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The Matchday Train Peculiarity

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What's a train? I recall my grandparents saying they seen one once, circa 1957 lol. My nearest train station is Dromod, c 100 kms away. Have to laugh when I read about Green party TDs in Dublin saying everyone should use public transport lol

points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet (Tyrone) - Posts: 291 - 28/06/2023 14:49:53    2490437

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Replying To points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet:  "What's a train? I recall my grandparents saying they seen one once, circa 1957 lol. My nearest train station is Dromod, c 100 kms away. Have to laugh when I read about Green party TDs in Dublin saying everyone should use public transport lol"
Yeah I'd pay good money to see Eamon Ryan try to cycle to work from somewhere like Glencolmcille into Killybegs...

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9750 - 28/06/2023 15:36:49    2490451

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah I'd pay good money to see Eamon Ryan try to cycle to work from somewhere like Glencolmcille into Killybegs..."
If you get a diesel bus to follow him you'd sell tickets for the 50 odd seats for huge money; )

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 28/06/2023 16:06:45    2490464

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah I'd pay good money to see Eamon Ryan try to cycle to work from somewhere like Glencolmcille into Killybegs..."
Make him take the scenic route!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 532 - 28/06/2023 17:44:40    2490490

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One of the first main outings for the railway service was when they had trains going from unionist towns to Belfast to see Queen Victoria.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 263 - 28/06/2023 18:53:11    2490504

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Replying To points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet:  "What's a train? I recall my grandparents saying they seen one once, circa 1957 lol. My nearest train station is Dromod, c 100 kms away. Have to laugh when I read about Green party TDs in Dublin saying everyone should use public transport lol"
Most people in rural Ireland require a car to get to work/ or reach places they need to go.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 28/06/2023 19:15:15    2490507

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Replying To points50swiththeargyllsonthewrongfeet:  "What's a train? I recall my grandparents saying they seen one once, circa 1957 lol. My nearest train station is Dromod, c 100 kms away. Have to laugh when I read about Green party TDs in Dublin saying everyone should use public transport lol"
What has the public transport situation in Tyrone got to do with TDs in Dublin?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2750 - 28/06/2023 19:46:23    2490513

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "There is a train line, which run behind Croke Park on the hill 16 side.
In theory,
It starts in Connolly station (or could start in the docklands),
Runs along north of the stadium,
Has a stop in Drumcondra
Goes under the Phoenix Park
Passes by Hueston Station before connecting with various trainlines from Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Carlow, Southern Roscommon and southern Westmeath.

Those counties of course cannot actually take a train to Drumcondra on the day of a match. They must get out at Hueston and find their own way across the city, while the trainlines beneath the Phoenix Park remains closed to them. It opens to commuter trains on a Monday morning but must not be used for the 12 days of the year that championship matches are on in Croker Park. Or even the two hours before the first match (12-2pm) and the two hours after the second match (18-20:00pm).

For the above 15 counties (noting the plight of the likes of Donegal), the infrastructure is in place, but the signal operator just can't be persuaded to work a few hours extra on a summer weekend.

I'm not one for conspiracies but maybe those counties listed, spend a lot of money at Hueston station, or along O Connell street.

But even if it was a financial decision (no way, I hear you say), surely such a spending spree would be better off maximised in Drumcondra itself, allowing it to naturally regenerate, rather than ensuring that the already well fed city centre gets even fatter on the days the culties arrive in with piles of cash.

God forbid, Croke Park itself got cute, and built a train station either end of it. Thus allowing all matchday trains pull directly into the stadium and spend their cash in the stadium itself, thus keeping the money within the GAA coffers entirely."
Railway lines run both ends of Croke Park but there's no space at the Hill 16 end to put a station... there's probably enough space on the Davin Stand / Canal End but what should have happened when Croke Park was redeveloped, was that the pitch be turned and moved towards St James's Ave and a proper station be built on the Canal End / Hill 16 end. Stadium design at the time didn't probably help either. But of course no joined up thinking or political will to do things right from a transport perspective. There's also a direct track (outbound) from Connolly that runs out to under the Davin Stand and continues on to Broombridge. I agree that trains from Heuston should run directly to Drumcondra on match day. It's pure laziness from Iarnród Éireann and they'll say it's too much hassle to put on special trains when there's scheduled services going to Connolly / Heuston and other connecting options.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1296 - 28/06/2023 22:03:15    2490530

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "What has the public transport situation in Tyrone got to do with TDs in Dublin?"
Think you are missing the point CC. Public transport is poor everywhere in rural Ireland. In fact as someone who moved to Wexford from Tyrone its definitely alot worse here in Wexford.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 29/06/2023 10:58:51    2490578

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Replying To Square_B:  "Railway lines run both ends of Croke Park but there's no space at the Hill 16 end to put a station... there's probably enough space on the Davin Stand / Canal End but what should have happened when Croke Park was redeveloped, was that the pitch be turned and moved towards St James's Ave and a proper station be built on the Canal End / Hill 16 end. Stadium design at the time didn't probably help either. But of course no joined up thinking or political will to do things right from a transport perspective. There's also a direct track (outbound) from Connolly that runs out to under the Davin Stand and continues on to Broombridge. I agree that trains from Heuston should run directly to Drumcondra on match day. It's pure laziness from Iarnród Éireann and they'll say it's too much hassle to put on special trains when there's scheduled services going to Connolly / Heuston and other connecting options."
There's a bit more than pure laziness preventing a train travelling from Heuston to Drumcondra, in fairness!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3491 - 29/06/2023 17:54:47    2490721

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "There's a bit more than pure laziness preventing a train travelling from Heuston to Drumcondra, in fairness!"
Flying trains?!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 30/06/2023 08:59:07    2490769

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There's a station at Drumcondra, next door to stadium.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2139 - 30/06/2023 09:54:58    2490780

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The main issue with trains is the overcrowding and general lack of them. Everyone flocks off and back on in Drumcondra and it's a general s***show. The public transport in Dublin is just about adequate but is absolutely shocking everywhere else, so can't imagine the hassle in having to come up from outside Dublin without driving. And if you do drive, there's nowhere to park haha, it's a nightmare.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 271 - 30/06/2023 10:04:09    2490783

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "There's a station at Drumcondra, next door to stadium."
Oh there is. And how would the train get there from Heuston?

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3491 - 30/06/2023 10:13:02    2490787

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I also think that the fact that there is no train from the airport into town is ridiculous as well.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9750 - 30/06/2023 10:13:35    2490788

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LohansRedHelmet and Canuck often take the train together.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 788 - 30/06/2023 10:20:48    2490790

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Trains have increased dramatically as a mode of transport for fans in limerick to matchs , all regular trains and special trains ( 8 trains in total ) were booked out in minutes for next Saturdays match against Galway going from Colbert station and the same story from charleville and limerick junction . It's as hard to get a train ticket match days as a match ticket in limerick in recent times and we only get brought to Heuston !

OpenStand (Limerick) - Posts: 739 - 30/06/2023 10:28:31    2490796

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The handiest way from Heuston Station is the Luas, the red line to Busáras Luas Stop and then a 20 minutes walk to Croke Park.

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 30/06/2023 11:32:06    2490813

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Replying To Square_B:  "Railway lines run both ends of Croke Park but there's no space at the Hill 16 end to put a station... there's probably enough space on the Davin Stand / Canal End but what should have happened when Croke Park was redeveloped, was that the pitch be turned and moved towards St James's Ave and a proper station be built on the Canal End / Hill 16 end. Stadium design at the time didn't probably help either. But of course no joined up thinking or political will to do things right from a transport perspective. There's also a direct track (outbound) from Connolly that runs out to under the Davin Stand and continues on to Broombridge. I agree that trains from Heuston should run directly to Drumcondra on match day. It's pure laziness from Iarnród Éireann and they'll say it's too much hassle to put on special trains when there's scheduled services going to Connolly / Heuston and other connecting options."
The Sligo/Maynooth rail line comes directly into Drumcondra station (Near McGraths pub) and then passes behind Hill 16 on to Connolly station. The other railway line at the Canal/David stand end, runs from Heuston, under the Pheonix Park and into the Docklands. The longterm plan is to Electrofy the Maynooth line and have much more frequent trains.
The original plan was to run Metro North under Drumcondra station in order to serve Croke Park. That plan has now changed and the proposed new metro line and station has now been moved up to the other end of Whitwoth Road (Glasnevin End) where the two railway lines previously mentioned will all meet up at Whitworth metro station. (Not possible at Drumcondra Station as the two lines are too far apart). One advantage would be that special match trains that would normally stop in heuston would continue under the Pheonix Park and match goers could exit at the Whitworth Metro Station (or the Docklands for the Cusack stand). Customers can then walk down the canal or Whitworth Road to Croke Park or perhaps wait for a train on the Maynooth line to bring them the 1/2 mile to Drumcondra Station.
There are also plans to electrofy the Dundalk line and have more frequent trains to Connolly station, which would help some fans from Northern counties.
If the metro line were to go ahead it would make a huge difference as match goers could park at various location before getting the metro to Whitworth station. Can't for the life of me understand why they have not built the metro line to the airport etc already. Hopefully it will be fast tracked in the budget with all the money we have.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 725 - 30/06/2023 11:33:05    2490814

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Replying To hyperache:  "The main issue with trains is the overcrowding and general lack of them. Everyone flocks off and back on in Drumcondra and it's a general s***show. The public transport in Dublin is just about adequate but is absolutely shocking everywhere else, so can't imagine the hassle in having to come up from outside Dublin without driving. And if you do drive, there's nowhere to park haha, it's a nightmare."
GAA should move all games to PUC!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 532 - 30/06/2023 17:23:30    2490886

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