CRP on Rosslare Rail Line

Cookie_Monster

since you have a business plan you obviously know what rolling stock will be used by company 1. without giving too much away will this be sourced in Ireland or abroad?

Losty Dublin

save the rail wrote: »

OK update time

We have recieved a business plan from company number 1
we are meeting with company number 2 this week.
We have set up as a company and will be known as SWIFFT - (South Wexford Integrated Forum for Transport) from here on in
We are working with Irish Rail in a CRP on the Rosslare to Gorey stretch of the line.
We will be meeting with company number 3 in 2weeks time.

This is excellent news for Save the Rail to even have gotten this far. It goes to show what a little people power and some hard work can do

oharach

save the rail wrote: »

We have set up as a company and will be known as SWIFFT - (South Wexford Integrated Forum for Transport) from here on in

I appreciate the sheer doggedness, but you are not coming up in a Company Search on the Companies Registration Office page..

save the rail

oharach wrote: »

I appreciate the sheer doggedness, but you are not coming up in a Company Search on the Companies Registration Office page..

Check again, in the CRO we signed off on all the papers last week and have sent everything in.

save the rail

flyingsnail wrote: »

What are you aims / hopes if you do establish a crp on the Goery - Rosslare section?

We aim to improve services on this line, for example we are in talks to have more train services, trains to meet the ferries, catering trolley on all services and proper information for the public.

save the rail

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

since you have a business plan you obviously know what rolling stock will be used by company 1. without giving too much away will this be sourced in Ireland or abroad?

they have stated it can be sourced both in and out of Ireland, which they choose will depend, i presume, on the best price they get

Judgement Day

save the rail wrote: »

We aim to improve services on this line, for example we are in talks to have more train services, trains to meet the ferries, catering trolley on all services and proper information for the public.

How about affordable catering, 1st class, longer trains, Fastrack, and trains meeting ferries?

save the rail

Judgement Day wrote: »

How about affordable catering, 1st class, longer trains, Fastrack, and trains meeting ferries?

AS STATED ABOVE:

Trains meeting ferries, catering trolley on all services (to be fair the prices on the trolley are reaasonable) rather than longer trains we are trying for more services..............

Judgement Day

save the rail wrote: »

AS STATED ABOVE:

Trains meeting ferries, catering trolley on all services (to be fair the prices on the trolley are reaasonable) rather than longer trains we are trying for more services..............

I disagree about prices on the catering trolley - if you consider €1.60 for a can of minerals, €5.65 for a can of lager or €4.99 for a sandwich reasonable you're earning too much money. 1st class??? i.e. somewhere quiet to relax or get a bit of work done? Longer trains so that you don't have people standing on top of you from Wicklow northbound (sometimes Arklow)! A civilised waiting area in Connolly - out on platform 5 - I have suggested it to Dick Fearn numerous times but I would get more satisfaction from talking to my toes. I wish you luck but would not be remotely optimistic that anything will be achieved until CIE/IE is wound up.

KC61

oharach wrote: »

I appreciate the sheer doggedness, but you are not coming up in a Company Search on the Companies Registration Office page..

The CRO don't always get everything online that quickly....give them a chance!

Cookie_Monster

save the rail wrote: »

they have stated it can be sourced both in and out of Ireland, which they choose will depend, i presume, on the best price they get

hmm...
so there is a possibility of getting it within Ireland, leaving two options*:

IE
NIR

now NIR may have some spare stock to offload but IE certainly don't. It would be a farcical situation if IE were to hire trains back on a line they have no interest in, especially when every rush hour service is chock-a-block, they simply don't have the trains to spare for such an eventuality. I wonder...

* on the assumption that it will have to be a DMU operated service, maybe it won't, but is all the infrastructure in place for allowing runarounds still?

save the rail

Judgement Day wrote: »

I disagree about prices on the catering trolley - if you consider €1.60 for a can of minerals, €5.65 for a can of lager or €4.99 for a sandwich reasonable you're earning too much money. 1st class??? i.e. somewhere quiet to relax or get a bit of work done? Longer trains so that you don't have people standing on top of you from Wicklow northbound (sometimes Arklow)! A civilised waiting area in Connolly - out on platform 5 - I have suggested it to Dick Fearn numerous times but I would get more satisfaction from talking to my toes. I wish you luck but would not be remotely optimistic that anything will be achieved until CIE/IE is wound up.

I pay €2.05 for a cup of tea, its €2.00 in a cafe, i paid €3.50 for a ham and cheese sandwich 3 weeks ago on the train which i think is reasonable.
Myself and my colleague manage to work everytime we travel on the train, I dont have any problem with noise and noone else has complained of noise. As for the waiting area, there are benches and you are sheltered from the rain, its a public service not a 4star hotel :eek:

flyingsnail

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

* on the assumption that it will have to be a DMU operated service, maybe it won't, but is all the infrastructure in place for allowing runarounds still?

The track layout in Rosslare still allows a run around.

KC61

save the rail wrote: »

AS STATED ABOVE:

Trains meeting ferries, catering trolley on all services (to be fair the prices on the trolley are reaasonable) rather than longer trains we are trying for more services..............

What is needed is a recast of the current timetable that would see an extra train from Wexford between the 07:50 and 12:55 services - say at 10:15 (perhaps by curtailing the 07:30 ex-Connolly at Wexford), and a 10:30 from Dublin, which would also defer the current 12:55 service from Rosslare to 13:55.

Obviously maximising ferry connections is something that needs addressing.

Now whether all of that can be delievered within the existing fleet constraints I don't know.

foggy_lad

save the rail wrote: »

I pay €2.05 for a cup of tea, its €2.00 in a cafe, i paid €3.50 for a ham and cheese sandwich 3 weeks ago on the train which i think is reasonable.
Myself and my colleague manage to work everytime we travel on the train, I dont have any problem with noise and noone else has complained of noise. As for the waiting area, there are benches and you are sheltered from the rain, its a public service not a 4star hotel :eek:

any sandwiches i have enquired about on any train have been €5.50, maybe the mayopnaise is extra?

save the rail

foggy_lad wrote: »

any sandwiches i have enquired about on any train have been €5.50

go for the ham and cheese so its €3.50 or was 3 weeks ago

Judgement Day

save the rail wrote: »

I pay €2.05 for a cup of tea, its €2.00 in a cafe, i paid €3.50 for a ham and cheese sandwich 3 weeks ago on the train which i think is reasonable.
Myself and my colleague manage to work everytime we travel on the train, I dont have any problem with noise and noone else has complained of noise. As for the waiting area, there are benches and you are sheltered from the rain, its a public service not a 4star hotel :eek:

According to the Rail Gourmet menu which I have in front of me and which I got on the train a few weeks ago, a cup of tea is €2.10 and Sandwich Range €4.99 - so you did well! You may not have trouble with noise but I assure you I do - as a regular traveller - and I do not find the train easy to work on especially with people standing in the aisle almost on top of you.

As regards the waiting area on Platform 5 - which it is necessary to hang about it in to ensure getting a seat - it has only recently acquired seats fit to sit on and there's no reason why other Inter-city passengers (Belfast/Sligo) should have better facilities. You're already beginning to sound like an apologist for CIE management and staff 'its a public service not a 4star hotel' - what sort of a stupid comment is that? What I have suggested is that some of the offices currently used by CIE/IE employees to hide from the public on platform 5 should be revamped as a waiting room for Inter-City passengers - shock horror!! - you know something like the one at Wexford station ....cost millions no doubt. :rolleyes: You really think that CRAP is about you taking over as IE's PR spin doctors - give me a break. Incidentally, until recently how long have you been using Rosslare/Connolly services? I have used them for 40+ years and I think I am better placed to give an opinion on them but feel free to tell us how long you've used them and how often?

save the rail

Judgement Day wrote: »

According to the Rail Gourmet menu which I have in front of me and which I got on the train a few weeks ago, a cup of tea is €2.10 and Sandwich Range €4.99 - so you did well! You may not have trouble with noise but I assure you I do - as a regular traveller - and I do not find the train easy to work on especially with people standing in the aisle almost on top of you.

As regards the waiting area on Platform 5 - which it is necessary to hang about it in to ensure getting a seat - it has only recently acquired seats fit to sit on and there's no reason why other Inter-city passengers (Belfast/Sligo) should have better facilities. You're already beginning to sound like an apologist for CIE management and staff 'its a public service not a 4star hotel' - what sort of a stupid comment is that? What I have suggested is that some of the offices currently used by CIE/IE employees to hide from the public on platform 5 should be revamped as a waiting room for Inter-City passengers - shock horror!! - you know something like the one at Wexford station ....cost millions no doubt. :rolleyes: You really think that CRAP is about you taking over as IE's PR spin doctors - give me a break. Incidentally, until recently how long have you been using Rosslare/Connolly services? I have used them for 40+ years and I think I am better placed to give an opinion on them but feel free to tell us how long you've used them and how often?

I have been using the service regularly for over 15yrs.
If there is something wrong with the service I will be the first to complain, however, some people think that they should have their own coach with servants to wait on them hand and foot, hhmm maybe heated seats can be installed for you and all :rolleyes:

Judgement Day

save the rail wrote: »

I have been using the service regularly for over 15yrs.
If there is something wrong with the service I will be the first to complain, however, some people think that they should have their own coach with servants to wait on them hand and foot, hhmm maybe heated seats can be installed for you and all :rolleyes:

Where have I said that? I want trains that are not overcrowded, with 1st class on some trains, with a proper buffet car on some services with reasonably priced food and drink. I want trains that have room for bicycles and parcels - which bring in additional revenue - contrary to what Foggy Lad believes. I want CIE removed from the scene as they have proved after 65 years that they are out of control and accountable to nobody. Anyway there's not much point arguing with you as Barry Kenny has obviously got to you. :rolleyes:

oharach

KC61 wrote: »

The CRO don't always get everything online that quickly....give them a chance!

That's true. I wasn't trying to criticise – just interested in reading what they had registered.

Our man in Havana

Actually the CRO are very fast at updating their website once documents are processed. It is them processing the documents that takes time unless you used a proper company formation agent who can jump the queue at the CRO.

save the rail

Judgement Day wrote: »

Where have I said that? I want trains that are not overcrowded, with 1st class on some trains, with a proper buffet car on some services with reasonably priced food and drink. I want trains that have room for bicycles and parcels - which bring in additional revenue - contrary to what Foggy Lad believes. I want CIE removed from the scene as they have proved after 65 years that they are out of control and accountable to nobody. Anyway there's not much point arguing with you as Barry Kenny has obviously got to you. :rolleyes:

NO JD, no point in arguing as no matter what we achieve, it will never be good enough for you, Barry Kenny Dick Fearn or anyone else has nothing to do with me or my opinions. You have an axe to grind with IR, fair enough but we are trying to do something productive and all you can do is complain, CIE/IE will be there for a long time to come regardless of what anyone wants, we are trying to work with them to improve the service for people like you, people who need/choose to use public transport. At least we are trying do do something about the issues.

Judgement Day

save the rail wrote: »

NO JD, no point in arguing as no matter what we achieve, it will never be good enough for you, Barry Kenny Dick Fearn or anyone else has nothing to do with me or my opinions. You have an axe to grind with IR, fair enough but we are trying to do something productive and all you can do is complain, CIE/IE will be there for a long time to come regardless of what anyone wants, we are trying to work with them to improve the service for people like you, people who need/choose to use public transport. At least we are trying do do something about the issues.

As I have tried to do since 1979 and I can assure you that you are wasting your time - remember where you first heard it! I look forward to seeing services transformed on the Rosslare/Connolly line but I won't be holding my breath.

parsi

save the rail wrote: »

OK update time

We have recieved a business plan from company number 1
we are meeting with company number 2 this week.
We have set up as a company and will be known as SWIFFT - (South Wexford Integrated Forum for Transport) from here on in
We are working with Irish Rail in a CRP on the Rosslare to Gorey stretch of the line.
We will be meeting with company number 3 in 2weeks time.

How were these companies chosen ? Who chose them ? Was it publicly tendered ?

Transportuser09

I agree that the catering is overpriced. In all fairness 1.60 for a 330ml can of mineral is a bit pricey, when most shops will sell a 500ml bottle for that price or less in many cases.

As regards the waiting area in Connolly, what can be done? Despite what's being said the offices on platform 5 are needed and used. The only service to have its own special waiting area is the Belfast Enterprise, the fare for which is much higher than that of the routes.

Anyway, at least the CRP is trying, they may fail, they may not, but the only that's 100% certain is that nothing will happen if nobody does anything. Out of curiousity, is the CRP for the Dublin line seperate to that of the SWIFT, or is the south Wexford title being used for all?

Judgement Day

Transportuser09 wrote: »

I agree that the catering is overpriced. In all fairness 1.60 for a 330ml can of mineral is a bit pricey, when most shops will sell a 500ml bottle for that price or less in many cases.

As regards the waiting area in Connolly, what can be done? Despite what's being said the offices on platform 5 are needed and used. The only service to have its own special waiting area is the Belfast Enterprise, the fare for which is much higher than that of the routes.

Anyway, at least the CRP is trying, they may fail, they may not, but the only that's 100% certain is that nothing will happen if nobody does anything. Out of curiousity, is the CRP for the Dublin line seperate to that of the SWIFT, or is the south Wexford title being used for all?

What are the offices on Platform 5 needed for that the invisible staff could not be relocated? As regards fares there are many €10 fares on the Belfast service. Belfast/Sligo passengers have the benefit of being able to stay on the main concourse until the last moment whereas as I already mentioned it is essential to hang around on Platform 5 to ensure that one gets a seat on the miniscule Rosslare train.

Losty Dublin

Judgement Day wrote: »

What are the offices on Platform 5 needed for that the invisible staff could not be relocated? As regards fares there are many €10 fares on the Belfast service. Belfast/Sligo passengers have the benefit of being able to stay on the main concourse until the last moment whereas as I already mentioned it is essential to hang around on Platform 5 to ensure that one gets a seat on the miniscule Rosslare train.

Last time I checked, it's a train station and not the Hibernian Gentleman's club; you don't need luxuries that you'd likely claim to be a waste of money if they were there. Gone are the days of first class, silver service and china cups; leave that toff stuff with the Orient Express.

If you don't like traveling on the train or the services it offers then get the bus instead but by the looks of your caterwauling over the years you'd whine about that; nothings a walk in the park for you, is it?:D

Judgement Day

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Last time I checked, it's a train station and not the Hibernian Gentleman's club; you don't need luxuries that you'd likely claim to be a waste of money if they were there. Gone are the days of first class, silver service and china cups; leave that toff stuff with the Orient Express.

If you don't like traveling on the train or the services it offers then get the bus instead but by the looks of your caterwauling over the years you'd whine about that; nothings a walk in the park for you, is it?:D

Care to expand on that since you don't know me from Adam? If you were intelligent enough to read what I have said you would not come out with such a pile of horse ****e.

-Chris-

Let's take it down a notch and make it less personal please. Attack the post, not the poster.

The Stroller

Regarding the catering service I think it is much better now than the service Network Catering provided on the route. It has a much better range than the Network trolley service, the staff are helpful. Yes it is dear but you can always bring a flask!

Cookie_Monster

jasus lads, there's no train never mind catering. one step at a time.

Cookie_Monster

parsi wrote: »

How were these companies chosen ? Who chose them ? Was it publicly tendered ?

+1
who actually makes the final decision, I assume it'll be the Dept of Transport / NTA, presumably with only a recommendation from Swift Ltd, right?

topnotch

Save the rail (SWIFFT) are softening up and are spending too long listening to the Irish Rail spin doctors. If they want to do something constructive they should try to sort out the shambolic replacement bus serivces and be meeting with bus eireann.

Losty Dublin

Judgement Day wrote: »

Care to expand on that since you don't know me from Adam? If you were intelligent enough to read what I have said you would not come out with such a pile of horse ****e.

Expand I will by looking back at your record of posts over the years keeping away from the personals

As a company goes, they are caught between a rock and a hard place. They need to run as a private company and to do it as cheaply as possible yet they are stuck with a residual public service mandate and network that dates back to the time when railways were moulded and mapped by the landed gentry and not modal needs.

You personally seem to have an axe to grind with Irish Rail and that's fair enough given your negative relationships with Irish Rail and CIE as you described on here as you dealt with them in Mallow, Cahir, Fenit and Dromod. Now that said, while nobody doubts that they fall down on a lot of stuff (Least of all their employees, of which my Father was one and my brother in law is currently) but it's not always the case. If you expect waiting rooms and first class on what is effectively a commuter line then you are looking at pie in the sky. Irish Rail offer a level of service that is no worse than what airlines provide in and out of Ireland, it's no worse than many rail services in the UK provide, it's a lot better than coach companies offer in terms of ancillaries to the passenger and price wise it's reasonable enough in the main.

Overall they are there to provide a service and in a country of 4 million souls and with a network serving towns that are met with roads which aid with rival means of transport that compete with them for passengers and freight (Such indeed as Fastrack which is a dead duck) they do quite well considering how much their paymaster cuts their work out for them

KC61

topnotch wrote: »

Save the rail (SWIFFT) are softening up and are spending too long listening to the Irish Rail spin doctors. If they want to do something constructive they should try to sort out the shambolic replacement bus serivces and be meeting with bus eireann.

What is the problem with the bus services?

Losty Dublin

KC61 wrote: »

What is the problem with the bus services?

Isn't it clear? There are far too many services, that's what

Cookie_Monster

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Isn't it clear? There are far too many services, that's what

that'll be a first then

Losty Dublin

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

that'll be a first then

I know, it's a disgrace and what with these buses stopping in all the towns en route instead of the bus, it's a disgraceful situation, the bus service is in a state of chassis, I tells ya!:p

Cookie_Monster

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I know, it's a disgrace and what with these buses stopping in all the towns en route instead of the bus, it's a disgraceful situation, the bus service is in a state of chassis, I tells ya!:p

KC61

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Isn't it clear? There are far too many services, that's what

Top Notch is suggesting that they are shambolic yet there is now an increased bus service in the area - I am asking what the specific problem is with them (leaving the removal of rail services aside).

corktina

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I know, it's a disgrace and what with these buses stopping in all the towns en route instead of the bus, it's a disgraceful situation, the bus service is in a state of chassis, I tells ya!:p

BE are economising by running just a chassis with no body? No, i must have read it wrong.No wait, buses are stopping in all the towns instead of the bus? something wrong with my PC methinks....

Losty Dublin

corktina wrote: »

BE are economising by running just a chassis with no body? No, i must have read it wrong.No wait, buses are stopping in all the towns instead of the bus? something wrong with my PC methinks....

It was a typo, meant to say instead of a train The point is though, the replacement bus service is far more frequent than the rail service that preceded it.

@KC61, I feel that some people are complaining about CIE companies for the sake of it; it's almost habitual for them at times.

Losty Dublin

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I feel that some people are complaining about CIE companies for the sake of it; it's almost habitual for them at times.

Some of it seems to be nit picking but the south Wexford and the Mk3 situations have really grated me recently.

KC61

Karsini wrote: »

Some of it seems to be nit picking but the south Wexford and the Mk3 situations have really grated me recently.

Indeed but I am trying to establish from Topnotch, leaving aside the closure of the railway line, what exactly is shambolic about the bus services.

Or was this just a throwaway comment due to the closure of the railway line?

Losty Dublin

Karsini wrote: »

Some of it seems to be nit picking but the south Wexford and the Mk3 situations have really grated me recently.

I'm in two minds about the Mark 3, Karsini.

When Irish Rail got in the Mark 3's, they had a lifespan of about 25 years planned, which give or take is what Irish Rail got from the sets. On one hand, most of them could have been refitted and refurbished but given the large costs to refurbish them all and to run with diesel hungry 201's and 071's or get in new stock that eliminate shunting staff and guards, less track points, less down time at terminal stations, fuel economy, standarised fleet management and with better operational flexibility it's a no brainer in many ways at the loss of overhauling and refitting otherwise decent bodyshells. I'd have held onto the Push Pull sets but they gave almost 20 years service and were due overhauls soon; yet more costs with not too much gain from same.

Irish Rail are caught in the middle between a desire to cut costs big time by Ministers and the long term lack of the chance to offer wholesale changes as was offered in introducing the 22000 sets. They have wanted to go DMU for years but it's only in the late 90's that the chance and the money to allow same was afforded to them. It's taken a while but the fruits of running them over loco stock are slowly beginning to show but yes it was at a cost and it will take a while to see if it was worth it in the long run.

topnotch

Speaking of things that grate. This European Court of Auditors report on EU sugar market reform defintely takes the biscuit. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1110/breaking52.html

-Chris-

topnotch wrote: »

Speaking of things that grate. This European Court of Auditors report on EU sugar market reform defintely takes the biscuit. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1110/breaking52.html

How do sugar and biscuits relate to the topic at hand?

-Chris-

-Chris- wrote: »

How do sugar and biscuits relate to the topic at hand?

Sugar beet traffic was the main reason the line lasted as long as it did. The closure of the sugar factory was seen as the death knell.

Our man in Havana

Because the south wexford line was closed in part due to the loss of the sugar beet.

save the rail

Transportuser09 wrote: »

Anyway, at least the CRP is trying, they may fail, they may not, but the only that's 100% certain is that nothing will happen if nobody does anything. Out of curiousity, is the CRP for the Dublin line seperate to that of the SWIFT, or is the south Wexford title being used for all?

SWIFFT and CRP are the same group