Passengers who were wide awake this morning at Heuston Station were treated to a sneak peek of new Irish Rail intercity carriages which will boost passenger and bicycle carrying capacity.
One passenger said that 8-10 of the new carriages forming one train were sitting at a platform at the station.
A total of 41 of these carriages have to be tested ahead of entering service and will eventually be coupled to other existing carriages to form new train layouts on trains.
Earlier this year it was expected that the carriages would start entering service by the end of this month, it’s not clear if this timeline is still on track but the carriages are planned to be gradually put into use as checks are finalised.
These carriages are designed to fit the InterCity Railcars which service long-distance commuter routes to Longford, Portlaoise, and Dundalk, and InterCity services to Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Mayo, Tralee and Sligo.
Currently, these trains only have two spaces for bicycles and the bikes must be lifted up into racks which many people find awkward and inaccessible to use. The new carriages will include easy access from the side door directly into a wide open area which includes flip-down seats where bicycles can be stored.
The number of extra bicycle spaces per train will depend on the train configuration by service and route.
Back in June, Barry Kenny, a spokesperson for Irish Rail, explained that the new carriages would have two marked bicycle spaces with restraints and that a further 6 bicycles would be able to be carried in the multipurpose area but without restraints, so, the owners must stay with those bicycles.
Kenny said: “The multipurpose area has flip-up seats on both sides. Bicycle restraint straps are fitted on one side with floor markings. This allows two bicycles to be leaned against the flip-up seats and restrained by a seat belt-type strap. The intention is that these could be unattended.”
He added: “The design of the multipurpose area means bicycles can be stowed on either side, but should be attended where the restraints are not present. On certain journeys, it is envisaged that up to 6 bicycles could be carried in this area assuming that they were attended.”
A lot of Dart stations are a disaster when it comes to having to carry your bike up flights of stairs because the lift is broken.
High time Luas allowed bikes off peak.
They could easily allocate every last carriage in the flip up seats area for those with bikes.
Perhaps a chance of me being able to load my bakfiets onto the Waterford line?
I can only hope
No, I don’t think you’d fit a Bakfiets. You’d also have the struggle of getting it up and down, even if the carriage had the room.
The new carriages won’t begin to enter service until early next year.
Rail Users Ireland think there’s still some hope for it to be this side of the new year? https://x.com/RailUsersIe/status/1722912819446743245?s=20
I saw that alright. Just a few weeks ago the December date was said to be too ambitious, and January more likely. We’ll have to wait and see which is right, in a few weeks time.
Electric bikes are the future
I book in my Bike online on a regular basis from Enfield to Connelly and often the bike
rack is full so I am forced to stand in the Corridor with my bike and when I reach the station carry
the bike down the stairs No ramp for cycle access The bike parking in the station is pretty safebut the station overall is a S&&t heap