IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: On June 26 GM No. 075 was in charge of a Belview to Portlaoise PW yard train of imported rail. The load was heavier than normal because all of the new rail at Belview had to be removed. This was necessary as the line between Waterford and Belview is planned to be closed temporarily to facilitate redevelopment in the Waterford station area. Irish Rail reported a significant increase in passenger numbers during the period under review with travel at weekends especially popular on all routes, with the company informing intending passengers that prebooking continued to be essential for intercity travel because of ongoing capacity restrictions, which were eased from 50% to 75% in mid-July.

ICR DMU No. 22x38 worked the 07.35 Dublin Connolly-Belfast Lanyon Place and 10.35 return on June 30 because GM No. 231 + De Dietrich/ Mk.3 train (DBFO No. 9004) was being used for driver training in the Connolly area. The other DD/Mk.3 train in service on the Cross Border route (DBFO No. 9002) was powered by GM No. 207.

The 12.35 Belfast-Connolly on July 2 was reported to have been ‘full and standing' upon departure. NIR 3000 series DMUs of the Cross Border pool, Nos. 3001-6 continue to be extensively used on the route. Nos. 3004+3006 worked the 09.30 ex-Connolly on

July 3. No. 3006 was failed at Lanyon Place on the 5th after working the 15.20 ex-Connolly. Unit No. 3004 worked the 18.05 Belfast to Connolly and 20.50 return the same day and was noted working on the route on the 6th and 7th.

BRIDGE STRIKE

GMs Nos. 072, 077, 081 and 088 were active on the Tara Mines (Navan) to Dublin Alexandra Road bulk ore flow during the period under review. GM

No. 081 was hauled dead by GM

No. 088 from Drogheda to Inchicore via North Wall on July 7. Sunday, July 11 saw a total possession of the Drogheda end of Connolly station to facilitate engineering work. Alternative arrangements included the use of the single-track steeply graded line between Connolly and Newcomen Junction for Maynooth/Sligo services.

There was disruption to services on the Dublin to Belfast line during the afternoon of the 16th after a bridge strike at Laytown.

A prolonged spell of hot weather began during mid-July with daytime temperatures reaching 31°C on occasions. A points failure at

Cherryville Junction on the afternoon of the 17th saw services delayed on the Cork and Waterford lines.

Evening services between Cork and Cobh/Midleton on July 18 and 21 were cancelled because of signalling problems. No. 232 failed at Ballybrophy on the 19th while powering the 09.00 Heuston-Cork service. Passengers were transferred to the 10.00 HeustonCork and No. 232 and its Mk.4 train were returned to Heuston. No 075 then hauled No 232 to Inchicore for attention.

Also, on the 19th the unit working the 13.25 Heuston-Galway was failed at Kildare. Its passengers were transferred to the next Galway-bound train.

Sligo line services were disrupted during the morning of the 20th after the barriers at a level crossing at Edgeworthstown were damaged by a lorry. Later the same day services in the Galway/Athenry area were disrupted after a power outage. GM No. 217 was failed in the Limerick Junction area on July 21 while working the

07.00 Heuston-Cork. Assistance was forthcoming in the shape of No. 074 and this locomotive hauled No. 217and the Mk.4 train to Cork. No. 074 hauled No. 217 dead from Cork to Inchicore later the same day. On July 22 GM

No. 076 was noted at Waterford Sallypark yard with a loaded timber train that it had worked from Ballina.

■ DUBLIN AREA RAPID TRANSIT (DART): Alstom has been selected as the preferred supplier for a new fleet of up to 750 vehicles which will be delivered over a 10-year period. The units will be based on the Xtrapolis type design.