IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL
■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: Disruption to services in the Limerick area on August 4 was caused by signalling problems and a level crossing being damaged by a road vehicle. On August 5 the 15.00 Connolly-Sligo, worked by 4-car ICR DMU No. 22x15, failed between Maynooth and Kilcock. Assistance came from Maynooth in the shape of 4-car DMU No. 29x10 which removed the failed unit to Enfield, then hauled it to Connolly.
Also the same day, the evening peak hour service between Bray and Greystones was suspended after a bridge strike at Bray. The morning of the 6th saw Malahide- and Howth-bound DART services temporarily suspended because of OHLE issues in the Killester/Raheny area. The 15.25 CorkHeuston on August 9 was terminated at Portarlington and passengers transferred to another service. Evening peak services were disrupted across the Dublin Connolly area on the 10th because of signalling faults. These were also responsible for more disruption in the Connolly area on the 13th, when services were temporarily suspended.
■ BRIDGE STRIKES: A bridge strike at Portlaoise the same day saw services temporarily suspended, while another on the 14th between Grand Canal Dock and Lansdowne Road again caused disruption to the railway. It was planned to bustitute the following services on the 14th because of ‘operational issues': 16.30 Limerick-Ennis, 17.25 return; 16.55 Limerick-Ballybrophy, 19.05 return; 20.55 Limerick-Limerick Jct, 22.38 return. The 17.20 Limerick-Ballybrophy and 19.42 return were also to be bustituted. Inspection Car No. 723 ran between Rosslare Strand and Waterford on August 17.
This date also saw a consignment of new imported rail delivered by road to Portlaoise PW depot. ‘BR' van No. 3187 which is part of the locohauled Sperry train was unavailable for the latest systemwide tour. As a temporary measure Irish Rail are using RPSI ‘BR' van No. 3173. It was transferred in the consist of a 12.30 Inchicore to Portlaoise PW yard working on August 23, which was hauled by GM No. 082. No. 3173 was to be trialled with the Sperry train before being approved for the duty.
■ CROSS-BORDER: On July 31 the 13.20 Connolly-Lanyon Place, worked by GM No. 8209 and De Dietrich/Mk.3 train (DBFO No. 9003), struck cattle between Drogheda and Dundalk. The locomotive sustained some damage but was able to continue to Dundalk where passengers were transferred to another service. As a result, the 16.50 ex-Connolly and 20.05 return were worked by 2 x 3-car ICR DMU Nos. 22x03+22x06. This formation was also used on cross border duties the next day, August 1, while unit No. 22x44 was in use on the route on the 3rd.
GM No. 233 hauled DD/Mk.3 train (DBFO No. 9003) empty from Dublin to York Road on August 4 and re-entered revenue-earning traffic. No. 233 was subsequently replaced by No. 227 but 233 had replaced it by the 16th. The other DD/Mk.3 train (DBFO No. 9002) in service during early August was powered by GM No. 8208 but this loco was subsequently replaced by No. 228. NIR 3-car DMU No. 3004 was a regular performer on the route.
On August 6 Nos. 3004+3002 worked the 09.30 ex-Connolly and
18.05 ex-Lanyon Place. Nos. 3003+3006 worked the 12.35 ex-Lanyon Place on the 13th, while No. 3003 worked the service on the 17th. Mk.3 electric generator van (EGV) No. 9608 was hauled from Dublin's Inchicore Works to York Road by Belmond-liveried
No. 216 on August 18. Two out of the four EGVs that operate on the Dublin-Belfast ‘Enterprise' trains with De Dietrich coaches have recently been unavailable. No. 9608, which received a bodywork overhaul in Dublin will see further attention at York Road.
■ DEVELOPMENTS: A Government report which found that reopening the Athenry to Claremorris section of the Western Rail Corridor would cost €264 million and therefore not represent value for money has been challenged. A report, commissioned by lobby group West on Track and carried out by a transport specialist, has found that reinstating the single track line and associated work would cost €154 million. It also stated that rail would provide a realistic alternative to the car and provide another route for rail freight to and from Ballina.
Arup has been appointed to undertake an ‘All Island Strategic
Rail Review' on behalf of the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The study will investigate high speed rail, transfer of freight from road to rail and the possible reopening of secondary lines.
■ INFRASTRUCTURE: The locking of the Barrow Bridge at Waterford in the open position for shipping has been condemned by lobby group South East on Track. The group has received an assurance from the Government that the move will not affect the reopening of the Rosslare Strand to Waterford line, should this be recommended in the forthcoming rail review. The Shannon-Foynes Port Company has received a €2.3 million grant from the EU under its ‘Connecting Europe' scheme. The company may use some of the funding to investigate rail-based freight transport options.