An idea from Ireland

[whole diary]

[grahame]

At Tralee, at Sligo, at Galway and at Limerick ... they seem to have an integrated transport system with the coach / bus station right beside the railway station, and the coaches / buses lined up and awaiting their passengers when the train arrives.   I'm giving a course in the west of Ireland for the next few days, and have taken advantage of being over here to take a look around and learn a bit about how the rail thing's working here.  Too much travelling to give you a travalogue without it descending into a mundate list - but some highlights and thoughts which no doubt I will pop in in due course.

Seated here in the bar of my hotel (here for 3 nights, working across the road) ... I can tell you of being up early to ride the Pheonix Park Tunnel this morning, and to talk of places with beautiful names such as Cherry Trees and Hazelhatch, and a beautifully air conditioned trained headed out west, followed by something that reseumbed an ovesized 150 without Aircon, in the heating sun of the late afternoon.   I could also tell you of the strap from my pack tearing off (not surprised - really heavy with a course for 15 delegate and a week's supplies for me), but that's moving away from "transport" into personal anecdotes.

Thought for today - run the buses to and from the station, at times that connect with the trains.  I would have thought it was common sense - and the Irish seem to make a sucess of a linked network. Wonder why the English don't do it as matter of routine!

[eightf48544]

Thought for today - run the buses to and from the station, at times that connect with the trains.  I would have thought it was common sense - and the Irish seem to make a sucess of a linked network. Wonder why the English don't do it as matter of routine!

Can't do that far too sensible. Don't forget buses compete with trains.

[Lee]

Interesting to note that Melksham has more trains on Mondays-Saturdays than Tralee ( http://www.irishrail.ie/media/05_dublin-tralee_valid_from_20.11.2016.pdf ) or Sligo ( http://www.irishrail.ie/media/07_dublin_-sligo.pdf )

[grahame]

Interesting to note that Melksham has more trains on Mondays-Saturdays than Tralee ( http://www.irishrail.ie/media/05_dublin-tralee_valid_from_20.11.2016.pdf ) or Sligo ( http://www.irishrail.ie/media/07_dublin_-sligo.pdf )

Utterly different passenger metrics though; they're interesting places to visit by train and to people-watch!