Cork to Limerick rail improvements

The MN20 Project team hosted two public webinars. @Limerick74 posted details here https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919193/#Comment_118919193

I typed up my notes from tonight's webinar and they appear here https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118923792/#Comment_118923792

Rail got a brief mention. The following are my notes on the rail section of the discussion (extracted from my post in the MN20 Road thread)

Rail Related Questions

Why is option RS1 seven times cheaper than RS2a and RS2b? Because the only cost included is the provision of new rolling stock. The travel times and costings assume the existing single track from Kilronan Junction to Limerick Junction and the passing loop at Dromkeen remains as is. Double tracking is being actively looked at as part of LMATS and will likely happen at some point and would further improve travel times. 

Will Charleville Buttevant railway station reopen? Outside the MN20 team’s remit but it would make sense.  Suggested that those interested make representations (presumably to NTA/IE)

As I mentioned previously, The team are very keen to engage and would welcome questions, concerns, suggestions or feedback. They are willing to conduct physical, online or phone meetings. Appointments can me made using the contact form https://corklimerick.ie/contact/ or by emailing info@corklimerick.i

Charleville was a typo on my part, Buttevant was the subject of the question.

I’ve missed a detail somewhere along the way because something isn’t making sense…

The upgraded N/M20 will apparently enable an express bus to do the journey in 1h6m. The proposed new hourly rail service will take 1h20m. Bus tickets are usually cheaper than rail tickets. The railway station in Cork is further from the city centre than the bus station. Can someone explain why would anyone in their right mind take the train?

And for the 20 trains per day that aren’t at rush hour?

You asked a question, I answered it. I’m not justifying the expenditure….

It's likely in the future that running speeds on Dub to Cork, including Dublin to Limerick Junction will be greatly improved. Also Limerick to Limerick Junction will be double track which means more speed improvements. 1hr20 is with little or no investment

The urgency and drama of “read the room” is lost when it comes after a delay of 18 months. Regardless, I got the train to Dublin once in the last 10 years and vowed never again. Let’s ignore for a minute the overcrowding, the pissheads, the people sitting in your reserved seat, the infrequency of services at night time, and the stupidly high prices. You’re still stuck with the fact that the train doesn’t actually go to either Dublin city centre or Dublin Airport. It goes to Heuston and you need to take a Luas and/or bus to get to your final destination. So the total elapsed time and travel stress is much higher. I’ve taken the Aircoach to Dublin Airport many times and it is a comfortable, fast, low stress, and inexpensive experience. They even have a toilet! Adderall might help with your inability to remain seated for 3h.

Every Coach I have been on recently has had an out of order sign. I haven't been on a bus with a working toilet in years.

For me personally extra comfort vastly outweighs the extra time. Even going to Dublin airport from Limerick I get the train and then Aircoach from Heuston when possible.

Both have their uses though and not sure why it's being looked at as an either or situation.

I’ll try it out, thank you!

Answered your identical post here:

Just for fun I have to point out...it wouldn't even be new :D

The plan is for both I think.

Why would they bother? They've already decided to go ahead with the motorway and ignore the need for improved rail connections as part of the study into that project.

What improvements are needed to the track?

I would agree about the lack of information screens, but there are very clear and constantly repeated announcements made every time a train arrives at Limerick Junction about which platform to change to and there are very clear platform number signs throughout the station.

And further traffic through to Galway I'd imagine.

Galway Cork direct?

For max impact with public, and to drive modal shift, Cork Kent to Limerick needs to be 60 mins.

Would 60 mins be possible if all double-tracked, and all LC removed, and there were no stops?

What might be possible with doubled-track, no LC and three stops: Mallow, Charelville and LJ?

It is possible if the M20 feasibility study into a direct railway was taken seriously and not treated as window dressing.

very little passenger rail is economically viable, so a rail link between cork and limerick not being economically viable is unlikely to be the reason it isn't happening, and to be fair it's not an argument against it anyway, seeing as it's very likely that it would have the passenger numbers to justify it.

it's not the 1980s any more, rail is going to play a bigger and bigger part in the transport needs of the country going forward and that will be a mix of investment in the existing network, some reopenings where possible, the odd new line, and new services to different destinations on a mix of existing, reopened and new.