IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL

■ LOCOMOTIVES: Freight continued to operate during the period under review. 201 Class locomotives dominated IWT container traffic between Dublin Port and Ballina, and noted in use were Nos. 216, 218, 220, 223, 225 and 228. Ballina to Waterford timber traffic saw Nos. 078 and 082 in use. 071 Class locomotives noted on Tara Mines (Navan) to Dublin Alexandra Road bulk ore traffic were Nos. 080, 082, 083 and 086.

GM No. 083 was on permanent way duties in late January in connection with relaying of the down loop at Roscrea on the Nenagh branch, and it also worked a train of new rail from Belview to Portlaoise PW yard on January 30.

Retro-liveried GM No. 071 was active on PW duties in the Athenry area during early February when it powered a train of eight ballast hoppers. This locomotive was noted on February 16 working a Portarlington to Ballyhaunis ballast hopper train that was scheduled to discharge material in the Roscommon/Claremorris area.

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION:

The 14.20 Drogheda-Connolly was cancelled on January 21 after the booked DMU was failed. Two days later the 07.00 Heuston-Cork experienced reliability problems - as did the 10.25 Cork to Heuston, which was reported to have stopped at Templemore.

The 11.50 Tralee-Heuston and 12.15 Cork-Tralee services were delayed on the 24th after a level crossing between Mallow and Banteer was damaged.

On January 28 there were delays to services between Grand Canal Dock and Tara Street because of signalling problems, as were services in the Killester/Clontarf Road area on the 30th. Also on January 30, delays were experienced because of flooding on the coastal section between Blackrock and Booterstown. The water gradually receded and services were operating normally the next day.

On February 1, a signalling problem saw evening services suspended between Bray and Greystones. Intending passengers were advised to use local bus services until repairs were completed. Further disruption occurred on February 5 when a signal fault at Sandymount caused delays.

The Connolly area experienced signalling issues on February 7, with services delayed by around 35 minutes from 09.45 to later the same day. Passengers used parallel bus services and rail tickets were accepted.

Services on the Dublin-Cork mainline were suspended temporarily on February 12 after a bridge strike at Portlaoise. Signalling problems saw services suspended between Dalkey and Greystones on the 14th; rail tickets were valid on parallel bus services.

Also on the 14th, the 14.10 HeustonWaterford and 15.10 WaterfordHeuston were delayed after a level crossing in the Thomastown area was damaged by a road vehicle.

Services on the Dublin-Cork mainline were disrupted on the

17th after another bridge strike at Portlaoise.