IARNRÓD ÉIREANN / IRISH RAIL

■ TRAFFIC & TRACTION:

A 201

Class loco and De Dietrich/Mk.3 train have been used for static crew training purposes each Tuesday morning at Dublin Connolly during the period under review, which made them unavailable for one round trip to Belfast – the 07.35 ex-Connolly and 10.35 return. The course, which started on February 22 was scheduled to run on successive Tuesdays until April 5 except for March 15, when the loco and train were available for ‘Enterprise’ duties. A five-car ICR DMU was transferred from Heuston, as required, to cover the affected services. The 07.35 ex-Connolly, 10.35 return on February 22 were worked by unit No 22x38. It had run empty from Heuston to Connolly after working the 19.20 Galway to Heuston on the 21st and returned empty to Heuston on the 22nd to work the 15.10 to Waterford. On March 1 unit No 22x38 was again used for the 07.35 and 10.35 services.

Signalling issues saw the 05.50 Tralee-Cork on February 24 delayed at Banteer, while the 09.05 Tralee-Mallow on the 26th started from Killarney, with a bus connection provided from Tralee. Extra capacity was provided on services to Dublin Heuston on February 27 to accommodate supporters travelling to the Ireland v Italy Six Nations

Rugby match at the Aviva stadium. An extra 08.15 Cork-Heuston was also scheduled to run.

DART DELAYS

DART services continued to be affected by reliability issues and incidents outside the railway company’s control during the period under review: On February 25 a bridge strike at around 11.00 saw services suspended between Pearse and Grand Canal Dock until the structure was declared safe. Later the same day the 18.34 Greystones-Malahide was terminated at Connolly because of a ‘technical issue’. The 14.50 MalahideBray on the 28th was cancelled, as were the 16.25 Bray-Malahide and 17.48 Malahide-Bray because of vandalism. The 08.15 Bray-Howth on March 4 was cancelled as the booked unit was unavailable.

A bridge strike between Clongriffin and Portmarnock at around 11.00 on March 7 saw services suspended until the structure was declared safe. A level crossing in the Sutton-Howth section was damaged by a road vehicle at around 11.30 on March 9. Services were suspended between the two stations until the crossing was made safe. The EMU working the 13.10 Malahide-Bray the same day was failed at Kilbarrack, the 17.40 Howth-Bray terminated at Connolly and the 19.05 Bray-Malahide was cancelled. The 07.20 Howth-Greystones on the 10th was failed at Salthill and the 08.54 exGreystones started from Connolly.

A bridge strike later the same day saw services suspended between Lansdowne Road and Grand Canal

Dock until the structure was declared safe. Belmond liveried GM No. 216 was failed at Templemore on March 18 while working the 10.25 Cork-Heuston service with a Mk.4 train. No. 223 ran light from Inchicore to assist. In the meantime, single line working (SLW) over the down line was introduced between Thurles and Lisduff (between Templemore and Ballybrophy). Passengers were transferred to the 11.25 Cork to Heuston service. The 12.25 and 13.25 ex-Cork ran wrong line during the period of disruption.

No. 223 hauled the complete train plus 216 to Heuston and normal operations resumed at around 17.00. No. 223 subsequently hauled No. 216 from Heuston to Inchicore.

■ FREIGHT & CE DEPARTMENT MOVEMENTS:

071 Class locomotives continue to dominate the BelviewBallina XPO container service. No. 072 worked a Ballina-bound train on February 23, which was loaded with nine boxes and eight tank containers. No. 072 was again in charge of the Ballina-bound working on March 2 when the 18-wagon consist was fully loaded. On March 9, No. 077 headed the Ballina-bound service. Locomotives noted working Tara Mines ore trains from Navan to Alexandra Road, North Wall during the period under review included Nos. 074, 082, 084 and 088. Locos used on Ballina-Dublin Port IWT container trains included Nos. 074, 077 and 226. Nos. 076 and 079 have been used on Westport/Ballina to Waterford timber trains. GM No. 081 was used for driver training at Connolly on March 3 while No. 216 was used on a driver refresher course on the 15th which included a visit to the Howth branch. No. 083 was noted at Portlaoise PW yard on March 8, positioning a train of imported rail that it had hauled from Belview.

■ NEWS IN BRIEF:

It was reported that Belmond Mk.3 coach Kerry (exIR No. 7137) was transferred from Inchicore to Assenta, Hamilton on March 9. The reconstruction of the up platform at Ennis has been completed and rebuilding of the down platform has started. A lobby group has been established in Killucan to co-ordinate a campaign to reopen the Sligo line station which was closed in 1963. A passing loop was however retained at Killucan, which is between Enfield (15.5 miles) and Mullingar (8.5 miles). A public consultation for the DART+ Coastal North electrification project was launched at Drogheda on February 24. An EMU was positioned at the station for the event.