And what about freight loading/unloading facilities in Foynes?
Slow news day article in the Limerick Post that doesn’t have much news other than the commissioning/opening of the line has slipped another six months:
https://www.limerickpost.ie/2025/11/13/fresh-progress-on-limerick-to-foynes-freight-line/
“The line is planned to come into operation in October 2026”
iE’s website still has it being ready in the first half of 2026
https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/about-us/iarnrod-eireann-projects-and-investments/limerick-to-foynes-freight-line
“Construction works on the line commenced in early 2023 and it is anticipated that the route will be commissioned for freight services in the first half of 2026.”
See the link which @marno21 posted above re SFPC tendering for “Main Works associated with the Rail Siding and Container yard within Foynes Port”
Main Works associated with the Rail Siding and Container yard within Foynes Port”
Bit odd given that Foynes is primarily a “bulk” port.
I dont think anyone has lifted a finger on the line since the contractor left site.
I posted this in the thread in Infrastructure so will repost here for anyone who didn't see it.
Foynes station is currently being rebuilt.
REBs were installed last month.
They're due to install GSMR towers along the line in December.
Just because you can't see it doesn't mean nothing is being done.
Interesting. Looks (to me at least) to be a basic enough job of preparing a yard adjacent the already constructed freight line to store containers ? The area will be distance away from the quay side and there doesn't appear to be a crane involved in loading / unloading containers. Is it some receiving yard to facilitate trucks to collect / dispatch containers. I don't see a particular maritime aspect to this - maybe I'm wrong?
Foynes hasn’t handled containers in any volumes in the past and there aren’t any concrete plans for it to become a major container port in the future (well not in the public domain anyway though I’m sure it’s somewhere in the SFPC peoples heads/dreams) There isn’t any real need for it to be a container port as there is adequate capacity elsewhere. And anyway the proposal doesn’t appear to stretch to modern container port infrastructure; sounds more like a low tech Victorian style operation of manually unloading containers with cranes/forklifts etc.
The only think I can think of is the Clarecastle remediation project. From memory there were 2,000 containers of contaminated soil to be exported from there to the continent (Belgium possibly) via Foynes for incineration. I believe that this is still ongoing and it could be that transferring this by rail would have some advantages (As well as some disadvantages). It’s also possible that it’s being done on a purely speculative/contingency basis, simply to be able to say that the option to unload containers is there if needed as part of the portfolio of marketing options. Or build it and they shall come nonsense. In any event it doesn’t appear to have anything to do with Foynes primary role as a Bulk port, just more of the make it up as you go along disconnected local empire thinking.
I’ll finish that selective quote off for you. Foynes station is currently being rebuilt to provide for Iarnód Éireann staff accommodation on site. It is not being rebuilt with the intention of it being a functioning station.
It wasn't a selective quote. No need to be so snarky.
Ostensibly, it will be for freight traffic, but there are hopes that when the Ryder Cup takes place at Adare Manor, passenger services will be able to operate to transport visitors, who may use the Port of Foynes to arrive in Ireland, across to Adare by rail.
Both the Mayor of Limerick and Jim Meade have spoken about a station in Adare for the Ryder cup and with talks of Cruise ships using Foynes for anchoring a rail link between the two would be feasible. You could even run a park and ride for anyone coming from North Kerry/West Limerick.
thks a fair explanation / analysis
Yeah the elusive zinc mine too!
Would be great if they re opened the charleville to ptrickwell line.
Direct Cork West coast service to galway!
Cork-Galway services would work better going via Limerick Junction. Especially when you consider the plans for Limerick-Limerick Junction doubling and Dublin-Cork/Limerick electrification.
Its time tho.
Has work stopped or slowed down on the line in recent months?
I note that works in and around the city such as by Carey’s Road, Janesboro/Rosbrien has seen little to no activity since the middle of the summer.
As I said above, signalling work is ongoing.
The track works are done. The signalling work is not going to be as visually obvious as track laying.
has the contractor pulled the signaling cables in the trench box's or are IR doing that themselves?
Adare temporary station to be up and running for October this year.
The signalling being built now, is it ETCS?
One would hope for future-proofing that it is ETCS.
What is the speed limit of trains on the line? I hope 160kph.
As it’s specified as a freight line it will not have ETCS.
Speed limit will reflect freight needs so probably 50-60mph
I assume the line is not yet connected to the network?
Jesus, do we ever learn, we're not exactly ambitious are we.
For what as far as rail tranfers are concerned this is the rail line to nowhere. There is a total population of about 10k have access to the line.
It’s a freight only line which doesn’t appear to have any customers/traffic lined up, so the maximum permitted speed should be more than adequate.
I still believe that if it weren't for the Ryder Cup, this wouldn't be happening at all. Construction of the temporary station in Adare is starting later in the year.
I don't understand "oassenfers".
Is it as low as 10k?
Patrickswell + Adare + Rathkeale + Askeaton + Foynes
I realise the line is a bit away from Rathkeale and Askeaton.
What about building stations in suburban Limerick? Raheen, the Crescent SC, etc.
Do you know that speed?
chances are it would eventually have happened as EU law requires all 10 t ports to be rail connected, and there would be no derogation available for foynes as it once had a rail connection and therefore it would be easy to reinstate one. wouldn't have happened at this time perhapse but it would have had to eventually.
You keep spouting this nonsense about TEN-T regulations forcing Foynes to have a rail connection. As you have been told on numerous the regulations are flexible and allow for derogation/deferral in various circumstances, on a case by case basis. There is no chance of the EU penalising Ireland for not building a rail connection that has no customers, no traffic and no demand.
Patrickswell + Adare + Rathkeale + Askeaton + Foynes = Population 5,016 per the 2016 census. Nothing close to the numbers that justify a useful regular heavy rail service. And almost negligible large employers located on the line. And no zoning/planning that suggests large housing developments adjacent to the line. By comparison the Cork/Cobh/Midleton line services a population close to 10 times this, with a number of large employment/commercial hubs nearby, and large land banks zoned for housing. A totally different proposition.
They do not we have been here before.
Patrickwell, Adare and Foynes are villages all.single street small urban locations. The station in Rathkeale is at least a couple of KM from the town. There will never be privaye housing build in or around Rathkeale as its commercially not viable. Askeaton is little better and the rail station is a KM from.thectown center. 10k is a very optimistic number.
Cresent shopping center is 3.5km fromnthe PO in Limerick, zcorbert station is a KM from the station. The bus journey is 10-12 minutes, maybe a other 5 minuts at the morning and evening commuting times.
Railway line is nowhere near Raheen, you would need a spur line
