Limerick–Rosslare railway line: Difference between revisions

|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]]

|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 section between Waterford and Rosslare was completed in 1906<ref>{{Cite webnews|last=Parsons|first=Michael|title=Plan to close Rosslare-Waterford railway labelled 'reckless foolishness'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/plan-to-close-rosslare-waterford-railway-labelled-reckless-foolishness-1.623959|access-date=2021-04-20|websitenewspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> and coincided with the construction of Rosslare Harbour. Both [[Rosslare Europort]] and this section of rail line remain the property of the Fishguard & Rosslare Railways and Harbours Company, which is jointly owned by [[Iarnród Éireann]] and [[Stena Line]]. It is the only main line railway in the Republic not wholly owned by the State.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn%3A72GU.L&display=news&it=le&period=2001 |title=Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company 3 1/2% GTD PRF STK (LSE:72GU) Share Price

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>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrail.ie/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/12_WaterfordClonmelLimk.pdf {{Bare|title=Heuston-timetable: URL PDFWaterford/Clonmel/Limerick |date=May 2021 |website=[[Iarnród Éireann]]}}</ref>

The Waterford to Rosslare section was traditionally a busy freight line, transporting 150,000 tonnes of [[Sugarsugar beet]] via the handling facility at [[Wellingtonbridge]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wexford farmers face increased haulage costs|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/wexford-farmers-face-increased-haulage-costs-27471534.html|access-date=2021-04-22|website=independent|date=20 January 2005 |language=en}}</ref> until the demise of the Sugarsugar Industryindustry in 2006.<ref>{{Cite webnews|last=Griffin|first=Dan|title=Efforts under way to revive sugar industry|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/efforts-under-way-to-revive-sugar-industry-1.3484|access-date=2021-04-22|websitenewspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> As a result of this significant freight traffic, passenger services were reduced over the years.

On 12 March 2010 it was announced that Iarnród Éireann would review the service between {{rws|Waterford}} and {{rws|Rosslare Europort}} because few passengers were using it. Timetabling was poor. There was only one train each way daily from Monday to Saturday, leaving Rosslare early in the morning and returning from Waterford early in the evening.<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=2021-04-22|websitenewspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref>

The trains made very poor connections with other rail services. They connected with the Stena Line ferry service to and from [[Fishguard Harbour]], but due to the poor onward connections at Waterford few passengers used this. The exception was during the [[Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption|volcanic ash crisis of 2010]], when trains were fully loaded and had standing room only.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines.|url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/wexford-people/20100428/286229506452133|access-date=2021-04-22|websitevia=www.pressreader.comPressReader}}</ref>

The last train between Waterford and Rosslare ran on 18 September 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=900 |title='Waterford to Rosslare line - service termination and bus replacement details |publisher=Iarnród Éireann |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928031821/http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=900 |archive-date=2010-09-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Iarnród Éireann provided a four-car [[IE 2700 and 2750 Classes|2700 class]] [[diesel multiple unit]] for the service, instead of the usual two-car unit. The [[National Transport Authority (Ireland)|National Transport Authority]] requires IÉ to maintain the now-disused line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NTA_position_on_proposal.pdf {{Bare|title=Evaluation URLof PDFIrish Rail Proposal to Suspend Passenger Services on RosslareWaterford Line |date=MayAugust 20212010 |website=[[National Transport Authority (Ireland)|National Transport Authority]]}}</ref>

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>

[[IE 22000 Class]] InterCity railcars usually operate services on the line. Between 2012 and 2013 IÉ operated [[IE 2800 Class]] railcars on the line. From 2004 until 2012 [[IE 2700 Class]] railcars operated most services. Until 2003 IÉ operated most trains with a [[CIE 141 Class|141 class]] or [[CIE 181 Class|181 class]] [[Diesel locomotive#Diesel–electric|diesel-electric locomotive]] hauling [[Coaching stock of Ireland#Cravens (1963–2006)|Cravens coaches]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

*In 2003 a train of 22 cement wagons was derailed on the viaduct. The locomotive and driver safely crossed the bridge, but 13 of the wagons behind the locomotive fell through the deck of the bridge into the river.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/train-plunges-into-river-as-bridge-collapses-25925397.html |last1=Hogan |first1=Treacy |last2=Murphy |first2=Sarah |title=Train plunges into river as bridge collapses |newspaper=[[Irish Independent]] |publisher=Independent News & Media |date=8 October 2003 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref> The [[Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport|Department of Transport]]'s Interim Railway Safety Commission investigated the accident and found that [[Railroad tie|timber supporting the rails]] was rotten, which may have allowed the rails to spread and the wagons to fall between the rails.<ref name=Redfern/> Services resumed in September 2004 with diesel railcars, but further engineering works dogged services, requiring frequent bus replacements of the train services.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}