Freight rail connection in Limerick moves closer to reality

A SIGNIFICANT milestone in the renewal of the Limerick to Foynes rail line has been marked, as trains returned to the route.

A test train ran on the route, which passes through Raheen, Dooradoyle, Patrickswell, Adare, Rathkeale and Askeaton before reaching Foynes.

It comes as preparations are ramped up for the re-opening of the line in the first part of next year.

It will initially be used for freight, but later on in the year, a temporary station will be set up in Adare for passenger trains to help spectators heading to the Ryder Cup.

Testing of services involved a two-car passenger train running up-and-down the line to test out the signalling and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as commissioning the level crossing infrastructure and safety signals.

Faults are also being identified as testing goes on.

Expect to see trains along this line regularly over the coming weeks to support driver route training.

With this in mind, Irish Rail has warned the public to be careful at level crossings along the route.

All level crossing users, pedestrians and drivers, are advised to always expect a train, never assume the way is clear and obey level crossing safety signals.

A €151.5m project, the line has seen 42km of rail track reinstated.

Level crossings have been upgraded, while new signalling and telecoms infrastructure has been installed.

Foynes station, which is expected to welcome cargo from the port onto the rail network, has been refurbished.

Some 13 public road level crossings with closed circuit television have also been reinstated.

These have in most cases replaced the gated crossings controlled by hand.

The restart of freight services on the line was welcomed last week by the chief executive of the Shannon Foynes Port Company Pat Keating.

“Connecting ​the national ​rail network ​at ​Limerick ​to Foynes ​port ​will ​undoubtedly enable ​national freight modal ​shift from roughly just 1% ​today,” he said.