226 Abhann na Suire

Ahh ok, it’s a slight. shame, but I suppose the MkIV’s are definitely still very comfortable and they’re probably right not to, money could be spent elsewhere like refurbishing the 29k’s And I think the lines other than the Belfast and Cork lines aren’t going to be getting a first class service any time soon, whether or not there’s a market for it, and while some 22k sets have a declassified ‘Premier’ coach with a bit of extra legroom and a table lamp, the requirements for a service with the likes of catering (the dreaded word we don’t say in this country) and the like, just won’t - in my uneducated opinion - be realistically produceable on every route, at the moment anyway unfortunately.

Irish Rail announced today that they’re refurbishing the CityGold carriages on their MkIV sets. Looking very well I have to say but I presume that a similar upgrade - better lighting, wireless charging, more sockets and leather seat covers - is going to befall the standard class coaches too…? Anyone heard anything?

I see what you mean about the bikes, and I’m not quite sure myself where they go… The problem with standing though is that there are already plenty of people standing on Irish Rail services, beside the toilets, between the carriages, at the doors, regularly the Waterford to Dublin service is standing from Carlow, for the remaining uncomfortable hour and a bit of the journey, so surely adding another 2/3rds of a carriage worth of seating and a dedicated standing area is definitely worth it. The extra carriages will also free up more driving cars by allowing the increase of railcar set lengths which will hopefully mean getting closer towards hourly intercity services and a big increase on the frequency of services on branchline routes so while I understand why some of you are sceptical as to their use or worth, but I do think that any investment in this railway network, after a period of so long without it, is good investment

The W&T were certainly big fans of ex-MGWR stock!!

€12 Million Investment confirmed from the auld Rialtas from this new ‘Shared Island’ initiative for increasing the peak time Enterprises to hourly services, and I presume for services arriving in before 9am… Progress definitely, but about time for the island’s so-called ‘Premier Rail Service’…!

Looking amazing lads!! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2024 and hopefully lend a hand over the summer if ye’re looking for it!

All very interesting and very melancholy points mentioned above about what could have been of Ireland’s preserved railways scene. It’s such a shame about the lack of funding and interest for the existing projects across the country and that this leaves little to no room for new projects. However I notice nobody has mentioned Maam Cross yet… is there a reason for that? Seems like a very sensible, ambitious, but not overly so, and level-headed-run project, and I wish it only the very very best in the future, I only just hope that it gains the traction and support it deserves and continues to grow!

Very fair point actually I hadn’t properly thought of that. I just always thought that not connecting DART Underground with Connolly was a bit of a mistake. You’re dead right though, linking it up with the southside would be fantastic but I do think that a heavy rail Heuston to Connolly rail corridor would be beneficial. I suppose it’s a case of maybe with the Luas it just wouldn’t be worth it. Maybe I hadn’t thought about the specificities of it, but either way I think an airport DART link should be done in conjunction with DART Underground

The way I would envisage it happening would be that services would run as part of the whole ‘DART Underground’ thing that the auld ‘Rialtas’ keep avoiding… A Train would leave Hazelhatch, towards Inchicore, and enter the DART Underground tunnels, but instead of the current (and in my opinion, stupid) plan for DART Underground, the tunnels would head directly under the city following the Luas Red Line, with an Underground station at Connolly, and then following the alignment of the line north, it would emerge back overground at Fairview, where there is the perfect amount of space to bring the tracks above ground. It would then join a 4-tracked northern line non-stop (for congestion and speed sakes) to Clongriffin - which would be made an Enterprise stop, on some trains at least - for connection with all other suburban and Belfast services and then branch left either in another tunnel or elevated to the airport. Ambitious maybe, but it’s the only way that I can see a Heavy Rail Airport Connection being able to have the highest possible effect and the greatest reach for the most amount of people, while also making the airport accessible from all trunk routes in Ireland with only 1 change necessary. If the big wigs are indeed listening in on our phones as some suspect, I hope they consider this…!

Looks unbelievable @warb!! Just wondering , is your layout an end to end, or is there a loop behind all that hyper realistic scenery so that trains can keep running?

Not at all, I’m very sure it’s listed so it’ll be protected. It’s already been out of use for the past over-half a decade though - with CTC controlling the Dublin line, it’s Waterford West Cabin that handles the Limerick Jnct line if I’m correct so the new station doesn’t necessarily mean the end of semaphores for Waterford as I haven’t heard of a plan to CTC-ify the Limerick Jnct branch. I guess that just depends then on whether Sallypark is integrated, does anyone know if it is, or is it Waterford West-managed still?

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/waterford/news/waterford-passengers-to-start-using-north-quays-train-station-in-2026/a1100926042.html New Station at Waterford looking on track for a 2026 opening… not too shabby all things considered… https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/news/reopening-of-waterford-to-rosslare-railway-line-boosted-by-planned-barrow-bridge-works/a1437133228.html And by the looks of it with a bit of luck, the Rosslare Line won’t be too far behind..! According to the article, insurance money could apparently see the Barrow Bridge reopened AND automated to the NTCC - seems track relaying and new platforms at Wellingtonbridge, Campile and Bridgetown then are all that stands in the way after that!

Freight aside, even passenger services to the likes of Adare and Askeaton (or even, dare we even hope about the north Kerry line, but Newcastle West…?) could, with a solid plan in place, really help these towns to grow into large commuter suburbs for people working in Limerick. And, possibly a tad hopeful rather than realistic, but the 2027 Ryder Cup is being hosted in Adare, and while I doubt the Shannon Rail Link will even be planned, let alone financed and built by that stage (though we can hope!) services from Limerick city and from Dublin to Adare could get a lot of Ryder Cup traffic… I know the yanks for certain would be smitten with a little branch line like the Foynes one…!

Sorry lads pictures and videos not loading, take 2!! IMG_3646.mov

The fear an phoist and the lads at IRM and of course Paddy honestly sure know how to treat me well!! Buzzing with this, finally have some prototypical Irish stock to run behind 080! Coaches look fab, a great job from the man himself! Thanks to the IRM crew too, arrived well packaged and very quickly too!! P.S. ignore the auld English yoke on the platform and the mess of the place too..! IMG_3639.mov

As a Deise man myself, I’m probably a bit biased on the matter but I do see this as an unbelievable opportunity and project. I think that any steam engine running in steam on a railway of any sort (and I really do think that the W&SVR have the drive and commitment to make this happen) is far better than it sitting in a museum, which in turn is 10 times better than it rotting in a tumbledown shed. It’s all well and good those people on Facebook giving out about it going to Ireland but the whole point of Railway preservation is to (clues in the name…!) preserve railway items so surely where it happens shouldn’t matter too much… And besides they have enough steamers over there, leave some for us!! And I very much understand those of you above who are saying that the W&SVR is a tourist railway and not a heritage one, and I’d be inclined to agree with you but at the same time, really so is nearly every railway preservation project. There’s a reason Santa Expresses and Halloween and Easter Excursions as well as Thomas the Tank Engine events are put on and it’s to bring in people (and money) that wouldn’t normally be coming to the railway, money without which, the railways would be in danger. What’s the difference between Downpatrick and Waterford? The only big one I can see is the gauge… So maybe we all (myself included because I did one harbour doubts about this project) have a bit of general positivity about this and maybe rather than pondering if they’ll even follow through with the project, we could lend a hand to the first steam preservation project the south east of the country has seen, and the first one Ireland has seen in a long while - I know I’ll have to try and get my hands on helping out somehow!! Oisín

Is that 9 in one set rather than 4+5? That would be crazy to see, I can’t even imagine that, let alone a 9+9 car formation!

Sorry DJ hahaha hadn’t seen this

Thought I heard something about the new ones having the capability for the shunt-lighting set up of one red and one white light on at the same time…? Could be wrong there though

Jesus they look well in 7 car formation don’t they! Great to free up more driving cars now for hopefully increased services on the branch lines…

121 finally sold as well now, and a small rake of MkII’s ordered with the collective proceeds! Thanks everyone for the offers and messages, and of course to the people who bought them too! Cheers everyone Oisín

Just put in an order there for 3 standards and a composite, very chuffed indeed (pun very much intended) and looking forward to that arriving with the auld fear an phoist over the week!! Thanks IRM for the free shipping and great to have had the sneaky extra stock come in last week too!

Yeah I think I had seen a 7 car set before actually thinking about it now, and they’ve definitely brought the 6 cars back but 8 or 9? Wow that would be some sight to behold!!

Just curious as to what the maximum possible lengths for ICR sets (combos and full units) and what the longest set to operate in service was… heard rumours of a 5+3…?? Surely not…

Officially sold the Craven coach lads but the 121 is very much still up for grabs!! Pass it on to anyone you think might be interested - let your Nan know if you think she’s a grey GM kinda person…! Email or PM me if you’re interested Oisín