IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL

■ DUBLIN AREA RAPID TRANSIT (DART):

The EMU working the

18.05 Bray-Malahide was failed at Dublin Connolly on August 24, while the 21.04 Greystones-Malahide started from Bray. A signalling problem in the Bray/Shankill area during the afternoon of August 25 caused disruption, while services in the Connolly area the following morning were disrupted because of signalling issues.

The EMU working the 15.10 Malahide-Bray on September 2 was failed at Sandycove. Services were delayed until the unit was removed. The unit working the

11.15 Greystones-Malahide was failed at Sydney Parade on the 5th, while services on both lines were temporarily suspended between Sandymount and Lansdowne Road during the morning of the 6th after Serpentine Avenue level crossing was damaged by a road vehicle.

The 16.30 Malahide-Greystones was cancelled on the 7th because no unit was available. “Technical issues” meant that the 07.00 Howth-Bray was cancelled on the 13th while the 08.10 Malahide-Bray started from Howth Junction. At 08.45 the same day IR stated that services were suspended between Grand Canal

Dock and Lansdowne Road because of a bridge strike. The 07.15 Bray-Howth was failed at Glenageary on the 15th, with services again disrupted until the unit was removed. The 08.41 HowthBray was also cancelled because no unit was available.

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION:

The IR logo has been applied to the front of each cab on retro liveried GM No. 071. This locomotive was used for driver training in the Dublin area on September 5, while GM No. 227 undertook the same duties on the 12th.

IWT container traffic continued between Dublin Port and Ballina during the period under review, with most trains again being fully loaded. Box containers, which incorporate a tank, have been used to augment standard tank containers because of demand. Locomotives used on

IWT duties included Nos. 076, 082, 086, 088 and 221. Locomotives used on timber trains between Ballina/ Westport and Waterford included

Nos. 077, 080 and 088. Noted on Tara Mines bulk ore trains between Navan and Dublin Alexandra Road were Nos. 071, 072, 083 and 086.

A bridge strike in the Newbridge area on August 26 caused disruption to services. The same day the 16.00 Dublin Heuston-Cork was terminated at Limerick Junction, while the

19.25 Cork-Heuston only ran as far as Mallow, where passengers were transferred to the 20.25 ex-Cork.

An extra 14.45 Galway-Heuston was booked to run on Sundays August 29 and September 5. A power failure on September 4 saw the 17.20 Galway-Heuston delayed at Woodlawn, while the 16.30 Heuston-Galway was delayed at Ballinasloe until the problem was resolved.

■ STATION OPENING:

A signalling problem affected services in the Athenry area during the morning of September 8. The Galway-Limerick service experienced delays of up to 90 minutes until the problem was resolved. Also on the 8th, three-car ICR DMU

No. 22x03 was used to clearance test the platforms at the new Pelletstown station on the Dublin-Maynooth line. Located between Broombridge and Ashtown stations, it was planned to be opened on September 26. The Dublin Heuston-Westport line and Manulla Junction-Ballina branch experienced extra passenger numbers on September 11 as many supporters travelled by rail to and from Heuston on the occasion of the Mayo v Tyrone football final at Croke Park. Departures of some timetabled trains from Heuston in the evening were deferred to facilitate return travel for supporters. The 17.30 Heuston-Galway was failed at Tullamore on the 11th, with passengers transferred to the next service.

The DMU working the 09.40 Maynooth-Pearse on the 13th was failed at Clonsilla and the passengers transferred to the 10.10 Maynooth-Connolly service.

■ NEWS:

A plan to close Irish Rail’s Inchicore Works in Dublin and redevelop the area for housing has been proposed by a government body, the Land Development Agency (LDA). The 73 acre site is located on the Dublin to

Cork mainline 1¾ miles from Heuston station. Redevelopment of other railway land in Dublin and Limerick for housing is also being investigated. Metal fencing has been erected at each end of the Barrow Bridge on the Rosslare Strand to Waterford line to prevent trespass onto the structure. Capacity on passenger trains was increased systemwide from 75% to 100% on and from September 1, but Covid-19 public safety measures continued to be enforced.

■ CROSS-BORDER:

Unavailability of two Mk.3 generator vans continued to affect the service level provided on the Belfast Lanyon Place to Dublin Connolly ‘Enterprise’ trains, with DMUs working on the route on a regular basis. The two loco-worked De Dietrich/Mk.3 trains (DBFO Nos. 9002 and 9003) were each powered by Nos. 231 and 228 respectively on August 24, while DMU No. 3006 was also active on the route. It worked the 09.30 ex-Connolly on the 26th – one car of the unit continues to sport ‘Trainbow’ NHS tribute yinyls.

ICR DMU No. 22x16 worked the 16.50 Connolly-Belfast, 20.05 return on September 6. Unit No. 3006 was again active on the route on September 8. Disruption was caused to services on the 7th and 9th because of bridge strikes between Laytown and Drogheda, and Dundalk and Newry, respectively. A Belfast-Connolly GAA footex on September 11 was worked by units Nos. 3002+3003. Belmond liveried IR GM No. 216 was stabled at York Road yard after arrival there with Mk.3 generator van No. 9608 on August 18 (see October issue). The locomotive remained at the yard and was noted still present on September 18.