Waterford Station closes after landslide!

cbl593h · 01-04-2014 11:12pm

Someone on the same Facebook posts alluded to made a reference to Dr Beeching of the UK, saying "I don't need my arm today, so I'll chop it off". I don't see many armless people in CIÉ/IÉ, just harmful ones.............

Will anything get put back ? Revisit this post in 12 months and surprise me.

It's sadly the end of useful railway operations in Waterford. Like Barnstaple and Fishguard in the UK and Rosslare and Galway and Tralee here (amongst many more) where useful railways recently used to go, they're all now left as useless dead end stubs through short term thinking.

end of the road · 01-04-2014 11:31pm

cbl593h wrote: »

Someone on the same Facebook posts alluded to made a reference to Dr Beeching of the UK, saying "I don't need my arm today, so I'll chop it off". I don't see many armless people in CIÉ/IÉ, just harmful ones.............

Will anything get put back ? Revisit this post in 12 months and surprise me.

It's sadly the end of useful railway operations in Waterford. Like Barnstaple and Fishguard in the UK and Rosslare and Galway and Tralee here (amongst many more) where useful railways recently used to go, they're all now left as useless dead end stubs through short term thinking.

and i'm sure more will be stolen from the people for some reason (seeing as everyone realized the likes of marples beeching and possibly andrews had interests in road haulage and all 3 couldn't care a less about the viability of the railway) . the difference is the UK are where possible undoing the mistakes, ireland, well you know the rest

Victor · 01-04-2014 11:38pm

cbl593h wrote: »

And that was a party political broadcast on behalf of__________ (insert as applicable)............:mad:

Play nice

Moderator

Jamie2k9 · 10-05-2014 7:28pm

Was talking to a staff member earlier today and was told that they main platform will hopefully reopen however no time line is currently known.

From looking at the signalling works taking place it appears that 3 lines will be operated (or available for use) into the station.

1 - Bay Platform(s) (if second bay is reconnected)
2 - Main platform
3 - Beside Main platform line

The crossover half way down main platform has being taken out however looks like it may be a replacement and they have signalling still in place. It was never used so not really necessary either way.

The station yard doesn't look like it will lose much if anything, there will be around 6 sidings and that will increase once the last 2 coaches of the Mark 3s are gone however I suspect they may be removed as they are not needed and the lines don't look in great condition.

John Denver · 12-05-2014 7:10pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Was talking to a staff member earlier today and was told that they main platform will hopefully reopen however no time line is currently known.

From looking at the signalling works taking place it appears that 3 lines will be operated (or available for use) into the station.

1 - Bay Platform(s) (if second bay is reconnected)
2 - Main platform
3 - Beside Main platform line

The crossover half way down main platform has being taken out however looks like it may be a replacement and they have signalling still in place. It was never used so not really necessary either way.

The station yard doesn't look like it will lose much if anything, there will be around 6 sidings and that will increase once the last 2 coaches of the Mark 3s are gone however I suspect they may be removed as they are not needed and the lines don't look in great condition.

The second bay platform (the one closest to the the car park) cannot be used for passenger traffic as the platform on that bay does not have the correct paving and can only be used as a storage siding.

Jamie2k9 · 12-05-2014 9:55pm

John Denver wrote: »

The second bay platform (the one closest to the the car park) cannot be used for passenger traffic as the platform on that bay does not have the correct paving and can only be used as a storage siding.

It was always used before the problems. The 07.20 to Limerick J and 20.20 arrival used it, however as you say it primarily used for storage of trains.

Mind you those trains probably had no passengers on them anyway!

Jamie2k9 · 01-11-2014 11:50pm

Some movements on the main platform situation currently taking place. Possibly building some defense along the rock face. Its just the main running line at the platform currently in place.

I overheard but unconfirmed the main signal box structure may be moved slightly away from the rock. They have dug up the platform beside it. Assume the structure beside the rock isn't very secure.

man98 · 02-11-2014 2:03am

I've heard very loud talk that they plan on moving the station soon...

Jimbo1977 · 29-11-2014 6:41pm

Platform extension on 5 is started now. No plans to move the station despite the various reports.

91wx763 · 21-03-2017 11:27am

man98 wrote: »

I've heard very loud talk that they plan on moving the station soon...

Announced today a €300 million development of North Quays and Michael Street Waterford including the resiting of the station to the location of the former East Cabin with a pedestrian footbridge potentially including a light rail to the Clock Tower. http://www.wlrfm.com/news/local/106906-saudi-arabias-largest-operator-of-shopping-malls-expresses-interest-in-two-sites-in-waterford.html

Del.Monte · 21-03-2017 11:45am

91wx763 wrote: »

Announced today a €300 million development of North Quays and Michael Street Waterford including the resiting of the station to the location of the former East Cabin with a pedestrian footbridge potentially including a light rail to the Clock Tower. http://www.wlrfm.com/news/local/106906-saudi-arabias-largest-operator-of-shopping-malls-expresses-interest-in-two-sites-in-waterford.html

Can't see the news item.

jelutong · 21-03-2017 12:03pm

Waterford Whispers??

Isambard · 21-03-2017 2:48pm

expression of interest and the announcement of such a scheme are not the same thing

ClovenHoof · 21-03-2017 8:09pm

100% legit. Station being moved into giant shopping centre.

end of the road · 21-03-2017 8:24pm

ClovenHoof wrote: »

100% legit. Station being moved into giant shopping centre.

correct. there will be no trains, no track, no platforms though.

L1011 · 21-03-2017 9:51pm

ClovenHoof wrote: »

100% legit. Station being moved into giant shopping centre.

Did someone go to Utrecht before the rebuild and somehow think it was a good idea?

Jamie2k9 · 22-03-2017 1:34am

I would be confident it will go ahead, however it will be Goverment funding of 60-70 million that will be required to fund the station, new footbridge to the bus station and other infrastructural developments I can't see contracts been agreed to fully fund such developments.

Jamie2k9 · 28-08-2017 5:29pm

Waterford City and County Council submitted an application for €61.5 million in State funding to develop infrastructure on the north quays as part of a Saudi investment deal.

The proposal outlines plans for an Integrated Transport Hub i.e the new train station location mainly. Some detail in the below link.

http://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/media/planning/TransformingWaterfordReport2017.pdf

ClovenHoof · 28-08-2017 7:18pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Waterford City and County Council submitted an application for €61.5 million in State funding to develop infrastructure on the north quays as part of a Saudi investment deal.

The proposal outlines plans for an Integrated Transport Hub i.e the new train station location mainly. Some detail in the below link.

http://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/media/planning/TransformingWaterfordReport2017.pdf

That's an excellent plan. The station is in a useless location. The move is a wim win.

tabbey · 28-08-2017 7:33pm

ClovenHoof wrote: »

That's an excellent plan. The station is in a useless location. The move is a wim win.

The present station is directly opposite the Redmond/Rice bridge. Short of building a rail bridge across the Suir, it is the closest possible location to the city centre.

The proposed transport interchange hub on the North Quay sounds good in principle, but unless it is accompanied by a new bridge to the centre, it would be a much longer walk.

The document mentions a new bridge as "proposed" and "future", it is not part of the core plan.

Spanish Eyes · 28-08-2017 7:37pm

I hope this is not a calendar fail for April 1st!

Assuming it is legit, with this and the Deise Greenway Waterford rocks.

And I have no ties to the county, I just like it when I visit. It is a lovely spot. A hidden gem that may be less hidden in the future.

Jamie2k9 · 28-08-2017 7:46pm

tabbey wrote: »

The present station is directly opposite the Redmond/Rice bridge. Short of building a rail bridge across the Suir, it is the closest possible location to the city centre.

The proposed transport interchange hub on the North Quay sounds good in principle, but unless it is accompanied by a new bridge to the centre, it would be a much longer walk.

The document mentions a new bridge as "proposed" and "future", it is not part of the core plan.

Pedestrian bridge from there to current bus station area, the other one is more longer term and a road crossing.

I hope this is not a calendar fail for April 1st!

Assuming it is legit, with this and the Deise Greenway Waterford rocks.

And I have no ties to the county, I just like it when I visit. It is a lovely spot. A hidden gem that may be less hidden in the future.

The project on N Quays has been years in the working, they have been clearing various area's in the last 2 years while the investment was announced earlier this year. CPO's were issued this month, council control the land but don't own it yet but expect it to run smoothly.

jelutong · 28-08-2017 8:09pm

Are the derelict houses owned by the Congreve Estate included in the CPO?

Del.Monte · 28-08-2017 9:46pm

Well, something needs to be done with the railway at Waterford, but the cynic in me thinks that CIE will use this as a way to make future reopening to Rosslare even more unlikely. I don't know how but they will come up with something.

end of the road · 28-08-2017 10:57pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

Well, something needs to be done with the railway at Waterford, but the cynic in me thinks that CIE will use this as a way to make future reopening to Rosslare even more unlikely. I don't know how but they will come up with something.

they will dispatch the line to limerick while they are at it as well.

ClovenHoof · 29-08-2017 12:50am

Del.Monte wrote: »

Well, something needs to be done with the railway at Waterford, but the cynic in me thinks that CIE will use this as a way to make future reopening to Rosslare even more unlikely. I don't know how but they will come up with something.

The line to rosslare is dead and history. That will never reopen.

Remember the insane save the line group a few years back? Their entire strategy was trainspotters posting photos of trains and a bizarre ferry day out to Fishguard. They also did a West on Track and told "them from foreign" who wanted to help to stay out of the parish.

If you do not have a solid case to reopen then you have nothing.

end of the road · 29-08-2017 1:29am

ClovenHoof wrote: »

The line to rosslare is dead and history. That will never reopen.

indeed but no harm in raising the issue of access to it from any relocation of the station anyway. same will be done for limerick junction to waterford by any interested stakeholders i should hope. mind you by the time the station is relocated the lot to dublin may be shut and lifted anyway.

ClovenHoof wrote: »

Remember the insane save the line group a few years back? Their entire strategy was trainspotters posting photos of trains and a bizarre ferry day out to Fishguard.

to be fair that wasn't their strategy. there was a lot of behind the sceenes work, but it was always going to be an uphill battle which never would be won.
the couple of people posting pics and talking about days out in fishgard were only 1 or 2 people and they weren't actually part of the group who were working on options for the line, but just people on the facebook page who were sympathetic with the group. i would agree they should have been told to stop the first time but they got board anyway quite quickly as other more appropriate facebook groups came along. they really made no difference in terms of the campaign anyway as the group weren't going to be listened to by IE or anyone anyway. wexford users of any service are seen as the scrapings of the barrel so will be ignored by all and sundry.

ClovenHoof wrote: »

If you do not have a solid case to reopen then you have nothing.

to be fair nothing could help it as CIE wanted the line gone at any cost and they got it as they always get what they want. the same will happen every time they want to lob off more of the network. so we must use and enjoy it while we can.

IE 222 · 01-09-2017 2:04pm

Id rather see the Waterford - Rosslare ripped up there is no business case for it. The track would be better used elsewhere. Newross should be looked at been reconnected using the Rosslare line if the cost is reasonable. The new Waterford plans should they go ahead will attract more people shopping ECT and create plenty of new jobs.

Del.Monte · 01-09-2017 2:08pm

IE 222 wrote: »

Id rather see the Waterford - Rosslare ripped up there is no business case for it. The track would be better used elsewhere. Newross should be looked at been reconnected using the Rosslare line if the cost is reasonable. The new Waterford plans should they go ahead will attract more people shopping ECT and create plenty of new jobs.

What business case is there for New Ross? Nonsense post.

IE 222 · 01-09-2017 5:52pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

What business case is there for New Ross? Nonsense post.

Where did i say there's a business case for Newross.

However there certainly is more potential of running a successful line between Waterford - Newross than the serving the ghost towns between Waterford - Rosslare. Don't get me wrong i don't think its needed and will likely be wasteful but if the line can be relayed using the south Wexford line cheaply and people are going to be moaning and campaigning at least put your energy into something that would be useful rather than reopening a line to fail again.

There is probably more people living in the Newross area than all them towns combined.

end of the road · 01-09-2017 7:09pm

IE 222 wrote: »

Where did i say there's a business case for Newross.

However there certainly is more potential of running a successful line between Waterford - Newross than the serving the ghost towns between Waterford - Rosslare. Don't get me wrong i don't think its needed and will likely be wasteful but if the line can be relayed using the south Wexford line cheaply and people are going to be moaning and campaigning at least put your energy into something that would be useful rather than reopening a line to fail again.

There is probably more people living in the Newross area than all them towns combined.

not really. the towns along the south wexford are actually quite busy believe it or not. the line actually had quite good usership according to local sources who i have no reason to disbelieve.
the small bit of cwr on rosslare waterford was replaced with old bullhead, the whole track isn't good for much now apart from a 15mph move. neither line will reopen anyway.

IE 222 · 01-09-2017 10:09pm

end of the road wrote: »

not really. the towns along the south wexford are actually quite busy believe it or not. the line actually had quite good usership according to local sources who i have no reason to disbelieve.
the small bit of cwr on rosslare waterford was replaced with old bullhead, the whole track isn't good for much now apart from a 15mph move. neither line will reopen anyway.

Yes really. New Ross has a population of 9,000
Rosslare 1,600
Bridgetown 800
Wellingtonbridge 500
Ballycullane 300
Campile 400

Thats rounding the numbers UP as well.

Good ridership? Id be surprised if over 50 a day used it.

Im not asking for New Ross to be reopened but if people are asking for services back in South Wexford then campaign to reopen a line that has some potential and goes some way of actually been useful.

tabbey · 01-09-2017 10:10pm

IE 222 wrote: »

The track would be better used elsewhere. Newross should be looked at been reconnected

The New Ross line was so twisty that it would compete with Nenagh for the slowest route in Ireland.

If in decades to come, a rail line to New Ross is needed, I would suggest a totally new route.

end of the road · 01-09-2017 10:24pm

IE 222 wrote: »

Yes really. New Ross has a population of 9,000
Rosslare 1,600
Bridgetown 800
Wellingtonbridge 500
Ballycullane 300
Campile 400

Thats rounding the numbers UP as well.

Good ridership? Id be surprised if over 50 a day used it.

Im not asking for New Ross to be reopened but if people are asking for services back in South Wexford then campaign to reopen a line that has some potential and goes some way of actually been useful.

the south wexford portion of the ireland cross country railway corridor allowed in theory, different journey opportunities and integration with other services, where as new-ross wouldn't have as the bit to the wexford line had been lifted. i think that's why the campaigners aren't really that focused or interested in new-ross. as said it was quite a twisty line anyway.

Isambard · 01-09-2017 10:32pm

I believe the new road to the new bridge has severed the New Ross line anyway. Forget it, concentrate on improvements to lines that are still alive.

IE 222 · 01-09-2017 10:33pm

tabbey wrote: »

The New Ross line was so twisty that it would compete with Nenagh for the slowest route in Ireland.

If in decades to come, a rail line to New Ross is needed, I would suggest a totally new route.

You are taking me up wrong im not asking for New Ross to be reopened but if people are campaning for reopening any lines around South Wexford New Ross is by far a more realistic and better option over Rosslare.

And yes if it did happen removing some of the routing would need to looked at to offer a competitive option.

IE 222 · 01-09-2017 10:42pm

end of the road wrote: »

the south wexford portion of the ireland cross country railway corridor allowed in theory, different journey opportunities and integration with other services, where as new-ross wouldn't have as the bit to the wexford line had been lifted. i think that's why the campaigners aren't really that focused or interested in new-ross. as said it was quite a twisty line anyway.

Back in the days of the boat train maybe where people passed through. It doesn't offer anything beneficial these days and never will.

The point im making is if rail is to return to South Wexford at least reopen something worthwhile and people will use. Look at the WRC they wont get any future investment in that region again for any new rail projects or reopenongs.

end of the road · 01-09-2017 11:01pm

IE 222 wrote: »

Back in the days of the boat train maybe where people passed through.

no, in general it did. boat traffic was only part of the story.

IE 222 wrote: »

It doesn't offer anything beneficial these days and never will.

it does but as it's now closed and will remain so it can't.

IE 222 wrote: »

The point im making is if rail is to return to South Wexford at least reopen something worthwhile and people will use. Look at the WRC they wont get any future investment in that region again for any new rail projects or reopenongs.

oh i know the point you are making and i see what you mean.
the west will get investment in the railway if they campaign and fight hard. not in the western railway corridor thankfully but enough pressure can be put to bare to force investment in doubling the main galway line south of athlone. portarlington doubling as well can be pushed for by both mayo and galway.

IE 222 · 02-09-2017 12:02am

end of the road wrote: »

no, in general it did. boat traffic was only part of the story.

it does but as it's now closed and will remain so it can't.

oh i know the point you are making and i see what you mean.
the west will get investment in the railway if they campaign and fight hard. not in the western railway corridor thankfully but enough pressure can be put to bare to force investment in doubling the main galway line south of athlone. portarlington doubling as well can be pushed for by both mayo and galway.

So did canals 50 or 60 years ago. A canal is the best way of describing the South Wexford line had a purpose before but now is an inconvenience. Its has nothing to offer unless Wexford suddenly see's its population reach a million.

So if given a choice between reopening South Wexford line or New Ross you would more potential in the South Wexford Line.

Main line investment yes and I doubt any doubling of Portarlington - Athlone will a rest of campaning from West on Track. The West or any small communities wont get any rural rail investments again unless it service's a large town.

end of the road · 02-09-2017 1:19am

IE 222 wrote: »

So did canals 50 or 60 years ago. A canal is the best way of describing the South Wexford line had a purpose before but now is an inconvenience. Its has nothing to offer unless Wexford suddenly see's its population reach a million.

So if given a choice between reopening South Wexford line or New Ross you would more potential in the South Wexford Line.

Main line investment yes and I doubt any doubling of Portarlington - Athlone will a rest of campaning from West on Track. The West or any small communities wont get any rural rail investments again unless it service's a large town.

it's not the best way of describing it at all, in fact it's hugely inaccurate. it had and still could have a purpose and has a lot to offer. most of the rail network and it's users are an inconvenience to CIE so this particular line isn't any different from the rest in that regard.

IE 222 · 02-09-2017 2:21am

end of the road wrote: »

it's not the best way of describing it at all, in fact it's hugely inaccurate. it had and still could have a purpose and has a lot to offer. most of the rail network and it's users are an inconvenience to CIE so this particular line isn't any different from the rest in that regard.

What did it have to offer in its latter years??Carrying a few tourist or 10s of people to work each day doesn't sound like much to me.

dowlingm · 02-09-2017 7:20pm

It should be recalled that part of the economics of the South Wexford line was beet traffic, not merely passenger. The Barrow bridge was a big problem because of the maintenance and staff cost of operating it. If the line between Limerick Junction and Waterford can't be kept open when it has four decent towns in Tipperary, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir along it, talking about reinstating the South Wexford just doesn't work, and bringing New Ross into it is laughable.

IE 222 · 02-09-2017 11:22pm

dowlingm wrote: »

It should be recalled that part of the economics of the South Wexford line was beet traffic, not merely passenger. The Barrow bridge was a big problem because of the maintenance and staff cost of operating it. If the line between Limerick Junction and Waterford can't be kept open when it has four decent towns in Tipperary, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir along it, talking about reinstating the South Wexford just doesn't work, and bringing New Ross into it is laughable.

Again im not pushing for the reopening of the New Ross line. What im saying is if there is a argument for reopening A line in the South Wexford area then New Ross would offer the best return in terms of usage. The South Wexford Line offers nothing to the area and would be a complete waste of time and money reopening it.

Taytosnax · 02-09-2017 11:30pm

IE 222 wrote: »

Again im not pushing for the reopening of the New Ross line. What im saying is if there is a argument for reopening A line in the South Wexford area then New Ross would offer the best return in terms of usage. The South Wexford Line offers nothing to the area and would be a complete waste of time and money reopening it.

In its later years the South Wexford line was run as a local connection between Rosslare and Waterford. In reality the line was built to link Rosslare and Limerick. Why weren't trains run direct to Limerick from Rosslare with connections
to Cork? The South Wexford line was part of a wider link from Rosslare to the West, IÉ emphasising the line as a purely local service was always going to lead to closure. Maybe that was the intention.

end of the road · 03-09-2017 12:02am

Taytosnax wrote: »

In its later years the South Wexford line was run as a local connection between Rosslare and Waterford. In reality the line was built to link Rosslare and Limerick. Why weren't trains run direct to Limerick from Rosslare with connections
to Cork? The South Wexford line was part of a wider link from Rosslare to the West, IÉ emphasising the line as a purely local service was always going to lead to closure. Maybe that was the intention.

absolutely correct. originally it was rosslare to cork but once mallow to waterford was shut it changed to limerick. running the south wexford portion of the cross country railway corridor as a local service indeed was setting it up for failure and there are a number who have no doubt it was the intention for that to happen. the whole line to limerick junction, along with anything that runs to the southeast it seems, doesn't fit into the operation IE wants, which only includes the west south and north.

Fred Swanson · 03-09-2017 12:10am

This post has been deleted.

end of the road · 03-09-2017 12:16am

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

that's right, i think it was the late 90s early 2000s when they went? if not then it was probably when loco hauled stock left the line.

Del.Monte · 03-09-2017 9:21am

Not to forget the early morning Enniscorthy/Waterford service that was introduced shortly before the line closed. Nobody was told about it and on the first day intending passengers - myself included - were locked out of the station in Enniscorthy.

Since the railway closed the Bus Eireann direct service from Enniscorthy to Waterford has also been got rid of - I haven't been to Waterford since which is their loss not mine.

tabbey · 03-09-2017 1:54pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

This was for thirty or forty years, from 1967 to early 21st century.

The South Wexford line served three functions:

1. The Rosslare Express boat connection to Cork with connections to and from Kerry, Limerick and potentially the two GSWR routes to Waterford. Since 1967 this was Rosslare to Cork via Limerick Junction, before being run down to a Rosslare to Limerick service, with connections at Lmk Jn for Cork and Kerry.

2. The beet traffic, from 1930s to Thurles and more recently to Mallow.

3. Local traffic. Anywhere else this would have been replaced by bus decades ago, but the Barrow estuary meant this would have to be by New Ross. Thus it was only fair that a direct train, albeit a very limited service was provided.

With the cross channel traffic changing largely to drive on/off motorists, and passengers using air travel, the first function was largely redundant. Following the closure of beet factories, the local traffic was sacrificed because of the high cost of maintenance and level crossing staff.

It is a pity, but realistically the South Wexford line will never reopen barring some unforeseen development of a massive nature.

Even if a railway was deemed appropriate for the route, a new alignment would have a better chance of competing with road. But enough of my dreams, we need to live in the real world.

IE 222 · 04-09-2017 9:31pm

Taytosnax wrote: »

In its later years the South Wexford line was run as a local connection between Rosslare and Waterford. In reality the line was built to link Rosslare and Limerick. Why weren't trains run direct to Limerick from Rosslare with connections
to Cork? The South Wexford line was part of a wider link from Rosslare to the West, IÉ emphasising the line as a purely local service was always going to lead to closure. Maybe that was the intention.

But what demand from any part of the country is there these days for Rosslare. A free high speed rail service still wouldn't attract people to use it. Its basically a line to nowhere

Waterford Station closes after landslide!

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