Limerick–Rosslare railway line

Construction of the route was begun in 1848 for the Waterford and Limerick Railway and completed in 1854.{{Cite book|last=Casserley|first=H.C.|title=Outline of Irish Railway History|publisher=David & Charles, Newton Abbot London|year=1974|isbn=|pages=78–85}} It is one of the oldest railways in Ireland, and the first to have been authorised by the UK Parliament. The company was renamed the Waterford, Limerick and Western in 1896 and merged with the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1901.{{sfn|Murray|1976|p=107}}

The section between Waterford and Rosslare was completed in 1906{{Cite news|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|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} 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.{{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

|publisher=Interactive Investor }}

The Waterford to Rosslare section includes the Barrow Bridge, the longest rail bridge in Ireland. At the time of construction, the line from Waterford diverged at Killinick, allowing for direct Waterford to Wexford trains to bypass Rosslare Strand.{{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}}

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.{{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}} The viaduct was damaged in incidents in 1955 and 2003. Following the 2003 incident, Iarnród Éireann renewed the viaduct at a cost of €2.6 million and the line reopened in September 2004.{{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 |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |date=23 September 2004 |access-date=8 May 2018}}

Train services have remained infrequent for more than 100 years. By 2003 the line was carrying fewer than 100 passengers a day. When IÉ reopened the line it introduced new railcars 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrail.ie/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/12_WaterfordClonmelLimk.pdf |title=Heuston-timetable: Waterford/Clonmel/Limerick |date=2021 |website=Iarnród Éireann}}

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

The speed limit on much of the line is less than {{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}}, but the speed limit west of Limerick Junction is a higher {{convert|110|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite book |last1=Reidy |first1=Michael |title=Network Statement |date=30 October 2021 |publisher=Irish Rail |pages=41, 76–78 |edition=2022 |url=https://www.irishrail.ie/Admin/getmedia/41c1078d-a0e8-42c5-84c4-08bc8c063e0f/IE-2022-Network-Statement.pdf |access-date=21 September 2022 |ref=NetworkStatement}}

The Waterford to Rosslare section was traditionally a busy freight line, transporting 150,000 tonnes of sugar beet via the handling facility at Wellingtonbridge{{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}} until the demise of the sugar industry in 2006.{{Cite news|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|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news|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|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

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 volcanic ash crisis of 2010, when trains were fully loaded and had standing room only.{{Cite web|title=|url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/wexford-people/20100428/286229506452133|access-date=2021-04-22|via=PressReader}}

The last train between Waterford and Rosslare ran on 18 September 2010.{{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 }} Iarnród Éireann provided a four-car 2700 class diesel multiple unit for the service, instead of the usual two-car unit. The National Transport Authority requires IÉ to maintain the now-disused line.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NTA_position_on_proposal.pdf |title=Evaluation of Irish Rail Proposal to Suspend Passenger Services on RosslareWaterford Line |date=August 2010 |website=National Transport Authority}}

Bus Éireann revised the timetable and route of bus service 370 to offer alternative passenger transport from 20 September.{{cite web |url= http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220180910/http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1284376415-370.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2011}} Buses on the route are branded "370 Connect".

As of 2020, a campaign was ongoing in the local area to reopen the rail line.{{Cite news |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 |newspaper=Wexford People |language=en}} In 2021, it was confirmed that the route would be examined for reopening as part of an All-Island Strategic Rail Review.{{Cite news|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}}

On February 10, 2023, plans to reopen the line were issued.

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 or CIE 181 Class diesel-electric locomotive hauling Cravens coaches.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

• 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.MacAongusa, p 180.
• 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.{{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}} The Department of Transport's Interim Railway Safety Commission investigated the accident and found that timber supporting the rails was rotten, which may have allowed the rails to spread and the wagons to fall between the rails. 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}}
• 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.{{cite news |url= http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0312/tipperary.html |title=Young girl injured after being struck by train |publisher=RTÉ |date=13 March 2012 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Murray |first=KA |year=1976 |title=Great Southern And Western Railway |place=Billericay |publisher=Irish Railway Record Society (London Area) |isbn=0904078051 }}

• [http://southtipperaryrailandbus.com South Tipperary by rail]

• Dublin-Rosslare railway line

{{Railway lines in Eire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Limerick-Rosslare railway line}}

Category:Railway lines in Ireland