DMU Empty Workings

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Redstarcastles) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:05:13 GMT

The land in Portlaoise was suitable for this development. The National Spatial Strategy gave Portlaoise a designation as an inland port and the location of the depot could be fast tracked (pardon the pun). I would guess that Inchicore was avoided as it would be very disruptive, most land from there to the County boundary is zoned residential, into Kildare, no suitable zoned land and environmental issues could be disruptive (remember the snails and the M7 motorway).

Suggested...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Railcargricer1) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:33:29 GMT

Ardvarna wrote:
Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their construction was drawn from the rail allocation attributed to the BMW regions using therefore BMW funds for what were intrinsically South and East needs.

I'm not sure I understand this point. Laois Traincare Depot now maintains all services on the Westport line bar a...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (MidlandDeltic) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:42 GMT

Platform10 wrote:

MidlandDeltic wrote:

UKTrainSpotter wrote:

Ardvarna wrote:
Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Platform10) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:54:36 GMT

Locating the depot at Portlaoise means that any of the sets that operate early morning services out of Portlaoise now do not work empty from Inchicore. It also means that additional early morning Portlaoise-Heuston services should operate in service before taking up their duties ex-Heuston. It also means that the sets that start in the morning from Westport, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Tralee that need servicing can operate in service from Heuston to Portlaoise and v.v. during the day...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (scaniaps) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:50:44 GMT

UKTrainSpotter wrote:
As I said earlier, I can't speak 100% about Portlaoise. However Drogheda is something I do know a thing or two about. I know several who work there that are local's and one of them who has particular skills was hired before the plant opened. The Drogheda depot project was a blank canvas because so many railcars had been bought in the previous years, and IE clearly needed a DMU-specific maintenance...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (gswr) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:42:33 GMT

UK Trainspotter: to answer your question: I would probably have put the Drogdeda depot where IE put it. I would have re-configured Inchicore to look after the 22Ks. (and let's not get that too confused with the new configuration of the Interconnector to begin at Inchicore, which raises all sorts of other issues)

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (UKTrainSpotter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:46:54 GMT

As I said earlier, I can't speak 100% about Portlaoise. However Drogheda is something I do know a thing or two about. I know several who work there that are local's and one of them who has particular skills was hired before the plant opened. The Drogheda depot project was a blank canvas because so many railcars had been bought in the previous years, and IE clearly needed a DMU-specific maintenance operation. Inchicore was still quite busy supporting 121's, 141's,181's,...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Platform10) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:18:35 GMT

MidlandDeltic wrote:

UKTrainSpotter wrote:

Ardvarna wrote:
Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their construction was drawn from the rail allocation attributed to the BMW regions using therefore...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Platform10) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:54 GMT

As I've said before, the 22K links have been changing quite a bit over the last year. However, when the new timetable does come (last estimate I heard is September) and the associated changes happen, then we should see the vast majority of the empty stock movements operate in service between Dublin and Portlaoise.

At that stage Portlaoise and intermediate stations should finally get a decent all day service.

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (MidlandDeltic) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:03:01 GMT

metrovick001 wrote:
IMO, Portlaoise is a good location for the reasons pointed out by UKtrainspotter but why on earth cant some of the frequent (and from my observations, more punctional than the advertised services) carry pax?
Surely a Heuston-PTCD working could stop at the down platform at P'laoise?? Even a semi-fast Heuston-Kildare-P'ton-P'laoise-Depot would make sense?

How I agree! Most of...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (MidlandDeltic) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:51:09 GMT

UKTrainSpotter wrote:

Ardvarna wrote:
Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their construction was drawn from the rail allocation attributed to the BMW regions using therefore BMW funds for what were intrinsically South and East needs.
And I'd wager that...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (UKTrainSpotter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:51:52 GMT

Ardvarna wrote:
Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their construction was drawn from the rail allocation attributed to the BMW regions using therefore BMW funds for what were intrinsically South and East needs.

And I'd wager that these depots are staffed by people who live quite close thereto - and therefore those jobs are...

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Ardvarna) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:44:05 GMT

Perhaps the point CR was making is that both locations were chosen because they were in the BMW region where the expenditure on their construction was drawn from the rail allocation attributed to the BMW regions using therefore BMW funds for what were intrinsically South and East needs.

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (metrovick001) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:28:24 GMT

IMO, Portlaoise is a good location for the reasons pointed out by UKtrainspotter but why on earth cant some of the frequent (and from my observations, more punctional than the advertised services) carry pax?
Surely a Heuston-PTCD working could stop at the down platform at P'laoise?? Even a semi-fast Heuston-Kildare-P'ton-P'laoise-Depot would make sense?

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Csalem) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:49:51 GMT

I think a certain ex-PD junior minister should be asked why the depot is where it is.

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (UKTrainSpotter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:26:18 GMT

GSWR,

I too thought that might have been the case with Inchicore, but looking at the latest plans for that site WRT the interconnector and Inchicore station, I think that land might be earmarked for somewhat better things.

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (gswr) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:21:25 GMT

Well at least Drogheda is where a lot of Commuter DMUs start their daily runs. I don't think it should give rise to very many empty workings. Portlaoise, which is primarily for Intercity stock which does not normally start or end the day newrby, is another matter. I presume it's another property bubble folly: they thought they could sell land at Inchicore for squillions to build thousands of high-priced apartments.

Re: DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (UKTrainSpotter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:19:26 GMT

Drogheda is an ideal location for the Commuter DMU fleet to be serviced. That there is no doubt, especially as Drogheda is probably the busiest DMU halt in the country (Dublin City Centre excepted).

I don't know much about the DMU depot in Portlaoise so I can't comment specifically on it. Having said that, I would inmagine that there is a signifiacnt justifcation for locating it where it is. Perhaps someone more familiar with its set up can comment on it.

That...

DMU Empty Workings

feeds@yuku.com (Connaught Ranger) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:46:25 GMT

On average at present there is approximately 10,000kms a week of empty DMU workings on Iarnrod Eireann.

That seems like quite a large empty operation that goes un-noticed...

One must ask the question is Portlaoise the best location for a servicing depot.

Like Drogeheda both are located on the eastern peripherey of the EU selected 'Border, Midland & Western Region'.....BMW funds looking east I'd say.....