Major Ryder Cup rail surprise revealed for Limerick passengers

THERE will be no direct train services between Limerick’s main Colbert railway station and Adare for the Ryder Cup.

With the huge tournament at Adare Manor now just 19 months away, public transport plans on how to get the tens of thousands of spectators to and from the venue are progressing.

Irish Rail is to re-open Adare station to passengers on a temporary basis, a task made easier as the Limerick to Foynes line is being revitalised for freight use.

But Limerick Live has learnt trains will not depart from Colbert bound for Adare.

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Instead, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed Adare station will only be linked to Limerick Junction in Tipperary, with a shuttle train.

“The plan is trains from Dublin and Cork will stop at Limerick Junction where passengers will interchange with a train service that will bring them to a temporary station in Adare,” the NTA confirmed.

People who wish to travel from the city will be encouraged to go by road, with the NTA adding shuttle buses will be available at Colbert station to take people to Adare Manor.

“Buses will be at this location at all relevant times to transport people to and from the Ryder Cup event,” a spokesperson for the NTA, which dictates what services are provided where, wrote in response to a query from this newspaper.

It’s hoped the opening of the Adare bypass will reduce the amount of traffic.

But it means people who prefer to go by rail to Adare from the city will need to change at Limerick Junction.

Up until 1975, there was a direct link between Limerick Colbert station and Adare, thanks to a ‘curve’ which crossed the city's southside.

This was removed and has not been replaced.

The NTA spokesperson reflected this, stating: “It is worth noting the current railway line configuration from Colbert Station does not facilitate a direct service from the station to the new Foynes line. Instead, the new Foynes line is configured to connect to the Limerick to Limerick Junction line, in the direction of travel to and from Limerick Junction.”

There’s long been hopes the city centre will get a boost from Ryder Cup 2027.

Now it appears train-bound passengers into Adare from Waterford, Cork, Dublin and elsewhere in the country, will not be required to travel into Colbert station.