Foynes Line

Better a greenway built than some houses or buildings or farmers claiming ownership over disused rail lines

If IE have enough land in the holding along Foynes line then a greenway is a great way to protect their holding in future, not only is it a good amenity for the area but the lands surrounding the line are protected against any unwanted development.

If they had the sense to pave the old rail lines in the 50s and 60s instead of letting them be built on or farmed we would have far more options today

It really depends on whether the line, particularly the bridges, was initially built with double tracking in mind or not. If it was then adding a greenway may not be too much of an issue if correctly segregated. Otherwise it would require the bridges to be modified and that could be significant.

Indeed, with the GST the land was transferred to Limerick and Kerry County Council. That's not the case here so personally I can't see it happen.

No ones going to encroach on it when it's an active line. Indulge this local group and run the risk of them whining and mounting objections if their leisure facility is taken away, no I dont think IE will be up for that at all.

If the last 60 odd years have taught us anything, its that people will encroach on any undeveloped land, be it corridor for a future road, or land surrounding an active rail line. Local politics will trump long term planning as it has in the past, reserving extra land along rail lines is a totally sensible plan in the long term - but if there is no immediate viability or plans in motion to add a rail line/passing loop etc on that alignment then the pressure to develop the land instead will trump all else

Modify the bridges? As in demolish them and rebuild them wider?

Greenway brigade have no appreciation of the engineering complications and cost that adding in a greenway would involve. They think it is just an easy job of oh yeah we will stick on a greenway there while they are at it. There are huge implications that they cannot see.

No evidence of further work between Colbert Station and Dooradoyle

Any update folks, has construction started?

I had a feeling this would come in the next few days. It's a no brainer if they ever do passenger services in the future.

The biggest hospital in the region is also close by. They are already running a shuttle bus from Garryowen rugby to the hospital because of parking issues so a shuttle to the station would be easy.

Access at Limerick will be an issue. The Foynes line merges at Limerick Check facing away from the station so it would require a Killarney-style reverse. There used to be a direct curve from platform 4 to a bridge over Carey's Road but it was removed in the mid 70s after the North Kerry line closed.

I don't think the idea is to get people from Colbert to Raheen.

More to open up West Limerick as a more enticing place to live for people working in the industrial estate or hospital.

Well we are certainly not getting 100% perfection from our cars. All anyone ever seems to do is complain about their commute but yet many are hostile to other options.

I don't see why Limerick can't have the likes of Little Island or Oranmore.

Again I don't think the suggestion is Colbert to Raheen. That is well served as you say.

It would give West Limerick people 3 important destination options in the industrial estate, hospital (West Limerick I know from work has serious connectivity problems for access to care) and city centre. Obviously the issue with platform connection to Colbert needs to be solved as has been mentioned.

If you think a car is easier try drive to Adare or Foynes on a winters night.

Not sure what your asking.

Well there is no talk about rebuilding old lines to NCW or Kerry so I am talking about along the line that is currently being rebuilt to Foynes.

Wouldnt take much to reinstate that curve. All in Irish rail / government ownership afaik.

I think once the line is done the political pressure will be massive because people will just very very confused as to why a line was rebuilt for nothing*. We are talking about a place where people want a spur to Shannon so they won't put up with an actual working line doing nothing*

* Most people will have no clue it was to get Foynes some special EU rating or whatever.

forget about the car, cars are being kicked out of the city in the long term.

of course limerick's rail lines are useful, building them up and densifying around them will bring results.

because they may not be useful to some or might take a tad longer to get to industrial estates is not really a good argument as while it's not ideal, the world doesn't and can't revolve around those specific businesses if limerick is to be grown.

Regarding densification, there is a substantial landbank on the opposite of the motorway to the railway. Unlimited potential for quality high density housing.

On the flip side the proposed Moyross station offers no development potential.

Sorry , youre right , i thought the train went through the western side of the city ..

Do you have any details?

On some figures above

As the crow flies it is almost exactly 1 mile from the railway to Plassey. If you put a station in at the old Canal overbridge you have a 1.6 mile cycle over a pre-existing flat cycle/walkway (no cars) along the shannon beside the Black Bridge . This is well within commuting range and would allow Ennis and Galway users very close interchange.

Rebuild the Careys road overbridge and you'd be able to link in services from Patrickswell and points south on the one train.