Irish rail fleet and infrastructure plans

Why only a passing loop at Sixmilebridge, but double track from imerick to Limerick Junction. There is no commuter potential on the line to LJ, only intercity which will never to more than a few trains per hour so a passing loop would suffice (if even that is needed) . The Ennis line can grow passenger numbers if frequency is increased, plus it is an intercity line, wouldn't it be better to invest more on that side of the city?

Incidentally, there is a thread for the Ennis line which is probably better suited for this discussion.

IMHO, every intercity line should be:

• double-track
• no level crossings
• 200kph max speed
• electrified

So the line from Limerick to LJ should be re-doubled, yes.

I hope there is the potential for 5 tph each way: 2tph to Dublin, 2tph to Cork, and 1tph to Waterford.

We need to build for growth and massive modal shift, we need to be ambitious.

Sorry, but what do you mean by "to the junction with the Galway line"? Do you mean Limerick to Athenry? There are more urgent investments than this.

The double track needs to be extended some distance beyond Killonan Junction at the very least, ideally as far as the loop at Dromkeen, as it is a very limiting factor when trying to schedule services on the Limerick/Limerick Junction section. The shuttles pass at Killonan Junction right now, with little or no margin for late running.

I've explained before that it's impossible to schedule closer connections from Cork in the mornings currently because the line is too congested.

There is a clear aspiration to run additional direct services between Limerick and Cork aside from the Limerick/Limerick Junction services connecting services, and the Limerick/Dublin direct services.

It's going to be difficult to path them without additional track capacity, and doubling Killonan to Dromkeen would make a lot of sense.

I know not the point of the thread but I agree wholeheartedly with having Waterford services carry on to Colbert, I always think this makes the most sense (with a pre-09:00 arrival at both ends of course…!)

Any plans in motion for removing them?

Given how long it's taken to get the Cork Level Crossing project over the line I'd like to see them starting planning/design now

I'm surprised that there are LC on the ECML.

Aren't there trains every five-ten mins?

It's also shocking that in 2024 there are any staffed LC in Ireland.

If a few LC were eliminated from the mainlines, could that kit be transferred to the branch lines to replace the manually operated LC?

Two automated LCs are scheduled to be outright closed on the Maynooth line with DART+; Blakestown and Barberstown.

I suspect that planning, delivery of power and data networks (for the CCTV) to the site and construction costs make up more than the cost of the barriers and CCTV kit itself, in the costs of doing an automated conversion.

They're also on relatively small roads; barriers to do a small L road won't be much use if its a wider road.

General question here for those in the know. I regularly use the commuter train to Maynooth out of Connolly. It feels solid as rock..never swaying in the least. Whereas when I use the intercity train to take me to Hazelhatch out of Houston..the train seems to sway all over the shop. Am I imagining the difference or is there a technical reason for the totally different ride?

it could be the track out of heuston that is the issue but i don't know.

swaying isn't something i have noticed on those trains but that doesn't mean something hasn't happened recently as i have not been about that direction for a while.

i do know the loco hauled trains used on the cork services have some issues but the one and only time i travelled on those carrages i didn't notice it mind you i seem to have got a really slow running train that day.

i'm sure someone will be on with an answer.

22K ?

The intercity train you take from Hazlehatch, also does some Maynooth services. It would be a good way to compare.
I’ve seen 29k commuter trains going through the phoenix park tunnel recently, but they won’t be letting passengers on to them!

So is it normal for these 22ks to sway like they do? Have any ever derailed ?

22k's have yaw dampers so should not sway, 29k's do not so are interesting particularly in corners

Out off Heuston its a 100mph railway, Maynooth is 70mph but rare to see that speed