Here are Issues that will be raised at the meeting

Parking
Behind platform 2. Possibly reserved for 2 extra tracks so no structure should be placed, so a surface car park subject to planning permission is reasonable depending on ownership and accessibility. A shuttle bus service may be of some use .

Accessibility
Newbridge station was to be upgraded under Kildare Route project but this was scaled back and no upgrade is planned. Section M of the building regulations would ensure accessibility if the station was rebuilt. This issue was noted in the Platform 11 submission to the public inquiry with specific reference to parking facilities.
Note 25 % of all passengers have a mobility impairment of some kind, mothers with buggies, the elderly, someone with luggage etc its not just those in wheelchairs

The main Dublin platform is not accessible, it would require a new footbridge. Iarnrod Eireann have a standard design (eg Monerestevan) but that would require major reconstruction of the station to make it fit. Best bet here is to push for a general enhancement of the station to cope with the ever increasing numbers safe in the knowledge that IE by law will then have to make it accessible

Information
We are reliably informed (Steve Murphy) that electronic display panels similar to those on the DART and Northern line will be rolled out Dublin Cork, this should also mean auto announcements at the platform. Confirm Newbridge on list

Platform choice
The suburban platforms in Heuston are a shorter walk than say Connolly, there are good operational reasons, particularly platform 1 is only suitable for a 4 coach train and offers a route to Inchicore that does not interfere with incoming trains.

Platforms 6/7/8 have serious capacity constraints on operation owing to track layout, they can be handy in the morning as several arrivals after the other don't conflict. Note 18:35 to Thurles is P4, 18:46 Newbridge is P2 and 19:05 Galway is P3, 19:45 Carlow is P2, don't fall into a trap bringing this issue up

Verdict off peak something can be done but at peak times platform 1 has capacity advantages. Note one platform will be dedicated to Cork services from next year. A question of balance intercity passengers with luggage walking to P6/7/8 with suburban passengers having a short walk, its a question of balance there is no real winner

Station Safety
Request copy of safety statement for Newbridge station

Ticketing
The matter of the inability of through ticketing on machines have been brought to the attention of Steve Murphy in October. No progress. Same situation applies on the Connolly side. Should also be concerned that Newbridge Bray not possible either. Note staff in the DART area have been told not to issue through tickets though some are quite helpful in issuing them. Its not just Newbridge its company wide

Student issue, student could manual enter there id number on the touch screen or write there id number on the ticket, Dublin Bus use this approach to tickets sold at ticket agents

Revenue Protection
Exit inspections are the de-facto standard in fact exit turnstiles are being installed in the much busier DART stations. We do know IE caught 60 people on the morning they did a serious crack down which was directly related to fraud issue, there is a heavy mob who camp out at a random station each morning and evening who do good business in nabbing people but that is fairly low key 3 or 4 guys, the main delay is people fumbling for there wallets

You won't be seeing the serious heavy mob again, fare evasion is an issue and it is leading to a loss of revenue which in turn increases the fares on others so a proactive attempt to root out the evaders must be supported as lost revenue means higher ticket prices. A proactive revenue protection approach also doubles a s a security presence. On train checking is not feasible at times given the over crowding experienced its a tricky balance

Roof Heuston
Is a Heritage listed protected building. The roof structure is a listed item as such IE have no choice but to maintain it. No impact on services has a occurred as part of the works and the section so far finished is a dramatic improvement in the station interior something which should be welcomed. Cost was €13.5m and its a 18 month contract work started in late 2004 and looks to be ontime. We understand the structural integrity of the roof meant it needed serious urgent work.

The real question is why wasn't this done when the main rebuilding work took place ? Point on costs the rood had to be rebuilt, it is the oldest train shed in the country. Not much you can do really now

Queuing
New concourse in Heuston has made things a little simpler, there are safety reasons under certain conditions where passengers should not be on the platform, but it is applied in an inconsistent manner, of course if the trains arrived in good time for departure this would not be an issue, the queues are caused by the poor frequency and the eagerness to claim one of the few seats

Trains ServicesYou want your 5:30pm train, no probs It goes a little like this. (Note this is the only gap available). Run and extra arrow service departing Heuston at 17:35, i.e. just after the 17:30 to Limerick, calling Clondalkin, Hazelhatch and Sallins arriving Newbridge 18:10 (18:08 with 2 minutes allowance) The bay platform in Newbridge is clear from 18:03 to 18:43 . So the extra train now in Newbridge departs back to Heuston at 18:35 arriving 19:15 in time to operate the 19:45 which would run Monday to Saturday not just Saturday as currently

Result

17:35 Heuston Newbridge all stations bar Cherry Orchard
18:35 Newbridge Heuston all stations
19:45 Heuston Kildare all stations (currenlty Sat only)
20:47 Kildare Heuston all stations (currenlty Sat only)

Result is a win for everyone and the massive gap after 7pm is filled

Oh and we can find the rolling stock since we know IE have yet to commission one further new train (no. 29x29)

Also in the morning

6:05 Port Laoise Heuston (Portalington, Monasterevan, Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins, Hazelhatch) arrive 7:20

Off Peak
We have looked at this and there is potential a third railcar would be of use (see extra train) as that could fill the gaps

Sunday
We have a fully worked out Sunday service to Pearse worked out copy attached it fits perfectly in IE can't twist it. Don't forget about bank holidays which would be considered even more important

Park Tunnel
Note former CEO Joe Meagher went on record at the joint oireachtas committee stating that trains from Kildare and Newbridge would use the line

Note the real reason why the Park Tunnel won't be used is unions and rosters bear that in mind to force the position it is unacceptable to make the passenger suffer due to internal issues

New Trains
The Kildare line was allocated 2 29000 series 4 car railcars in December they are the newest in the fleet and range in age from 3 years to brand new and are fully and totally accessible in line with modern requirements. Correspondence with Mr Tom Devoy (General Manager DART) has brought about software changes to ensure automated displays and announcements work on these services. Port Laoise services are usual in the hands of stock from 1988. The really old steam heat stock is meant to be gone as of 28th Feb but delays with the new Cork trains means the 5:15/17:10 Athlone way still be a older trains

Introduction of new Cork Dublin Express sets will mean a substantial shift in rolling stock.

You should query maintenance standards. Note current maintenance is minimal as all coaches required, the fleet is overstretched. We know that but will IE admit it

Overcrowding
Compared to other lines (Maynooth in particular) overcrowding is not at safety critical level we are aware that safety systems on board will prevent the train running a red light

In a commuter domain you will have to stand, standard is not more than 20 minutes in UK, the question is standing at an acceptable level in appropriately designed rolling stock, standing in intericty type coaches is not acceptable.

Connections
As we understand the situation will improve dramatically in 2007. There will be an hourly service to Cork calling at only 3 stations enroute, Thurles is shown as the first stop out. These services depart on the hour. There will be a service to Limerick every second hour at roughly 30 minutes past the hour calling at most stations. To get to Cork you change at Thurles and board a train at the same platform 10 minutes later. The same happens in reverse. This is a massive improvement and offers consistent frequent connections. Regular every hour or every second hour services are planned for all lines so that should ensure consistent connections

Ask for this to be explained and confirmed

Critical point is not all trains can stop everywhere or else it would take forever to get anywhere, fewer stops mean shorter journeys but also means more trains services as rolling stock can cover more miles per day

Later Service
No brainer here should be a 11pm departure from Pearse no if not buts doable

Ticket Prices
Newbridge is 24.9 miles from Heuston, Bray is 14.5 miles from Pearse so they are not comparable
Fares from Newbridge and Kildare are equivalent to fares on other commuter lines at similar distance. The annual rail KIldare Dublin is the same prices as Drogheda Dublin, both 30 miles

Key question is Sallins which is charged intercity fares. It is 17.9 miles out of Dublin and is beyond the short home zone, note Ballbriggan is in the short hop zone despite being more than 20 miles out. That must be addressed first. Fares are a touchy subject and IE will avoid talking about it.

Information - Website
Have a look at this www.translink.co.uk

Every single delays and incident is reported online. IE should list all events where a passenger charter offense occurred, i.e. all trains more than 10 minutes late, all cancellations

In recent weeks the platform 11 forum has consistently had first report of major incidents

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