Rail requirement for road route upgrade

Road report recommends the introduction of hourly direct rail services between Limerick and Cork.

THE introduction of an hourly rail service between Limerick and Cork has been recommended by the team developing the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Road project, as part of publication on March 30 of the preferred route and options for the upgraded road.

Lead Consultant Jari Howard told The RM that identifying potential rail options was a requirement for the N/M20 project, as part of the remit to enhance public transport links, in tandem with identifying the final route for the road between the two cities.

Mr Howard said the end aim was to increase usage and reduce journey times which currently takes an average of 1 hour 43 minutes with a change at Limerick Junction. In 2019, 200 daily rail journeys were made.

Considerations

Three options were explored, including the restoration of the rail link closed in March 1967 from Patrickswell on the mothballed Foynes line to Charleville on the Dublin to Cork main line, a brand-new alignment from Killonan Junction to Charleville and upgrading of the existing route from Limerick to Cork via Limerick Junction.

Mr Howard said the restoration of the former rail route from Patrickswell offered a journey time of an hour and four minutes but required the construction of a new alignment in places, as sections have been built over and required a new viaduct over the River Maigue near Croom which diminished the business case. The second option provided the fast journey time of one hour two minutes from Killonan Junction to Charleville on a new alignment but served no notable population.

Mr Howard said with Iarnród Éireann’s plans to double the single line from Killonan to Limerick Junction, with increased line speeds, a journey time of 1 hour 21 minutes can be delivered, generating an extra 700 journeys a day between the two cities. An hourly service would be delivered by extending one of the three trains an hour planned to operate between Cork and Mallow. Therefore, upgrading the existing rail route between Limerick and Cork via Limerick Junction with an hourly direct service is the recommendation by the project team for consideration within the AllIsland Strategic Rail Review.

Reaction

Commenting on the report, an IE spokesperson said: “It is welcome that in developing road infrastructure, public transport is also being considered by project teams across modes in such a clear way.”

HASSARD STACPOOLE Singled in 1929, Iarnród Eireann plans to redouble the single line from Killonan to Limerick Junction. Consultants have recommended that an hourly Limerick-Cork service be introduced between the two cities. Three-car Rotem No. 22060 passes the 7¾ milepost approaching the site of Boher station on March 21, with the 14.55 Limerick to Limerick Junction shuttle service.

HASSARD STACPOOLE On April 2, the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland operated its first diesel tour since October 2019, when the East West Diesel Rail Tour visited Dundalk and Galway from Dublin Connolly. On the first leg, No. 082 operated the return Connolly to Dundalk leg before retro livered No. 071 took over for the run to Galway and is seen here waiting to cross a Dublin bound service at Athenry.