Tag Archives: Iarnrod Éireann

A new socio-economic study has projected a total employment income of €25.5 million over a 15-year period following the re-opening of Crusheen railway station. This is the net gain in earnings from the workforce in the catchment area taking employment opportunities in Limerick or Galway versus working within 30 minutes from home. The study, completed by consultants Repucon for Clare County Council, has revealed €4.5 million is the initial cost estimate for the provision of a platform, infrastructural works, car park and new footbridge link to the village. In August 2024, Clare County Council commissioned Tom McNamara and Partners to develop a cost estimate for the re-opening of the railway station and associated infrastructure and these consultants produced the €4.5 million figure. From a value for money perspective, the projected 15-year return on investment of €5.65 for each €1 of capital investment made demonstrates a significant impact on the community and the wider Clare economy. The study outlined the employment …

THE Limerick to Ennis railway line is set to reopen this weekend Iarnród Éireann has announced. Confirmation of the planned re-opening has come in a week when chair of North Clare Labour Denis Vaughan said the month-long closure due to flooding at Ballycar would “make Percy French rise up from his grave and write another comic song”. The line has been closed since March 18 however the flood waters have now receded, and final inspections and patrols will take place over the coming days prior to reopening on Saturday afternoon say Iarnród Éireann. The service is due to resume from 4pm this Saturday. Bus transfers will remain in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions until Saturday afternoon. On Saturday, the following services will operate: 18:15hrs Limerick to Galway; 19:50hrs Limerick to Galway; 20:30hrs Limerick to Ennis; 17:25hrs Ennis to Limerick; 17:50hrs Galway to Limerick; 18:45hrs Galway to Ennis; 21:10hrs Ennis to Limerick. A full service will operate from …

MORE flooding at Ballycar means the Ennis-Limerick railway line has closed once again, potentially for the next couple of months. Local councillors this week slammed the long standing failure to tackle the flooding issue. “If it was outside Dublin, it’d be fixed,” said Councillor PJ Ryan (Ind) at Tuesday’s Shannon Municipal District meeting. Councillor Pat McMahon (FF) said a government minister had visited the area nearly 40 years ago, and it was anticipated that something would be done at that time. Several of the councillors said that they had received a huge amount of calls about the issue, with many people who rely on the service annoyed at the disruption. In a statement on Monday, Iarnród Éireann said, “Flood waters have risen significantly at Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway line in recent days. As a result, the line between Limerick and Ennis is now closed, and services are suspended, until further notice.” It said that bus transport will …

IF farmers can be fined because people illegally dump on their property, then the operators of Ennis’ bus and train station should have to pay up for any litter found on its grounds, believes Ennis’ deputy mayor. Councillor Paul Murphy was speaking in the wake of the recent Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) litter league results, which saw the station come in for criticism by the adjudicators despite a strong showing in other parts of the county capital. “If an innocent farmer can get a fine for having rubbish dumped on his land or ditch, can we not issue the landowners of the station with a fine? That would soften their cough,” he said. The final survey of 2021 by business group IBAL showed Ennis retaining third spot in the ranking of 40 towns and cities. However, of all the areas surveyed by An Taisce the station ranked the lowest with a B grade. The adjudicators report stated, “The main litter …

ENNIS Railway Station is on track to being more accessible to people with reduced mobility. A new accessible footbridge crossing with stairs and lift is to open at the station in the start of the new year. This follows a €1 million investment by Iarnód Éireann, enabling people with reduced mobility as well as those with buggies and prams to have better access. Councillor Johnny Flynn, who has been campaigning for the move for 10 years has welcomed the development saying, “I welcome the circa € 1 million investment in wheelchair / buggy / pedestrian lifts and cross track bridge opening after Christmas at Ennis Railway Station. This will make rail transport to and from Ennis  more accessible to all by having accessible use of both platforms at all times and improve travel times by eliminating current occasional delays of up to 15 mins when simultaneous safe wheelchair user access is required from platform 1 to both Galway and Limerick …

THE prospect of trains grinding to halt for passengers at Crusheen have taken a turn for the better with the appointment of Green Party leader Eamon Ryan to the transport portfolio. The new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is also Minister for Climate Action and Communications Networks and his dual role has given people living in the Crusheen area hope that the Limerick to Athenry/Galway train will once again stop in the village. Such a development would be of benefit to those who have to commute to Galway or Ennis and Limerick for work, business or study. Journey times would be slashed, as well as reducing the stress associated with road travel. Michael O’Doherty, spokesman for the Crusheen Rail Stop campaign group, said directing people from cars onto trains would not only help them achieve huge savings in the long run, but would also reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. Back in 2010, the then Minister for Defence and Clare …

The railine between Limerick and Ennis reopened from first service this Tuesday morning. The line had been closed since late February due to flooding at Ballycar in Newmarket-on-Fergus.  Iarnród Éireann is advising customers that due to Covid-19 a revised timetable is in place and only essential travel is permitted. For those who must travel, they should check www.irishrail.ie before travelling for times. The railway track at Ballycar Lough has flooded on a number of occasions in recent years. This flooding has led to temporary closures of the railway line for extended periods of up to 20 weeks at a time, although this closure was not as prolonged. Flood waters rose to a maximum height of 1.6 metre above the railway track during some flood events, despite works, which saw Iarnród Éireann  raise the track level by 60 centimetres at Ballycar in 2003 to mitigate against the effects of flooding. This time flood waters reached 1metre above the track. Work is ongoing on …

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Caey has called on Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran to ensure that discussions get under way immediately to solve the ongoing flooding at Ballycar, Newmarket on Fergus which has closed the Limerick to Ennis rail line on several occasions over recent years. He was speaking after Iarnród Éireann reopened the line this morning following an eight week suspension of services due to flooding. “When he visited Ennis last month, Minister Moran told me he would instruct his own officials from the Office of Public Works to meet with Clare County Council and Irish Rail with a view to coming up with a resolution. Council chief executive Pat Dowling confirmed to me at the same meeting that he would ensure the local authority’s involvement in such a meeting,” Deputy Carey explained. “It’s not good enough that this section of rail would remain closed for extended periods of up to 20 weeks at a time and …