hurricanemk1c

201s are definately more powerful than MKIV Control Cars - about 2,340hp more. Mark 4 Control Generator Cars do nothing for traction. The 201 fleet is an absolute mess, due to being three different orders. 201-205 / 210-214 do not have push pull equipment fitted, different bearings on the bogies and other differences, compared to 215-226/229/232/234. 206/207/8208/8209/227/228/230 have NIR equipment and are thus restricted to those duties (the law in the North states that all stock must have AWS, TPWS, NIR Train Radio etc, or have a second competent person on board. I know which is cheaper day-to-day). Then you have the level of work required. As of today, there's 6 booked Class 201 diagrams. 5 Dublin-Cork and 1 Dublin-Belfast. Requirement of about 8 locos total, including time for A, B exams etc. Then freight. 3 flows (IWT, DFDS, Timber). Up to three IWT's a day, one timber and one DFDS - 6 locos. 14 out of 34 needed, based on just 201 usage. I make the current fleet to be 20 available for work (21 including 8208 under overhaul). Find the work first! Apologies - answered twice before my post went up

Subject to much debate - but if they were every recorded doing that (and personally don't believe they ever did), it certaintly wasn't in regular passenger service. 2 hours 15 (2 hours 12 WTT time) is very impressive. It is about the minimum time at the moment, hence the ballast cleaning going on. Better ballast bed can bring higher speeds. Average speed of 73.4 mph start to stop

So, are you suggesting a small sub-fleet on an already streched fleet just to accomodate them, and for one or two runs a day? Good luck with getting a solid business case for that! Curtains are a pain to install, keep clean and generally keep up, hence why they are only ever in first class. Then when a curtained set turns up on other diagrams, people begin to wonder 'why do I get x train when I can get the same on y train?'. Tinted windows cost more as well, due to the additional processes required. Also - Bigger seats = less seats = higher price per passenger. Higher Price (especially with a 'normal' train 20 mins before) = Lower Demand. Good old economics After many, many hours at 0645-0900 and then on the return anywhere between 1600-2000 (and sometimes on the 2210 Heuston - Portlaoise) on ICR's, can't find the seats that bad. True, not as good as the Mark 3 seats but they no longer pass EU safety regulations. An informed source quotes £800,000 for a new rail-compliant seat. Find the money and a good, solid business case and the seat will follow - and maybe it will be comfortable! Concorde worked perfectly for 20-25 years - and the seats weren't that comfortable! Can't comment on food as I don't eat anything on-board, but I think Iarnród Éireann (through Rail Gourmet) know exactly what comes through the trolley till and what comes through a dedicated buffet service. I think I know which wins, and people vote with their wallets. A new Intercity station on the M50? That [M50] is already packed out and any little thing makes the whole system fall over. Same with the proposed Phoenix Park Tunnel idea - one delay on the Connolly side or Heuston side and chaos. Building a station by the M50 would just increase costs and pain for people travelling I've seen many, many people working on a train without curtains (myself included) on a variety of devices. jhb171achill: Having just finished commuting on ICR's from Portlaoise to Heuston (something in the region of 11,000 miles since September) at all times from 0645 to 2330 at Portlaoise, heat never been a problem for me, and I hate high temperatures. If you have a problem, have you complained with all the relevant details? The average temperature I have seen is about 18-20 degrees. I do know of services that were terminated due to high interior temperatures and failed HVAC sets, so complain if you have a problem. In fact, the information stickers on the ICR's, if you had noticed, mention HVAC as a specific clause (see - http://www.thewandererphotos.com/2014Photos/November-2014/i-tKzr3cp) So we are back to the start - how to provide a non-stop trip from Cork to Heuston at minimum cost to attract passengers and keep within the fleet capabilities and crew capabilities. Personally, I think Iarnród Éireann have done themselves proud (despite NTA worries). Instead of complaining at every decision made by Iarnród Éireann, why not praise one or two? Unfortunately, it's not just a case of going down to the local shop to get a few things and bolting it on. For example, the provision of curtains would have to go through an EU tender, review, selection and then fitting. Six months minimum, regardless of whether it is here or Germany. Sum total - find the money and the product could follow. As I said before - the market decides. Early days yet, don't forget, with this being week 2 (and Tuesday at that). And what's not been discussed is knock-on effects. Whilst the 0615 is on-time / early at Heuston, it's been +5 at Portarlington all last week, with the result that the 0525 Westport - Heuston (retimed +5 at Heuston) is another 5 down at Heuston - not happy people! As always, just my opinions!!!

Should add: 2011/2012 - Second batch of 22000 Class enter service 2013 - New "Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail" logo introduced 2014 - Enterprise refurbishment announced, with 8209 receiving partial livery 2014 - Class 22000 have formal approval for cross-border work, starting by covering an Enterprise set for refurb 2014/2015 - Belmond start moving their Mark 3's to Scotland. Last Mark 3 movement in orange/black 2015 - Top and Tail working now permitted with HOBS wagons 2015 - Single Line Working and Ballast Cleaning, finally using 781 to its full potential 2015 - 206 repainted in full Enterprise livery and MMI screens fitted

On the contrary - IÉ do want it to work. However, with a fleet of 10x 5ICR, one of which is on Enterprise, one or two are down for attention, leaving a maximum of 8 around for other work. In the evening peak, the 1600 Heuston - Cork, 1625 Heuston - Limerick, 1630 Heuston - Galway, 1705 Heuston - Tralee, 1725 Heuston - Limerick, 1815 Heuston - Westport, 1830 Heuston - Galway and 1835 Heuston - Waterford. . Whilst I do not have the links, that is from observation at Heuston. Total use there is 8 sets, most of them full both in standard and first People moan (not anyone here, just general) that IÉ are 'carting around fresh air' and now that they match capacity with demand people are moaning. As a comparision, a 3 ICR accomodates 190 passengers, compared to 36/268 (first/standard) for a 5 ICR or 44/373 (first/standard) for a Mark 4 rake. Find the extra 110-200 people and the diagrams will change

3 ICR booked, so no first class

Hope this helps (click on the photo for it larger) Roof of 7601, North Wall, 20/12/14 by Kieran Marshall, on Flickr

The offical reason is to enable it to run with the Heritage (Wooden) stock and not to show up diesel stains. Whilst it looks good, I doubt the Heritage set will ever run again. More than willing to be proved wrong though!

Good morning all, A couple of shots from Hazelhatch in the morning (20/5/15): Due to a Road Traffic Accident involving a car and tram 4003, trams from The Point were terminating and reversing at Smithfield, utilising the little-used crossover between Smithfield and Four Courts Full set here - A selection of shots from yesterday's Engineering Works, with photos from:. Heuston Newbridge (and the worksite) Stacummy Bridge Kildare Portarlington Full set can be seen here - Regards, Kieran

What will be interesting is who pays for the damage - loco owned by Network Rail, work done by the Type 1 Loco Association and used by the Great Central Railway, with 80301 owned by Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd. (although indirectly involved, since it was just coupled to the loco)

Belated Happy Birthday Jim!

Good evening all, A few updates from me. 231 at Heuston, 13/5/15 with a few odds and sods of Heuston Portlaoise, 14/5/15 and a couple of shots, including 206 on the 1700 Heuston - Cork Heuston, 15/5/15, with 206 waiting for transfer to Inchicore Full set of photos from May are here - Regards, Kieran

There's nothing on recent photos, but could just be the standard door guides at the top having been replaced but not painted. Without a shot of it, I can't tell

Inside or out?

Then yes - see photo below: http://www.thewandererphotos.com/2007photos/July-2007/i-ddVrxGW And again (Mark 3's due to the underfloor casing) - Kieran

In what livery (the two tone purpley one or the green and silver one)? More than likely did

Good evening all, A few shots from today at Heuston, Inchicore and Portlaoise, including: A lost 22049 8208 and 206 in Inchicore ICR's at Portlaoise and Heuston 85 taking water at Portlaoise 234 and 219 passing Portlaoise Full set can be seen here - Regards, Kieran

Correct - but the HEP generator was driven directly off the engine

Nowhere near first run - been out and about since mid February, but has been restricted to freight and test runs

Head End Power generator caught fire in the engine room

Good afternoon all, A few pictures from the RPSI's "The Strand" railtour yesterday. Despite getting drenched in rain a good day was had by all. Locations include: Portlaoise, Monasterevin, Kildare, Sallins, Hazelhatch on the way in Connolly, Drumcondra, Clonsilla and M3 Parkway Newcomen Junction Bray Greystones Kilcoole Wicklow Gorey Enniscorthy Wexford Rosslare All photos can be viewed here - Saturday brough 85 through Portlaoise and a quick trip out to get a snap All photos can be seen here - Regards, Kieran

Calpped out GSV doesn't cover it! Great day, crap weather and no heat to dry off a bit!

Electrification is mooted at 125mph, along with the electrification of all of Northern Ireland. 2050 and 2040 respectively were mentioned last year. As for ICRs - I think they are comfortable enough (except for Premier Class - can't get comfy in them at all). Having travelled about 13,000 miles in them since they were introduced (11720 since September), they run well, aren't overly noisy and light and airy. The problem of overcrowding on morning and evening services actually has nothing to do with the rolling stock as is - it's about the procurement of them. The basic rolling shell is fine - it's how many of them the accountants wanted. They could have been a lot, lot worse - just look at the UK Voyagers!

When 080 is released from Inchicore, it will have the fourth style of grey livery - no numbers, original big numbers, spaced out big numbers and now more rounded spaced out numbers!

DiveController - no, they still run. Wednesday is the loaded train Thursday the empties Nice shots folks!