Limerick–Rosslare railway line: Difference between revisions

{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=May 2018}}

|type = [[Commuter rail]], [[Inter-city rail]]<br />[[Heavy rail]]

|end = [[Waterford railway station|Waterford Plunkett]] (1854–1906, 2010–present)<br />{{rws|Rosslare Europort}} (1848–20101906–2010)

|operator = [[Iarnród Éireann]]<br>[[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]<br/>[[InterCity (Iarnród Éireann)|InterCity]]

|depot = Carrick-on-Suir<br />Limerick

|stock = [[IE 2800 Class|2800 Class]] (Commuter)<br />[[IE 22000 Class|22000 Class]] (InterCity)

|tracks = [[SingleDouble track]] (railLimerick–Killonan)|Single track]] and<br />[[DoubleSingle-track railway|Single track]] with [[Passingpassing loop|Passing Loops]]s (Killonan–Rosslare)

The '''Limerick–Rosslare Main Line''' is a railway route in the [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] that linked the city of [[Limerick]] on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast with [[Rosslare Europort]] on the coast of the [[Irish Sea]]. It also serves the city of [[Waterford]], and at {{rws|Limerick Junction}} it connects with the [[Dublin–Cork railway line]].

Since 2010 there has been no service between Waterford and Rosslare Europort, and all trains terminate at {{rws|Waterford}}. Rosslare (Europort and Strand) and Wexford have still at least three trains a day to Dublin, and three back (morning, afternoon and evening). The line between Rosslare and Waterford ishas been closed to passenger trains since September 2010,<ref>{{Cite webnews|last=Parsons|first=Michael|title=Rosslare-Waterford rail service to end|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/rosslare-waterford-rail-service-to-end-1.617737|access-date=2021-04-20|websitenewspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref>, though it is still maintained by [[Iarnród Éireann]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Irish Rail's MPV No. 790, on the disused South Wexford line for the first time - 21/08/2019|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEeuaL9uJKI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/AEeuaL9uJKI |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-04-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>.

The Waterford to Rosslare section includes the [[Barrow Bridge]], the longest rail bridge in the Republic of Ireland. At the time of construction, the line from Waterford diverged at Killinick, allowing for direct Waterford to [[Wexford]] trains to bypass Rosslare Strand.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Killinick Station|url=http://www.industrialheritageireland.info/Gazetteer/Locations/Railways/Stations/Wexford/Killinick.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=www.industrialheritageireland.info}}</ref>.

A notable feature on the line is the [[Cahir]] Viaduct across the [[River Suir]] in [[County Tipperary]]. It was built in 1852 and has three iron spans borne on stone abutments.<ref name=Redfern>{{cite news |url= https://www.newcivilengineer.com/irish-rail-bridge-collapse-triggers-networkwide-inspections/797227.article?search=https%3a%2f%2fwww.newcivilengineer.com%2fsearcharticles%3fqsearch%3d1%26keywords%3dCahir+Suir+bridge |last=Redfern |first=Bernadette |title=Irish rail bridge collapse triggers network-wide inspections |newspaper=[[New Civil Engineer]] |publisher=Metropolis |date=23 October 2003 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> The viaduct partlywas collapseddamaged in 1955{{citation needed[[#Notable_incidents|date=Mayincidents 2018}}in 1955 and partly2003]]. collapsedFollowing again inthe 2003 (see below).incident, Iarnród Éireann renewed the viaduct at a cost of €2.6 million, and the line was reopened in September 2004.<ref name=Ashmore>{{cite news |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/waterford-to-limerick-junction-rail-link-restored-1.115879 |last=Ashmore |first=Chris |title=Waterford to Limerick Junction rail link restored |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |publisherissn=Irish0791-5144 Times|location=Dublin Trust|language=en-ie |date=23 September 2004 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref>

Train services have remained infrequent for more than 100 years. By 2003 the line was carrying fewer than 100 passengers a day.<ref name=Ashmore/> When IÉ reopened the line it introduced new railcars<ref name=Ashmore/> and a service of three journeys in each direction on weekdays, which was a greater service frequency than the line had for much of its history. There is no Sunday service.<ref>{{citationcite web |url=https://www.irishrail.ie/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/12_WaterfordClonmelLimk.pdf |title=Heuston-timetable: Waterford/Clonmel/Limerick needed|date=May2021 |website=[[Iarnród 2018Éireann]]}}</ref>

Between {{rws|Limerick}} and Limerick Junction, trains between Limerick and Dublin {{rws|Heuston}} also serve the line.

===Waterford – Rosslare section===

As of 2020, a campaign existswas ongoing in the local area to reopen the rail line.<ref>{{Cite webnews |title=It's 'now or never' for Wexford to Waterford rail line|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/its-now-or-never-for-wexford-to-waterford-rail-line-40120791.html|access-date=2021-04-20 |websitenewspaper=independent[[Wexford People]] |language=en}}</ref>. In 2021, it was confirmed that the route would be examined for reopening as part of an All-Island Strategic Rail Review.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-22|title=Waterford-Wexford line confirmed for all-island Strategic Rail Review|url=https://waterford-news.ie/2021/03/22/waterford-wexford-line-confirmed-for-all-island-strategic-rail-review/|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Waterford News and Star|language=en-GB}}</ref>.