading towards belfast!

thomasj · 04-09-2018 3:18pm

Here's the original Maynooth line timetable without the bolded parts

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:20pm

thomasj wrote: »

No the mistake they made is the 09:30 Connolly rosslare is on the dart timetable (page 38) as heading towards Dundalk. Even says to rosslare on the timetable but has departure times on Drogheda and dundalk , looks as if it's heading towards belfast!

The train time is and running is actually correct, just a typo for the destination, that's the 09.30 to Belfast.

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:21pm

thomasj wrote: »

Here's the original Maynooth line timetable without the bolded parts

Interesting, the one I have is same as currently on line (which I have before was on line), so someone obviously uploaded a perhaps earlier version until it was copped.

thomasj · 04-09-2018 3:25pm

GM228 wrote:

The train time is and running is actually correct, just a typo for the destination, that's the 09.30 to Belfast.

Ah okay, that's where I got confused. Because the 09:33 Connolly rosslare is not on the timetable either.

GM228 · 04-09-2018 3:29pm

thomasj wrote: »

Ah okay, that's where I got confused. Because the 09:33 Connolly rosslare is not on the timetable either.

It is, on p6.

Del.Monte · 04-09-2018 7:51pm

It must be fierce difficult to design timetable - the railway here have only had over 180 years to get it right. I note as usual the that the pdf timetables are cluttered with token Irish claptrap and unnecessary symbols all over the place.

Stephen15 · 04-09-2018 8:28pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

It must be fierce difficult to design timetable - the railway here have only had over 180 years to get it right. I note as usual the that the pdf timetables are cluttered with token Irish claptrap and unnecessary symbols all over the place.

100% they need to be more user friendly

Working class heroes · 04-09-2018 8:29pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

It must be fierce difficult to design timetable - the railway here have only had over 180 years to get it right. I note as usual the that the pdf timetables are cluttered with token Irish claptrap and unnecessary symbols all over the place.

I think they’re lovely, aesthetically pleasing.

Cookie_Monster · 04-09-2018 9:04pm

NTA: Padding in the timetable is not a problem, we're grand with it.

Me wrote:

I see the new 10 minute frequency timetable have appeared online. While more frequent services are to be welcomed. i note the time from Bray to Tara street has gone up to 43 minutes now. Compared to 35 minutes originally. How can the NTA stand behind such an increase in travel time with the proposed timetable? Will there be any push back from the NTA to Irish Rail to restore journey times to previous and remove excessive padding from the timetables?

NTA wrote:

Dear C_M

We refer to your email on 30 August 2018 to the National Transport Authority regarding Iarnród Éireann DART services.

DART services form part of the network of subsidised rail passenger services provided under a public service contract with the Authority. No changes to rail services can be made without the approval of the Authority.

The Authority has approved a new timetable of services on DART with a number of additional and associated changes to rail services. The timetables include adjustments to the intermediate timings on individual services to better reflect the operational requirements of an expanded network of services not only on DART but also on commuter and intercity rail services. The changes to the intermediate timings follow a detailed analysis of DART running times undertaken by Iarnród Éireann.

Thank you for bringing this issue to the attention of the Authority.

Yours sincerely

Operational requirements...

LEIN · 04-09-2018 9:24pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

NTA: Padding in the timetable is not a problem, we're grand with it.

Operational requirements...

I would love to think that it would be revised following a bedding in period to reduce padding. However, I suspect that in less than 3 months, it will be increased.

devnull · 04-09-2018 9:36pm

LEIN wrote: »

I would love to think that it would be revised following a bedding in period to reduce padding. However, I suspect that in less than 3 months, it will be increased.

Although they can't win really though can they with padding? On this thread you have people unhappy with too much padding and a few posts down in the forum there is one about DARTs always being late which indicates they don't have enough.

Cookie_Monster · 04-09-2018 9:40pm

devnull wrote: »

Although they can't win really though can they with padding? On this thread you have people unhappy with too much padding and a few posts down in the forum there is one about DARTs always being late which indicates they don't have enough.

well the problem is they are not meeting what was manageable in the past not that there is too much padding or that the timetable is to tight. if they could be 8 mins faster in the 80s, having only added GCD since then why are they so much slower now? It's the same all over the network...

devnull · 04-09-2018 9:41pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

well the problem is they are not meeting what was manageable in the past not that there is too much padding or that the timetable is to tight. if they could be 8 mins faster in the 80s, having only added GCD since then why are they so much slower now? It's the same all over the network...

Well the driver change at Clontarf can't help.

Irish Rail September Timetable Changes

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