Due to Engineering Works between Limerick and Ennis on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May, the following service alterations and amendments will take place:
I can't see anything specifically about a bridge in the engineering works notification on Irishrail but at a guess it's the road bridge at Hartigans Hill, Moyross.
What bridge replacement works are planned for this month?
Audio piece mentions Crusheen, Cratloe and Clarecastle for passing loops and Sixmilebridge for a platform extension.
It mentions Ballycar as a separate project progressing.
AAs much as Clarecastle is close to Ennis I think it's the combination of both that provide the answer. Target is modest too, 1 per hour
I'm wondering about how useful a passing loop at Clarecastle would be as its so close to Ennis.
No mention of Sixmilebridge in this either. One was proposed for there years ago but held uo until the signaling in limerick was upgraded.
Any chance of Ballycar?
https://www.clare.fm/news/20-increase-in-use-of-ennis-to-limerick-rail-service/
Some other details about where passing loops would be Sixmilebridge not included , but what they are looking at doing seems sensible as it involves using land they own to get a quicker result
I found this article today
https://clareherald.com/news/transport/significant-investment-in-limerick-to-galway-rail-services/?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawI1pClleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdiWkv2oRXEtYgyyQ4e4UDAg33NIzzuJk34tm-rrBrUGUpnDRcTuSX6Xfg_aem_w-h1JqBk7BrI-1CK3wEEIA
Are the any written reports on what was discussed at the rail forum? There was plenty of media about it before it happened, but I've heard nothing since.
I think that would be just about it. There used be one in Ballycar up until a good few years ago. All trace was removed when the line was relayed in the early 2000s
I presume this includes a passing loop in Sixmilebridge?
A lot of discussion on capacity enhancements for the Ennis line at the Limerick Rail forum last week
Diggers were in place at Clarecastle train station certainly
Anyone know where the works took place over the weekend?
Details of the developments planned for the Ennis line
https://www.clare.fm/news/irish-rail-unveils-plans-double-frequency-ennis-routes/#:~:text=Iarnr%C3%B3d%20Eireann%20has%20unveiled%20its,Ennis%20to%20Limerick%20rail%20line.
21st September
Due to Engineering Works between Limerick and Ennis on Saturday 21st September, the following service alterations and amendments will take place:
05:55 Limerick to Galway will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis, train departing at 06:49hrs from Ennis to Galway
08:40 Limerick to Ennis will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis
09:20 Limerick to Galway will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer departing at 09:10hrs from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis, train departing at 10:00hrs from Ennis to Galway
12:30 Limerick to Ennis will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis
14:20 Limerick to Galway will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer departing at 14:10hrs from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis, train departing at 15:02hrs from Ennis to Galway
16:30 Limerick to Ennis will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis
18:05 Limerick to Galway will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis, train departing at 19:12hrs from Ennis to Galway
19:50 Limerick to Galway will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis, train departing at 20:30hrs from Ennis to Galway
20:30 Limerick to Ennis will be bus transfers direct from Limerick to Ennis, second bus transfer from Limerick to Sixmilebridge and Ennis
06:50 Ennis to Limerick will be bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
06:15 Galway to Limerick will operate to Ennis only, bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
10:00 Ennis to Limerick will be bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
10:25 Galway to Limerick will operate to Ennis only, bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
13:25 Ennis to Limerick will be bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
13:45 Galway to Limerick will operate to Ennis only, bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
17:25 Ennis to Limerick will be bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
17:52 Galway to Limerick will operate to Ennis only, bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
21:10 Ennis to Limerick will be bus transfers direct from Ennis to Limerick, second bus transfer from Ennis to Sixmilebridge and Limerick
Fair enough 🙄
No bridge near the area that floods.
Is this to sort the flooding?
I don't think renewal equates to replacement.
I see thet there's a bridge replacement planned for ther Ennis to Limerick Line in September
Saturday 21st September
Limerick to Ennis
Bridge renewal
Limerick to Ennis, Limerick to Galway
You'd imagine a passing loop would have to form part of the plan. It would allow for an increase in services along the line as you could schedule a Limerick-bound train and Ennis-bound train to meet there and pass each other. Will be interesting to see location. I imagine it will be adjacent to proposed private hospital and housing.
Happy to see some progress here. Any idea if a passing loop will form part of station plan. Its a stop ill use a lot for commuting to work and games so happy to see it moving.
The public consultation on the moyross Station will be starting on 20th May
https://www.live95fm.ie/news/live95-news/next-step-welcomed-in-delivering-moyross-train-station/
Thanks, its news to me to hear of so many previous reports on the Ballycar flooding. I had understood that there was an interagency dispute as to who the lead agency to resolve this was to be but my understanding was that after a government meeting in 2022 the OPW was the nominated lead agency.
So now i take it that the interagency mexican standoff (IE vs OPW) is still going on?
You have to ask where are the adults to sort this out? surely thats why we elect politicians?It is frustrating that our elected representatives can't decide on a solution to what is quite a minor issue, but a major inconvenience for commuters.
Would say from these photos that the slight raising is the only reason its open now - its still very, very wet within the edges of the alignment!
From the report I linked to above;
Flooding of the railway track in the vicinity of Ballycar Lough is a long-standing problem. This section of the Ennis–Limerick line was flooded on a number of occasions in the past. The railway track at Ballycar Lough was flooded, most notably in the years of 1994, 1995, 2009 and 2014. According to Iarnrod Eireann, the railway track was flooded on approximately 14 occasions since 1930. This flooding has led to temporary closures of the railway line for a maximum period of 16 weeks during the 1994 and 2014 flooding events and 8 weeks during the November 2009 flooding event.
Limerick-Ennis reopened 1988.
the line from limerick through to mayo was in use really up until the late 90s early 2000s for freight and some enthusiast tours/specials operated . the limerick to ennis section had passenger services restored in i think 1994? limerick to ennis is part of the WRC and it was relayed at least in 2010. i'm not sure of the flooding issues but i would presume they did exist, not really an issue for steam trains but for the diesel locos it might have been depending on how high the water was as traction motors ETC would get flooded which is not good.
Without seeing the 2020 report it's difficult to comment on it but the 2015 report said that improving drainage at Ballycar will result in flooding elsewhere. POD's answer suggests that the 2020 report says put in better drainage and also do works to prevent the flooding elsewhere. That sounds like a lot of unnecessary works, essentially solving the problem in one location by moving it to another and then try solving that. Solving such drainage issues is notoriously difficult and unintended consequences are common. It would be interesting to see the environmental impacts assessment of that.
POD also said;
The primary benefits of the measures identified in the assessment are derived from the protection of Iarnród Éireann infrastructure and accordingly it is with Iarnród Éireann, as the key stakeholder, to lead and pursue the resolution of the railway line flooding problem and to secure funding for the proposed project.
That is obviously correct. Works wouldn't be required if there wasn't a rail line there. The problem is not that it floods, the problem is that the rail line is there. The solution needs to focus on the rail line. Moving the water only creates a bigger scope of works and greater chance that further works will be required if other issues manifest later.
As I said, raising the rail line can be done along with other works to further improve rail services. The problem with that is spending another €10m on the rail line less than two decades after it opened at a cost of €110m. IÉ are just trying to push the problem onto someone else.
I cannot find a link to the report publicily but it's outcome are mentioned within a reply given by Patrick O'Donovan here:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-11-28/71/
and again here in an article by Clare Echo
https://www.clareecho.ie/ballycar-flooding-likely-to-keep-ennis-to-limerick-rail-line-closed-for-weeks/
