NIR News 162

Irish Railway Record Society

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS

PERFORMANCE

In September, the General Consumer Council said the independent research showed that NIR had met both its reliability and punctuality targets, unlike Ulsterbus and Metro ( Belfast City buses). Staff helpfulness and passenger comfort also continue to be rated more favourably by passengers. The figures were obtained from research carried out between 3 April and 3 June 2006.

For the first quarter of 2006 the following results were achieved. On the Londonderry line, 92.6% of trains were within the 10-minute punctuality margin, compared with 78.4% in the previous year. The target was 90%. Reliability was 100%, up from 99.8%. The main reason for the improvement is that 98% of all Derry line trains are now operated by C3K trains. Passenger numbers now approach 1 million per annum, up from 700,000 several years ago. There were 120 incidents outside the control of NIR such as security alerts and vandalism where services were disrupted. The Portrush branch had 116 such incidents. These are excluded from the statistics.

Bangor line figures were 95.5% punctuality within a 5-minute margin, up from 90.4% the previous year. The target was 95%. Reliability was 99.5%, compared with a target of 99.2%. External incidents disrupted 287 services during Q1 2006.

Portadown line punctuality was 95.2%, up from 89%. The target was 95%. Reliability was 99.5%, compared with a target of 99.2%. External incidents disrupted 325 services during Q1 2006. With new trains and improved performance, there was a 20% increase in passenger numbers on the route compared with the previous year. The 08:00 Portadown-Belfast has been strengthened to a 6-car set as a result.

Larne line punctuality was 93.5%, compared with a target of 95% within 5 minutes. Reliability was 99.1% compared with a target of 99.2%. The results reflect the use of older 450-class and 80-class railcars on the line.

The ‘Annual Transport Statistics’ were published in September. During 2005-06 there were 7.7-million rail passenger journeys, which is an increase of 12% from 2004-05. Mr Keith Moffat, Chief Executive, Translink, said: ‘The figures show how NI Railways passengers are fully enjoying the benefits of the introduction of the new C3K trains with an increase of 12% on last year’s figures. However we need further funding to replace the remaining Class 450 trains still in operation and expand the fleet’.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SIGNALLING

Larne Line NIR and Larne Council have been in discussion about setting up a Park & Ride facility at Ballycarry, with the council providing the land and NIR developing the site. However, no funding is yet available.

Newry Since it was opened the station at Newry has seen substantial growth in passenger numbers and station facilities and car parking are now very inadequate. Investment to improve these facilities has now been approved.

Works will include the construction of a new purpose built railway station and park and ride facility to the east side of the existing line together with associated site works, new pedestrian bridge, canopies, extension and resurfacing of existing platforms, temporary station facilities, temporary access works and necessary enabling works to carry out such a contract. The building will be a steel-framed traditional construction with standing seam roofing, glazing and insulated cavity wall construction on traditional foundations. The contract will be carried out in phases and will involve working out-of-sequence and night time operations to facilitate the continued operational requirements of the existing railway station. The anticipated start date is April 2007, with completion estimated within eighteen months. A separate contract to provide a new road link will be let by the Department of Regional Development.

Procurement NIR sought tenders 'To assist with the delivery of the infrastructure programme of capital and maintenance works projects over the next three years, the Signalling Department wishes to short list a number of consultants who will be invited to tender for the provision of various services throughout this period under a Framework Agreement or on a project to project basis. The majority of projects in the programme range from £100,000 - £2,000,000’. Contracts were awarded to Mott MacDonald, Scott Wilson Railways, Westinghouse Rail Systems, Halcrow Group, First Engineering and Atkins.

Tenders were also sought ‘to assist with the delivery of the Infrastructure Capital Works programme over the next 3 years, the Project Control Department wishes to short list a number of consultants who will be invited to tender for the provision of Project Management and Cost Management Services throughout this period under a framework agreement or on a project by project basis’. Contracts were awarded to Hyder Consulting, Hornagold and Hills, CP3 Projects, Arup Belfast and Turner and Townsend.

Tenders were sought ‘to assist with the delivery of the Infrastructure programme of Capital and Maintenance works projects over the next 3 years - the Permanent Way department wishes to short list a number of consultants who will be invited to tender for the provision of various services throughout this period under a framework agreement or on a project by project basis’. Contracts were awarded to Arup, Atkins, Scott Wilson Railways, First Engineering, Hyder Consultancy Services and Mott MacDonald.

AWS/TPWS Jarvis Rail has been awarded a contract for the installation, testing and commissioning of Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) to approximately 50 signals throughout the NIR network. The contract value was £825,000.

By December, TPWS installation was 85% complete with 50% commissioned. The anticipated completion date is February 2007.

Sandite Power cars 8097+8099 have been converted to Sandite spreading units to aid adhesion during the leaf fall season. They commenced operations on Monday 18 September, with a regime of afternoon and nighttime running between Portadown, Bangor , Carrickfergus and Templepatrick.

Other provisions to improve adhesion included installing 6 sensor-operated fixed traction gel applicators at identified `hot spots' and a high-pressure water jetting train to wash contaminated rails and remove compressed debris from the railheads every weekday evening after the last service. The CAF 3000-class railcars have automatic sanding devices and the 450-class fleet has been fitted with driver-operated sand dispensing devices.

Worst affected is on the Bangor line at Cultra and Marino and also on the Larne line from Jordanstown to Greenisland.

LOCOMOTIVES AND ROLLING STOCK

111-Class GM 112 returned to NIR on Sunday 24 September, running light from Connolly to York Road . The overhaul on GM 111 was completed in late September.

3000-class (C3K) A programme of minor modifications is underway to improve reliability. These are to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, auxiliary power units, traction engines, train control systems and vehicle suspensions. The engine exhausts have been modified to reduce noise. Toilets have been modified to reduce problems from vandalism and the effluent tank vent valves have been modified to reduce toilet smells. The braking system has been modified to optimise the sanding and wheel-slip protection systems. As a result, the fleet shows increasing reliability month on month and this is reflected by increased passenger numbers.

80-class Decline of the active fleet continues. A 4-car set 8082 + two + 8098 was in use until late November. With the conversion of two power cars to Sandite use, there was only one 3-car set, 8069, in regular use in December (on the Larne line).

Mk IIf (Gatwick) Carriages The former Gatwick set returned to service on Monday 25 September when it commenced working a Monday-Friday 07:45 Portadown-Central calling at Lurgan, Moira, Lisburn, City Hospital and Botanic only. On the first day of operation the train was hauled by 112. The following day, 112 + 4 Mk IIf + Generator van worked the 12:30 Belfast-Dublin and 15:20 return.

On Tuesday 7 November, 112 and the Gatwick set worked the 16:10 Belfast-Dublin as far as Dundalk following earlier failure of the De Dietrich set on the 13:20 Dublin-Belfast. Passengers transferred to the repaired De Dietrich set at Dundalk .

Procurement In December, NIR sought contractors to convert the Mk IIf train to push-pull operation by converting a former BR driving trailer and modifying the 111-class GM locomotives. Work included overhaul and refurbishment of the driving trailer for a minimum 5 year operational life, fitting of AWS/TPWS and OTMR (On Train Monitoring and Recording equipment) to the driving trailer, supply and fitting of locomotive push-pull controls to GM locomotives, with options for fitting a generator set to the driving trailer and overhaul of bogies.

The remainder of this article appears in IRRS Journal number 162, published February 2007.