Rail « Thurles Information

Tipperary Trucker Injured In Wales

Accident site in Wales

Calls for clearer warning signs come, following an accident involving a Tipperary truck driver who smashed into a railway bridge yesterday in Wales.

The lorry owned by Carey Glass International, latter based in Nenagh County Tipperary and Salford, Manchester, crashed just off Ffordd Penamser, one mile from Porthmadog at approximately 8.20am.

The driver was injured when the lorry got wedged under a 13ft 3ins high railway bridge. Local Firefighters removed the top canopy from the vehicle to release the lorry and clear the roadway.

Network Rail inspectors examined the bridge at 9.00am and reported same to be safe, leaving train services on the Cambrian Coast line unaffected by the incident.

Gwynedd residents were not surprised about this accident and have been expressing concerns about this low bridge now for a number of years.

Irish Rail Increase Prices In Thurles By Over 100%

Prices nationwide during April 2011 rose 3.2% higher than during April last year. This rise in personal commodity prices marks the 19th successive month of increases in inflation, with household bills being the main contributor to these increases.

Irish Rail increase ticket price by over 100%

Inflation in Ireland is at its highest level since October 2008, when inflation topped 4%. Phone, broadband and health costs rose by 4%, while electricity, gas and fuel prices were 11.8% higher and goods and services rose almost 9%.

But here in Thurles, Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) the national railway system, subsidised by the taxpayer, “beat the band,” by raising their on line train ticket prices from Thurles to Monasterevin by over 100% and not a murmur from our daily commuters. (I always knew there was no shortage of money in Thurles.)

From Thurles to Monasterevin on 16th January 2011 and prior, rail tickets booked on line cost €10 plus an extra €2 for using Laser Cards and €3 for using other major credit card. (Sure we haven’t paid the banks near enough money yet.)

On March 17th 2011 (St Patrick’s Day, Irelands National Holiday,) tickets booked on line increased in cost by 50% to €15, plus the afore mentioned charges for using Laser and Credit Cards.

On May 6th 2011 Irish Rail again (without even blushing), raised their on line booking prices for the same journey from Thurles to Monasterevin to €21.50, plus the same charges when you pay by Laser and Credit Card.

So lets do the sums:-
January 2011 Thurles to Monasterevin tickets booked on line cost €10.00 plus compulsory use of Laser card €2.00.
May 6th 2011 Thurles to Monasterevin tickets booked on line cost €21.50 plus compulsory use of Laser card €2.00.

The extra cost, to daily commuters using Irish Rail’s morning 6.10 am service, to get about their business, has now increased by €11 per day or €55 per working week, travelling one way, based on this daily fare.

One regular commuter has now choosen to stay in a Four Star En Suite Bed and breakfast in Monasterevin, which charges him just €35 and includes a full Irish Breakfast, (Not to mention an extra 1.5 hours in bed) rather than as he states ” Allow myself to be robbed in broad daylight by Irish Rail.”

Incidentally a trip from Thurles to Dublin is only €0.50 pence more expensive. These prices are obviously being charged to allay expenses for “Are you our Smartest Commuter?” Nice one Iarnród Éireann, to hell with service, the availability of broadband, a cup of coffee that doesn’t taste like slop, canteen staff that are discourteous, let’s promote getting our customers better dressed.

Still, now with TD’s using this service, people should really make a better effort with their “Makeup” in the morning.

Thurles.Info is sending a copy of this post to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Leo Varadkar T.D. and we will be posting a copy of the Ministers explanation, when same is received, (on the same day).

Bejesus isn’t email great.

Vandals Target Train Signalling Equipment

Irish Rail services between Heuston Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Limerick train stations are now operating almost as normal, following only minor delays, after signalling equipment was targeted by mindless vandalism overnight.

Irish Rail

There were delays of up to 45 minutes on these routes earlier, after vandals had caused a signaling fault at the Limerick and Thurles junction.

Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman, Jane Cregan stated that engineers were working to immediately rectify the situation.

Irish Rail are also warning of possible delays to Cork/Limerick/Tralee services from Monday 4th – Monday 11th April, due to essential alterations to Emly Level Crossing in the Limerick Junction/Charleville section of the network.

Iarnród Éireann regret any inconvenience this may cause, but warn that services may be delayed by 10 – 15 minutes.

Templemore Running For Best Railway Station Award

Templemore railway Station, near Thurles, in Co.Tipperary, has been included in the Munster areas selection for the coveted title of overall ‘Best Station.‘
The Iarnród Éireann ‘Best Station Awards’ reward excellence in customer facilities, cleanliness, innovation and customer service in the country’s 141 railway stations.
Iarnród Éireann Bosses stated: “We are delighted with the response from our customers to this competition. The Awards have been running now for 16 years and we think that it is fitting that ownership of the decision making process for them should go to our customers, who use the services.”

Blast from the past - Steam train leaves Templemore Station.

Iarnród Éireann have now just revealed the choosen finalists nationally, which are as follows!

Connacht: Claremorris, Dromod, Ballinasloe.
Leinster: Arklow, Gorey, Tullamore.
Munster: Killarney, Templemore, Cobh.
Major Station: Heuston, Dundalk, Cork.
DART: Pearse, Sandymount, Raheny.
Commuter: M3 Parkway, Donabate, Leixlip Louisa Bridge, Hazelhatch.

Voting was conducted through a text and email poll. Almost 5,000 people voted as part of the competition. Customers were asked to rate their station under the following criteria; Customer Information, Staff Appearance, Staff Helpfulness and Station Appearance.

The votes were cast in a text and online poll, during November of last year.

The final awards will be presented at a Gala ceremony at Iarnród Éireann’s training centre at Inchicore on a date which will be announced shortly.

Irish Rail – Bridge For Thurles Link Road Agreed

Thurles Chamber President Mr. Pat Hayes has welcomed the recent news that Irish Rail have given their final consent to the construction of a bridge to traverse the main Dublin – Cork railway line, which will facilitate the proposed link road between the Nenagh and Templemore roads out of Thurles town.

Mr Hayes stated:

President of Thurles Chamber Mr Pat Hayes

“This bridge when joined with the proposed new link road, the route of which is in the later phase of being finalised, would greatly help to alleviate the traffic problems currently affecting businesses in Thurles and which has driven shoppers on the outskirts of Thurles to other towns to transact their daily business.”

Mr Hayes stated that he had been given to understand that contractors had now been appointed to this bridge building project and work is expected to begin before the end of the current year.

Mr Hayes stated however that the link road project was expected to take until mid 2011 before being completed and he called on all public representatives from all political parties and the NRA to expedite progress on this project and on the long promised Thurles bypass.

Details of the finalised plans for the link road route is expected to go on public display within the coming weeks.