Cross-border review of rail network officially launched

cgcsb · 13-06-2025 11:06AM

Even with the AISRR the Limerick to Athenry section won't be electrified so a future Cork- Galway service would have to be able to switch from overhead wires to diesel, I think IÉ are seeking exactly that in the new enterprise fleet but have been disappointed by the lack of a supplier willing to provide that. Same issue with Galway-Waterford. Although these would be great things to have for inter regional connectivity. They are quite far down the list of priorities right now though, we're about 100 years behind our peers in terms of railways.

breezy1985 · 13-06-2025 11:18AM

In my experience people who say the lack of a direct Limerick to Cork service is why they don't use the train are only using it as an excuse.

As a regular public transport user in Limerick I see stuff like this all the time. People want to make themselves feel better about their car use with various excuses and even when you solve their excuse for them you later find out they took the car anyway.

Economics101 · 13-06-2025 11:26AM

Platformnine: "Limerick-Ennis I believe is where the most time can be saved, as currently the 40 km section is limited to 80km/h and has several LCs with very slow speed restricitons (40-65km/h)."

Don't forget Ballycar, where flooding can close the line for weeks on end. Poinless investing millions sppeding things up if this mess is allowed to continue.

PlatformNine · 13-06-2025 04:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123539620#Comment_123539620

I am not suggesting to take sets from Dublin-Cork services. I don't believe there is any way a Cork-Limerick service could happen before more ICRs are freed from Enterprise and/or Dublin-HH services.

I could see the arguement being made for its impact on Limerick Jnc-Limerick services, as because of track capacity I imagine a Cork-Limerick service would be timed to replace a Limerick Jnc-Limerick which could leave room for error. But provided the sets are available (probably ~2030) I struggle to see how Cork-Limerick services would negatively impact Dublin-Cork services.

PlatformNine · 13-06-2025 04:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123539876#Comment_123539876

I think IÉ are seeking exactly that in the new enterprise fleet but have been disappointed by the lack of a supplier willing to provide that

The word from the NTA and IE is that they are now finalising the final business case with NIR, which is the last step before they can place the order. I am not too sure about how it works behind the scenes, but I am not sure they would be developing a final business case if they didn't have a manufacturer?

Actually in a recent meeting with the Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery, they mentioned some details about the new sets. From what I understand is its now confirmed they will be Diesel+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC on delivery and later converted to Battery+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC. I think we all suspected that but I don't believe it was confirmed before the meeting. I plan on sumarizing some of the key points in the relevent threads when the written minutes are released so I can give page numbers.

bk · 13-06-2025 05:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123540959#Comment_123540959

From what I understand is its now confirmed they will be Diesel+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC on delivery and later converted to Battery+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC.

Interesting, this might be an indication that they might get more in future for more then just the Northern line.

I assume the Northern line will be fully electrified, so then really no need for the battery, unless it is just needed for non electrified depot.

But that ability could be useful elsewhere on the network. For example direct Dublin to Limerick (or Limerick to Cork) trains could run on 25kv AC on the Cork line, but then switch to battery from Limerick to Limerick Junction if that section isn't electrified yet. Same concept for Galway etc.

I've always thought that whatever gets picked as the Enterprise replacement, would be in a strong position for the Mark 4 replacement too and longer term ICR replacement.

riddlinrussell · 13-06-2025 10:34PM

Yeah effectively rationalising the whole passenger fleet down to the new commuter DARTs and a new long distance unit, assuming neither of those turns out to be a catastrophe.

KrisW1001 · 14-06-2025 09:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123542000#Comment_123542000

Yes, this would be ideal. The internal splits between bi-mode, bemu, and pure emu within those two types still make things a little complex when assigning trains to services, but there's a huge saving in maintenance and training.

The loco hauled stock is coming close to end of life, or rather the locos are, so I could see Enterprise being used as a proving ground before replacing the Mk4 coaches with the same trains.

The inclusion of 25kV from the start on the new trains also signals that electrification of Drogheda-Belfast is happening sooner than we may have thought.. clearly someone expects to have 25kV OHLE in place before these trains need their midlife refurbishment.

LastCall · 14-06-2025 12:05PM

Any word on the 4North project? Was a contractor selected or a publication date suggested?

PlatformNine · 14-06-2025 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123541082#Comment_123541082

I would hope they are planning to acquire more sets for the rest of the network, but I am not sure if that is the reason they have picked the Battery+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC sets. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe NIR originally planned to electrify the line to the border in phases and/or were not going to electrify the entire line. However I would hope this has changed since the AISRR.

Of course, even if the point of Battery+25kV AC+ 1.5kV DC wasn't so they could order them for other services, like you say it does still make them very good for that.

namloc1980 · 14-06-2025 02:58PM

I travel Cork Limerick for work occasionally and the changing of trains at the Junction is a bit crap. I'd love a direct service so wouldn't have to pack up the laptop etc. but also because it would surely be faster. Given how close Cork and Limerick are the current time of 1hr 40 mins by train is crazy. It's incredibly slow really.

thosewhoknow · 14-06-2025 05:17PM

Would Drogheda Viaduct have room for OHLE? The central span doesn't have a lot of leeway for wires, but if rebuilding it was necessary it could provide a good excuse to make it wide enough for two tracks again. Or they just switch to diesel/battery for that section I suppose.

Geuze · 14-06-2025 06:43PM

The second and third largest cities in a country should have a direct train service between them.

Bsharp · 15-06-2025 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123543043#Comment_123543043

Arup has been working on this, was awarded before Christmas. They've all the incumbent knowledge from Dart+ Coastal so should be able to make good progress

spacetweek · 15-06-2025 01:56PM

People focusing only on the journey time savings for a direct cork to Limerick connection are forgetting about the friction. It’s much more attractive to have a single seat journey than to have to change trains. Additionally, limerick to Limerick Junction will be double tracked and have its level crossings removed and electrified all of which I assume will reduce the journey time for that section too.
A single seat and a journey time of an hour should be the goal.

Cross-border review of rail network officially launched

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