Limerick–Rosslare railway line: Difference between revisions

The line's most 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 |accessdate=8 May 2018}}</ref> The viaduct partly collapsed in 1955{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} and partly collapsed again in 2003 (see below). [[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 |publisher=Irish Times Trust |date=23 September 2004 |accessdate=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.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}▼

Between {{rws|Limerick}} and Limerick Junction, trains between Limerick and Dublin {{rws|Heuston}}▼

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. Ticket revenue met only 2% of the line's operating costs. About 25 passengers per day were by using the service. 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}▼

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.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}▼

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=` |publisher=Iarnród Éireann |accessdate= |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 |dead-url=yes |df= }}</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.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}▼

[[Bus Éireann]] revised the timetable and route of bus service 370 to offer alternative passenger transport from 20 September.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=23 April 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220180910/http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf |archivedate=20 December 2011}}</ref> Buses on the route are branded "370 Connect".▼

==Notable incidents==▼

*In 1955 an out-of-control train crashed through the buffers in the loop at {{rws|Cahir}} and fell through the deck of the viaduct. The driver and fireman were killed.{{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 |accessdate=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/>▼

*In 2012 a young girl was hit and injured by a train near [[Tipperary Town]] which was travelling from Limerick Junction to Waterford. She was taken to hospital. No-one aboard the train was injured.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0312/tipperary.html |title=Young girl injured after being struck by train |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann|RTÉ]] |date=13 March 2012 |accessdate=}}</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}}▼