The extended wishlist regional and rural developments list makes interesting reading. The short term plans are not the most ambitious, but apart from the general 100mph speed restriction, which will not be achievable on much of the network without a lot of realignment, they essentially affirm plans that NIR and Iarnród Éireann already had. It also overlooks plans NIR would have had for European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) implementation over time. Little snippets which came up include that 125mph is the highest maximum speed which can be accommodated with conventional lineside signalling, although that overlooks the section of the East Coast Main Line which was equipped with flashing green signals some years ago to allow 140mph running. Catering or its lack is also raised – maybe if catering wasn’t at bar prices… Observations Comparisons are made with New Zealand, which has a similar population but is three times the size, making freight more commercially viable. Other things raised include freight charges, which are set (broadly) at cost, but which therefore have little hope of competing with roadfreight. Additional capacity Limerick Junction-Waterford. A new curve at Limerick Junction for Cork-Waterford trains (should really have been provided in 1967 when the Mallow-Waterford line closed).Waterford-south of Wexford (it’s called Rosslare but they also mention a direct connection such as the one from Felthouse Junction to Killinick Junction, closed in 1913).Athlone-Mullingar (alas poor Midland greenway).New single line Portadown-Armagh-Monaghan-Clones-Cavan-Mullingar (original line joined the Sligo line at Inny Junction, between Multyfarnham and Mostrim/Edgeworthstown).Double track and new stations Belfast-Antrim (but not to Ballymena, which was double track until 1990).New stations Derry-Coleraine and spur to Limavady (branch line closed 1955).New single line Derry-Letterkenny (new alignment apparently via St Johnstone).New 100mph electrified double line Portadown-Omagh-Derry (diversions needed at Omagh and Strabane).Double track Maynooth-Mullingar, Portarlington-Athlone, Mallow-Killarney, Athenry-Galway.New 125mph line Hazelhatch (end of current 4 track section) to Portarlington.New connection Adamstown (Cork line) to Maynooth (Sligo line) to allow Sligo line trains to access Heuston bypassing the Maynooth local services.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |