Limerick - Nenagh - Ballybrophy railway

daniel_t1409

I was on a 29000 on the Dublin/Rosslare line recently, they are badly in need of a cleanup and are outdated compared to some of the 22k's which have usb sockets, new seats etc.

Del.Monte

daniel_t1409 wrote: »

I was on a 29000 on the Dublin/Rosslare line recently, they are badly in need of a cleanup and are outdated compared to some of the 22k's which have usb sockets, new seats etc.

And doors between carriages that you don't need to be Charles Atlas to open.

Isambard

Del.Monte wrote: »

And doors between carriages that you don't need to be Charles Atlas to open.

cue dozens of young fellers googling who dafuq Charles Atlas was.

end of the road

dowlingm wrote: »

Even if the 29000s do make it to Limerick area (rather than cascade 2600s from Cork if/when they get 29Ks) reports from other threads would indicate they will need some serious TLC first given how hard they have been flogged in Dublin area as well as subbing on Enterprise

yes i would second those reports.

Losty Dublin

Isambard wrote: »

cue dozens of young fellers googling who dafuq Charles Atlas was.

Charles Atlas? Didn't he used to be chairman of the IRRS Maps sub committee?

Isambard

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Charles Atlas? Didn't he used to be chairman of the IRRS Maps sub committee?

that was Charles Satnav I think

Markcheese

Interesting how nigra talked about the really poor timetable ,which was answered with " they need better trains "
It's really not a line that's run for the benefit of passengers ...

tabbey

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Charles Atlas? Didn't he used to be chairman of the IRRS Maps sub committee?

He could have been but I thought he was the chap who used to lift 2509 back onto the track when it would derail on I R R S railtours.

Incidentally, 2509 used to work a local service Nenagh to Limerick in the 60s, and it didn't even have a loo. I don't know what the timing was, but it would be hard to be slower than the present service.

Deedsie

Markcheese wrote: »

Interesting how nigra talked about the really poor timetable ,which was answered with " they need better trains "
It's really not a line that's run for the benefit of passengers ...

Timetable and speed of the trains are the priority on this line.. passengers would happily forego a usb plug for anything related to an adequate service.

Ive brought my bike on this service before. Space isnt an issue usually due to low passenger numbers. There was no proper bike stand etc. I just leaned it up against a wall and sat beside it.

Upgrade the line between Nenagh and Limerick. Maybe look at joining the line directly to the Dublin - Cork line stopping at Portlaoise.

If you can make the line at least competitive with the speed of a fairly crappy bus service then the fortunes of the line would turn around very quickly.

Its not rocket science. Invest in the infrastructure where the line is in the worst condition. Between Nenagh and Limerick. To my knowledge this is by far the slowest section of the line where it should be the most efficient.

Financial fallout from covid could prob kill the line unfortunately.

ohographite

Deedsie wrote: »

Financial fallout from covid could prob kill the line unfortunately.

That is my fear too.

tabbey

Deedsie wrote: »

Upgrade the line between Nenagh and Limerick. Maybe look at joining the line directly to the Dublin - Cork line stopping at Portlaoise.

Invest in the infrastructure where the line is in the worst condition. Between Nenagh and Limerick. To my knowledge this is by far the slowest section of the line where it should be the most efficient.
.

The problem here is that the sections Nenagh to Limerick, are the least suitable for speed, due to curvature. Nenagh to Ballybrophy or better still, direct up the main line, offers the best option for speed and journey time reduction. 90 or 100mph would be reasonable over most of this line once the cwr is stressed and bedded down.
There is no point in terminating trains at Portlaoise, three, four or five trains each way per day between Limerick and Dublin via Nenagh is what you need to compete with the bus services on this corridor, anything less is a token which is bound to fail.

Deedsie

tabbey wrote: »

The problem here is that the sections Nenagh to Limerick, are the least suitable for speed, due to curvature. Nenagh to Ballybrophy or better still, direct up the main line, offers the best option for speed and journey time reduction. 90 or 100mph would be reasonable over most of this line once the cwr is stressed and bedded down.
There is no point in terminating trains at Portlaoise, three, four or five trains each way per day between Limerick and Dublin via Nenagh is what you need to compete with the bus services on this corridor, anything less is a token which is bound to fail.

Well quite a large number of people from Nenagh and Roscrea work in Portlaoise so there would certainly be more of a point terminating the line in Portlaoise rather than the current ballybrophy stop.

I agree the section of line between Limerick in Nenagh is a disaster. Too many gates, crossings, public roads etc etc

daniel_t1409

Deedsie wrote: »

passengers would happily forego a usb plug for anything related to an adequate service.
.

Well yes but they are handy for tech nerds like me

Jamie2k9

https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/news/593439/tipperary-rail-campaigners-welcome-moves-on-engineer-s-report-on-local-line.html

North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership has secured a commitment from Irish Rail to have an engineer’s report carried out on the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line with a view to increasing train speeds along the track.

They said that Irish Rail had also agreed to propose to the National Transport Authority that an additional service run in the middle of the day.

Del.Monte

Dicking about with the timetable has been tried and is pointless. The only thing that will save this line is a direct Dublin facing curve at Ballybrophy and increased line speeds. At the same time planned expansion of towns such as Nenagh and Roscrea wouldn't go amiss.

seekers

daniel_t1409 wrote: »

Well yes but they are handy for tech nerds like me

They are a selling point. I always book rail due to charging points for phones

seekers

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/news/593439/tipperary-rail-campaigners-welcome-moves-on-engineer-s-report-on-local-line.html

It's a start. The Ennis line expansion of service came that way also

Markcheese

Del.Monte wrote: »

Dicking about with the timetable has been tried and is pointless. The only thing that will save this line is a direct Dublin facing curve at Ballybrophy and increased line speeds. At the same time planned expansion of towns such as Nenagh and Roscrea wouldn't go amiss.

As in direct limerick to Dublin trains ?
And abandon colbert to limerick junction ?

tabbey

Markcheese wrote: »

As in direct limerick to Dublin trains ?
And abandon colbert to limerick junction ?

There is no need to abandon the wlr route, in fact, a longer, faster direct curve at the junction is long overdue, with five or six direct trains Limerick to and from Dublin.

Pete_Cavan

Just looking at it, the Level Crossing at R445 should be relatively easy to close with a new bridge to the west. About 450m of new road on the other side would also allow for the closure of the next LC south. I'm sure the one to the north could also be closed, possibly without doing anything else or with a short stretch of road.

I'm sure a single bridge and well laid out link roads could allow for the closure of three LCs between R503 and R506 inclusive. I think that kind of targeted investment would have a lot of benefit.

seekers

Monday 18th to Sunday 7th February

Please note that due to Engineering Works between Limerick and Ballybrophy commencing on Monday 18th January until Sunday 7th February, 2021 inclusive, the following service alterations and amendments will occur:

06.30 Limerick to Ballybrophy is cancelled Monday to Saturday
10.05 Ballybrophy to Limerick is cancelled Monday to Saturday
16.55 Limerick to Ballybrophy is cancelled Monday to Saturday
19.05 Ballybrophy to Limerick is cancelled Monday to Saturday
07.45 Nenagh to Limerick will operate as bus transfer departing at 07.30 calling at Birdhill, Castleconnell and Limerick Monday to Friday
16.55 will operate as a bus transfer between Limerick and Nenagh and will serve Castleconnell, Birdhill and Nenagh Monday to Friday
17.20 Limerick to Ballybrophy is cancelled Sunday
19.45 Ballybrophy/Limerick is cancelled Sunday

Deedsie

Any word on what works are being carried out on the line?

seekers

Looks like Covid has closed this and the Waterford lines too

Isambard

writing even larger writ on the wall

L1011

They reopened both lines after the previous COVID closure, when I was convinced they'd just be forgotten. So not much to suggest they won't resume this time.

seekers

They were saying that they would ask the NTA about an expansion of services and faster speeds last month

end of the road

and before the NTA was even a concept they could have expanded the services off their own back, but never bothered.

Paddico

Del.Monte wrote: »

Dicking about with the timetable has been tried and is pointless. The only thing that will save this line is a direct Dublin facing curve at Ballybrophy and increased line speeds. At the same time planned expansion of towns such as Nenagh and Roscrea wouldn't go amiss.

100% agreed with this, and keep Limerick Junction run as well.
Means passengers can go direct from Limerick to Portlaoise or Limerick to Thurles, without changes

91wx763

Paddico wrote: »

100% agreed with this, and keep Limerick Junction run as well.
Means passengers can go direct from Limerick to Portlaoise or Limerick to Thurles, without changes

Someone will be along shortly to spank you for agreeing with JD/DM !!!

They HATE when he's right, which is usually.

Deedsie

Does anyone know the extent of the works being carried out on the line at the moment? Line improvements is pretty vague.

Good sign that anything is being done I suppose.