Threats to the future of the Dublin/Rosslare line

Del.Monte

Apart from the already well known threats i.e. Coastal erosion at Woodbrook nr.Bray, the cliff section between Bray and Greystones, more serious erosion just north of Greystones and now this, just north of Wicklow - literally feet away from the railway! Thoughts please.

Lots more pics here: https://www.facebook.com/Skycam-Ireland-575997309142272/photos_stream

Jamie2k9

Yes, some defense will be required there at some point. It's not that different to Dawlish in the UK a winter or two ago.

end of the road

well, there are the for-mentioned natural forces, there are potential "dark forces" and there are other factors such as dart frequencies and the motor way. plenty of threats to it from what i can see.

prinzeugen

They will probably do what they have done 2-3 times in the past on that stretch..

Move the line inland.

Although a breakwater may work to stop the scouring. (I saw it on BBC's Coast)

There may have to be some compulsory purchase orders in Wicklow town but its a simple enough thing to do.

They diverted a 2 mile section of line outside Edinburgh a few years back and only had to close the line for 3 days to connect the new bit up.

end of the road

prinzeugen wrote: »

They will probably do what they have done 2-3 times in the past on that stretch..

Move the line inland.

Although a breakwater may work to stop the scouring. (I saw it on BBC's Coast)

There may have to be some compulsory purchase orders in Wicklow town but its a simple enough thing to do.

could be done, but i'd say there is more chance of me becoming dictator of ireland tbh. lol

prinzeugen

end of the road wrote: »

could be done, but i'd say there is more chance of me becoming dictator of ireland tbh. lol

True.. Greystones to Wicklow easy.

Bray head is a different story. If that goes I can see them closing the line rather than tunneling a new bore.

Del.Monte

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Yes, some defense will be required there at some point. It's not that different to Dawlish in the UK a winter or two ago.

Well that's a fairly complacent attitude. One good storm and the line will be in the sea there.

loyatemu

there's a lot of rock armour between Greystones and Kilcoole, they'll have to do the same job further down the coast. With rising sea levels they'll probably have to move the line further inland at some point though, which will be a big job as the land is very marshy along that stretch.

MrMorooka

I don't see any Irish government ever paying for the large engineering works to move the line. The only time a line was moved in recent years was when it was in the way of a shiny new motorway.

Victor

It would seem the particular problem at that point is that the rock protection stops suddenly and there will be eddy currents at such a point.

end of the road

MrMorooka wrote: »

The only time a line was moved in recent years was when it was in the way of a shiny new motorway.

remind me which line that was.

Victor

Certainly there was a diversion on the approach to Kilkenny for the Ring Road. Swap between the layers here: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,652204,655887,11,0

Del.Monte

The North Kerry line at Rathkeale for the N21.

Del.Monte

Del.Monte wrote: »

The North Kerry line at Rathkeale for the N21.

Wasn't moved though. It was severed and lifted!

end of the road

all of that line was ripped up though wasn't it. wonder how much they got for the scrap, probably less then it cost to remove it all?

end of the road

end of the road wrote: »

all of that line was ripped up though wasn't it. wonder how much they got for the scrap, probably less then it cost to remove it all?

Yeah, the whole lot is gone now. The section from Rathkeale to the Kerry/Limerick border is now a greenway.

Jamie2k9

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0104/757653-news-in-brief/

Boulders in place to protect Wicklow rail line

Iarnród Éireann said it is confident that there is no threat to the rail line beside Murrough Road in south Wicklow now that it has placed boulders to protect a section of coast beside the line from further erosion.

A sea wall between the line and the sea collapsed recently following the winter storms and Iarnród Éireann has put 60 tonnes of boulders in place to protect the line.

But it said the boulders are temporary solution while it consults with Wicklow County Council on a more permanent way to protect the coastline and the rail line which runs just above.

AngryLips

Nobody uses the line anyway

end of the road

AngryLips wrote: »

Nobody uses the line anyway

that will be news to those who do use it.