Thats a great point and an obvious point to anybody who travels regularily on our trains and then travels on European railsOriginally Posted by pete
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
A serious apology would be by means of reducing ticket prices to their pre-January rates on the affected routes. No chance of course, there'll be another hefty increase after Christmas, regardless.
Still shutting down the Heuston Commuter network at weekends. Unbelievable.
Small mindedness of the highest order, any train driver who fails to carry out the duties of his roster should be fired, end of story.
These train drivers are unbelievable, they want more drivers but won't train them in.
In Cork its been unofficial dispute after unofficial dispute.
Its gone beyond a joke.
"Must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing."
http://worddok.blogspot.com
Just when you thought it was safe to get back on Irish Rail:
More talks are scheduled to take place next week.
Last edited by mypost; 31/07/2008 at 11:52 AM.
It's not train drivers in the latest dispute - it's the maintenance workers. And this time they have a case with the company trying to outsource their work, so they are protecting their jobs and terms and conditions of employment. The management in Munster must be a basket case that they keep having the issues.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
i.e. Just in case it might be done cheaper or more reliably...
The Model Club
Tell all the Bohs you know
that we've gone and won two-in-a-row
and it's not gonna be three
and it's not gonna be four
it's more likely to be 5-1.
No surprise the latest dispute is in Munster again. Irish rail Maintenance workers have guaranteed jobs for life so doesn't matter what work is contracted out. I presume they are looking for additional overtime work instead of hiring "outsiders". Sadly this isn't a public v private sector issue as I have seen it in a private company.
Have to laugh at the absurdity of this whole issue. Imagine if the whole economy run like this.
Not sure what you are basing this on - are you saying their unreliable? As surely you wouldn't be suggesting that cheapest is best when it comes to rail safety? Perhaps you're right - afterall no lessons to be learnt from the UK experience where the Hatfield and Potters Bar accidents were put down to poor maintenance by overstretched sub contractors, or even the Cumbria incident where the 4 workers were killed by a poorly maintained truck. What's a few deaths if you can save a bit of money by outsourcing?
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
Irish Rail is one of the safest modes of rail transport in Europe. There hasn't been a fatal crash since 1980.
Probably because they go about 20 miles an hour
No wonder "we're not there yet"
Exactly, So why follow a failed model of outsourcing the maintenance?
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
True. I remember a few years there was a stretch between Limerick junction & Mallow which was reduced to 30 mph for safety reasons.
I fail to see how existing staff working overtime is safer than outsiders working normal hours.
This is what I was alluding to..."Protecting their jobs and terms and conditions". Or alternatively that no-one else gets in on their work..
Yes indeedy, safety and rail service is uppermost in their minds
The Model Club
Tell all the Bohs you know
that we've gone and won two-in-a-row
and it's not gonna be three
and it's not gonna be four
it's more likely to be 5-1.
I'm getting the train to Limerick after work tonight, it leaves Dublin at 5.25 and won't get into Dublin til 7.15 (barring any Irish Rail **** ups), I genuinely don't understand how people can see the train taking longer than a car as a good service.
My worst Irish Rail experience happened on a Christmas Eve a few years ago. I was working in Cork at the time and after a few drinks with friends I caught the train up at about 3, hoping to meet some Limerickheads for a few drinks before closing time. So we got to the junction and were told we had to get off there and wait for the connection into Limerick (nothing new there, so fair enough). So on Christmas Eve I (and about 20 others) ended up waiting 2 hours for our connecting train because the Dublin train (that our connecting train was also due to take into Limerick) was delayed by an hour and half. This despite the journey in to Limerick and back out would have taken an hour in total
I think you're getting the wrong train.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
Not in the workers minds, their concerned with protecting their terms and conditions, as any worker would. However, the folly of outsourcing had been shown in the UK in the major incidents I outlined which were attributted to the standard and quality of work of the cheapest is best approach.
Most of the problems in Irish Rail aren't because of the unions, or the workers, it's to do with cronic underfunding. But it suits Government, and their appointee's in Management positions to hang it on the unions. How many cross country lines are two wide for example? How many lines rely on trains having to meet at specific points where they can pass? Is it the unions fault that Connolly and Heuston can't cope with the number of trains required on the routes. And even where there are IR issues, it takes two sides to cause the problems. If management follow agreed procedures then the unions don't really have a leg to stand on.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
The CART line is out of service again.
http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=350
That is improvement works & looking at the list some of that work can only be done when service is stopped. Better to stop it for a week than try to complete at weekends for months on end.
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