Calls to scrap “shambles” of DART timetable

The controversy over changes to DART timetable changes has caused Northside politicians of all stripes to speak out on the issue.

The late summer change to DART timetables has wreaked havoc on commuters, specifically those along the coast.

Local Green Party TD and Minister Joe O’Brien has called for Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority to suspend the new timetables.

O’Brien said he raised concerns during the consultation process, as did other local residents, but he doesn’t believe that Irish Rail “appreciated the scale of the problem.”

“When the new timetables were published at the end of August it was clear there were major deficits,” he said.

“Again I raised these concerns at the highest level and was temporarily hopeful when I was informed that the new timetables would be looked at again. However it is clear that the changes have been largely cosmetic and in some respects the service is worse again.

 “At this stage, I think Irish Rail needs to realise that what has been done is unacceptable and that we should revert to the pre-August timetable which we know worked for people.”

He commented that Irish Rail “needs to go back to the drawing board.”

 “I think it is widely accepted that we want more people using trains and we want better train service, and while I think people are happy to adapt to minor changes what has been proposed is too far, especially in terms of the 30-minute gap in services during peak travel times.”

Labour TD Duncan Smith called the situation a “shambles” in the Dáil.

Smith went into specifics about the issues commuters face, saying that the timetable gaps have resulted in “major gaps” during peak time services.

“There are major gaps in the peak-time service, ranging from 26- to 27-minute gaps between 7.45 a.m. and 8.10 a.m. to 45- to 46-minute gaps between 8.25 a.m. and 9.05 a.m,” he noted.

“As anyone who uses public transport to go any distance knows, in the morning, at peak times especially, five-minute segments are huge.”

“Five-minute segments to get children ready for preschool and school and get yourself ready for work are massive. Due to the huge gaps in the peak-time schedule, people have to move their schedules in the morning earlier to catch an earlier train.”

“One benefit of catching an earlier train, if things were working properly, would be that might get you to work earlier, but this is not happening.”

Smith revealed he has received from residents that they are now arriving at their destinations later instead of earlier.

He pointed to blockages at Connolly Station and being delayed on the approach into the station.”

“I have been told of workers on warnings for punctuality, new college students missing first days and students going to school in the city missing classes due to this. Earlier trains are not delivering people earlier; they are actually delivering them later.”

Sinn Féin councillor Micheál Mac Donncha has urged Irish Rail to “think again” on the timetable issue.

Mac Donncha stated that in his written submission during the consultation process he raised concerns that commuters in Howth Junction and Donaghmede would be negatively impacted by the changes.

“Sacrificing a direct service on one line for a more frequent service on another, albeit more frequented line, should be avoided. It appears to me that Iarnród Éireann has not shown that adequate efforts were made to avoid this and to eliminate any necessity for a shuttle to and from Howth and an interchange at Howth Junction/Donaghmede,” he wrote in his submission. 

“I welcome the DART + Coastal North Project in so far as it will improve rail services with all the associated benefits for commuters, visitors, our economy and our environment. Investment in and development of public transport is vital and has widespread public support. That said, serious and significant problems remain in the proposed plan, specifically with regard to the Howth Branch and Howth Junction/Donaghmede station,” he said.

He noted that the Planning Report states “significant volumes of submissions raised objections to the proposed DART shuttle service proposed to enable DART frequency on the Northern Line to be maximised. Many of these submissions centred their objections around the need to interchange at Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station, a loss of direct services to Dublin City Centre from the Howth Peninsula during peak periods, and the knock-on effects on the surrounding road network associated with increased level crossing closure times.”

“It must be emphasised that these public concerns remain among communities served by Howth, Sutton, Bayside and Howth Junction/Donaghmede stations. The concerns have not been allayed in the period since the initial consultation.”

In his view, Mac Donncha noted “the plan does not strike a correct balance between the desirable objective of maximising frequency on the Northern line and of at least continuing a high standard of service on the Howth Branch.” 

A meeting, which was held on September 16 in Donaghmede, saw local residents raise their concerns with the issue.

The Donaghmede councillor commented, “it was very clear that there was no public awareness of the full implications of the plan for the station, what changes are to be made, what is to be demolished, what is to be constructed, the timeline and the impact on the surrounding area.”

Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless conceded that the disruption was “unacceptable,” but there have been some slight revisions to the timetable in the wake of public complaints.

He said that platforms five, six and seven, where DARTS go from at Connolly Station, will see improvements as part of the DART+ West scheme which is on the Maynooth line.

As part of the electrification process, improvements will be made to the platforms which Lawless said “should provide more flexibility.”

“These changes will be happening, they need to happen and are badly needed,” the Fianna Fáil TD said.

A post on the Dublin People Facebook page asked readers to share their experiences with the new timetable changes, with the responses being overwhelmingly negative.

Commuter Sharon Gilbert said “changes to from Drogheda to Pearse have caused havoc! Trains are late, I get on in Donabate, and you are lucky if you can even get in they are so packed. It’s a nightmare trying to get to work now; I don’t know what Irish Rail are thinking.”

Commentator Chris Singleton noted, “the issue is a lack of track space (caused in large part by a lack of investment over the years).”

“In most similarly sized European cities you typically have four tracks to play with – two for short-distance services, two for longer distance ones. All along the Dublin coast, you’re dealing with just two tracks (and just one south of Bray).”

“As soon as something goes wrong you get this traffic jam and all the delays that go with it; the only long term solution is to find somewhere for additional tracks,” he added.

If you have been having problems with the DART changes, we would love to hear from you. Email your experiences to [email protected]