Transport « Thurles Information

Tipperary Trucker Injured In Wales

Accident site in Wales

Calls for clearer warning signs come, following an accident involving a Tipperary truck driver who smashed into a railway bridge yesterday in Wales.

The lorry owned by Carey Glass International, latter based in Nenagh County Tipperary and Salford, Manchester, crashed just off Ffordd Penamser, one mile from Porthmadog at approximately 8.20am.

The driver was injured when the lorry got wedged under a 13ft 3ins high railway bridge. Local Firefighters removed the top canopy from the vehicle to release the lorry and clear the roadway.

Network Rail inspectors examined the bridge at 9.00am and reported same to be safe, leaving train services on the Cambrian Coast line unaffected by the incident.

Gwynedd residents were not surprised about this accident and have been expressing concerns about this low bridge now for a number of years.

Irish Rail Increase Prices In Thurles By Over 100%

Prices nationwide during April 2011 rose 3.2% higher than during April last year. This rise in personal commodity prices marks the 19th successive month of increases in inflation, with household bills being the main contributor to these increases.

Irish Rail increase ticket price by over 100%

Inflation in Ireland is at its highest level since October 2008, when inflation topped 4%. Phone, broadband and health costs rose by 4%, while electricity, gas and fuel prices were 11.8% higher and goods and services rose almost 9%.

But here in Thurles, Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) the national railway system, subsidised by the taxpayer, “beat the band,” by raising their on line train ticket prices from Thurles to Monasterevin by over 100% and not a murmur from our daily commuters. (I always knew there was no shortage of money in Thurles.)

From Thurles to Monasterevin on 16th January 2011 and prior, rail tickets booked on line cost €10 plus an extra €2 for using Laser Cards and €3 for using other major credit card. (Sure we haven’t paid the banks near enough money yet.)

On March 17th 2011 (St Patrick’s Day, Irelands National Holiday,) tickets booked on line increased in cost by 50% to €15, plus the afore mentioned charges for using Laser and Credit Cards.

On May 6th 2011 Irish Rail again (without even blushing), raised their on line booking prices for the same journey from Thurles to Monasterevin to €21.50, plus the same charges when you pay by Laser and Credit Card.

So lets do the sums:-
January 2011 Thurles to Monasterevin tickets booked on line cost €10.00 plus compulsory use of Laser card €2.00.
May 6th 2011 Thurles to Monasterevin tickets booked on line cost €21.50 plus compulsory use of Laser card €2.00.

The extra cost, to daily commuters using Irish Rail’s morning 6.10 am service, to get about their business, has now increased by €11 per day or €55 per working week, travelling one way, based on this daily fare.

One regular commuter has now choosen to stay in a Four Star En Suite Bed and breakfast in Monasterevin, which charges him just €35 and includes a full Irish Breakfast, (Not to mention an extra 1.5 hours in bed) rather than as he states ” Allow myself to be robbed in broad daylight by Irish Rail.”

Incidentally a trip from Thurles to Dublin is only €0.50 pence more expensive. These prices are obviously being charged to allay expenses for “Are you our Smartest Commuter?” Nice one Iarnród Éireann, to hell with service, the availability of broadband, a cup of coffee that doesn’t taste like slop, canteen staff that are discourteous, let’s promote getting our customers better dressed.

Still, now with TD’s using this service, people should really make a better effort with their “Makeup” in the morning.

Thurles.Info is sending a copy of this post to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Leo Varadkar T.D. and we will be posting a copy of the Ministers explanation, when same is received, (on the same day).

Bejesus isn’t email great.

ESB Plan Fast-Charge Point For EV’s In Cashel

Ford Transit Electric Fleet Vans

Petroleum companies take note, it will take just 30 minutes, from next month, to charge your electric car in County Tipperary

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Ecars have just announced plans for the roll-out of Fast-Charge points to Irish service stations, which will allow drivers to ‘refuel’ their electric vehicles up to 80% of their storage capacity, for just €6.

Motor industry experts reckons electric vehicles (EV’s) are perfect for some fleets, where daily routes are distances are well known, so the likelihood is that businesses who distribute daily manufactured goods are likely to take advantage of EV’s initially.

Public transport will also be targeted, following the lead by Sweden, who has just introduced a brand new hybrid bus combining an electric/diesel model. This bus will be be charged for five to ten minutes at one end of its route between each run and these frequent fast charges it is hoped will allow the bus to run for a full 18 hours on electrical power alone.

ESB is committed to installing 30 fast-charging points across Ireland by the end of this year, including an estimate of 2,000 points in private homes.

One of the first charging points will be operational from next month in Wallers Lot in Cashel, here in Co Tipperary.These chargers are urgently needed to promote the future use of electric cars as an alternative to our traditional car.

With running costs for the electric vehicles just three cents per mile as opposed to 15 cents per mile for traditional car, once Fast-Charge points are provided the ESB predict over 6,000 electric vehicles will be on our roads by 2012, with 10pc of all vehicles powered by electricity by 2020.

Gardaí Seek High Speed Pursuit Training At Templemore

Garda Dave McMahon, a delegate at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual conference, said members want a new advanced course covering high-speed chases, to be implemented at the Garda College in Templemore, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Front-line Gardaí are seeking an end to high-speed car chases, until such time as they receive training in high speed driving.

Currently there is a standard two-week driving course for Garda recruits, but a backlog now means that many officers are currently driving without basic training, acting on the authority of Chief Superintendent grade. The (GRA) states officers fear risking their lives and the lives of others during dangerous pursuits of detected criminals.

Garda Dave McMahon, Tralee, Co Kerry stated, “Our concern is we are endangering ourselves, our passengers and obviously other road users.” Garda Officers are only permitted to travel at high speed serious and emergency cases, such as armed robberies and murder, using flashing blue lights and sirens.

Officers are particularly worried about being investigated by the independent Garda Ombudsman or being hauled before the courts for traffic violations.

The GRA, which represents rank and file officers, passed a motion at their recent conference in Westport, Co Mayo, demanding an end to fast car chases until training and regulations are reviewed.

Many of the Garda cars are not fast enough to catch up with some more powerful vehicles currently on our roads and the Garda Force are reporting that old Garda cars are being lost from their fleet at a rate of one a day and are not being replaced, due to cutbacks.

Vandals Target Train Signalling Equipment

Irish Rail services between Heuston Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Limerick train stations are now operating almost as normal, following only minor delays, after signalling equipment was targeted by mindless vandalism overnight.

Irish Rail

There were delays of up to 45 minutes on these routes earlier, after vandals had caused a signaling fault at the Limerick and Thurles junction.

Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman, Jane Cregan stated that engineers were working to immediately rectify the situation.

Irish Rail are also warning of possible delays to Cork/Limerick/Tralee services from Monday 4th – Monday 11th April, due to essential alterations to Emly Level Crossing in the Limerick Junction/Charleville section of the network.

Iarnród Éireann regret any inconvenience this may cause, but warn that services may be delayed by 10 – 15 minutes.