National Flights

[L.O. Dublin S.C.]

Before anyone gets the wrong idea. I'm not talking about Ministers using Air Corps helicopters for personal use. I'm referring to flights from Dublin to airports in the west of the country (which is OK environmentally as there would be a number of passengers and not a few people).

I looked them up yesterday, to compare them to Train or Bus travel and noticed two things:

• Times

• Availability

There is one out of Dublin in the morning, grand. However, the one coming back is at four in the afternoon. What if your having a late meeting?

Also noticed Aer Lingus and Ryanair don't do all Irish airports (I was expecting that, though).

Is it just not financial viable to run national routes or can a plane not take off from the west of the country at night?

Any posts would be helpful.

[Factorem]

If we had a proper motorway to Cork/Galway/Limerick, we wouldn't need to be faffing around at airports.

[DCon]

If we had a proper motorway to Cork/Galway/Limerick, we wouldn't need to be faffing around at airports.

Or proper decent speed trains that do not stop in every small town along the route.

[mmrebel]

If we had a proper motorway to Cork/Galway/Limerick, we wouldn't need to be faffing around at airports.

The dublin cork is nearly finished once the Cullahill -Abbyleix section is finished you will do Cork -dublin in about 3hrs , the problem is getting out of Dublin the M50 is a joke.

[tempest]

...
Is it just not financial viable to run national routes or can a plane not take off from the west of the country at night?

In general no, it's not commercially viable. It costs millions annually to run an aircraft base at a small airport and even thought the numbers flying are relatively low the public expect flying to cost less that taking the train. With the exception of Cork only Kerry and possibly Galway could sustain a couple of commercial flights a day. The current Aer Arann/Ryanair regional flights are heavily subsidised by the government under the Public Service Obligation scheme. The government require morning and evening flights under the scheme but the airline can usually dictate the terms to suit their timetables and small airports can't afford to operate services like ATC late into the evening. If you search this forum you'll find a lot of negative comment on the value and viability of PSO.

[Jock_the_Waster]

Or proper decent speed trains that do not stop in every small town along the route.

Well, you will love this.

European rail infrastructure costs:

For the cost of Metro North, we could contract the French to build a TGV track of length equivalent

Dublin - Cork

Dublin - Galway

Dublin - Limerick

Think about that, we could shrink this Island with a high speed electric train network powered by windmills?

and all for the same price as Metro North

I have the figures, stats etc, too tired to put it here this evening, will do when energy levels are up.

[lapsedmethodist]

Well, you will love this.

European rail infrastructure costs:

For the cost of Metro North, we could contract the French to build a TGV track of length equivalent

Dublin - Cork

Dublin - Galway

Dublin - Limerick

Think about that, we could shrink this Island with a high speed electric train powered by windmills

and all for the same price as Metro North

I have the figures, stats etc, too tired to put it here this evening, will do when energy levels are up.

An interesting post. Until it got to the windmills! What is it with the Irish who can look at a wonderful train system - in this case - advocate its implimentation in this country, and throw a fuc* into the works !!
The French rail system works on NUCLEAR power ! Not some faffy windmill !

[DCon]

An interesting post. Until it got to the windmills! What is it with the Irish who can look at a wonderful train system - in this case - advocate its implimentation in this country, and throw a fuc* into the works !!
The French rail system works on NUCLEAR power ! Not some faffy windmill !

we either buy their nuclear energy or use coal or gas. No way we could trust any Irish government with implementing nuclear power here.

If FF were in power, the nuclear plant in the Simpson's would be the best we could hope for.

[Jock_the_Waster]

An interesting post. Until it got to the windmills! What is it with the Irish who can look at a wonderful train system - in this case - advocate its implimentation in this country, and throw a fuc* into the works !!
The French rail system works on NUCLEAR power ! Not some faffy windmill !

I have no issues with Nuclear power.

FF or our CS can have NOTHING to do with it however.

The consequences of their involvement would be catastrophic

[QuizMaster]

I read somewhere that 400km is the break-even point above which flying is quicker.

How long does it take to fly from Dublin to Galway?
Add up the following someone, I'm not ar$ed.
*Getting to Dublin airport
*Hanging around in Dublin Airport (checkin, security, boarding etc)
*Flight
*Getting out of Galway airport (baggage reclaim?)
*Getting from airport to Galway city.

I'd say it would be quicker to drive, or maybe even to take the bus.