THERE was no getting sidetracked at Limerick Council’s recent Travel and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee meeting as the potential offered by Limerick’s suburban commuter rail networks were outlined.
During a presentation by Irish Rail to Council members, project manager Cian Lynch spoke of plans to increase capacity at Limerick Junction for intercity services and the prospect of a rail link from the city to Shannon Airport. He also highlighted the potential the suburban commuter rail network offers, as he spoke of Irish Rail’s ambitious plans under the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review.
“Our objective is to deliver an accessible, efficient, safe and sustainable transfer system. Some of the sub aims we have is to electrify our network. We want to improve access to the rail network for members of the public,” Mr Lynch told the meeting.
“We want to improve that service through capacity enhancements and additional services. And we’re aiming to double our share of the transportation market in Ireland. This all amounts to approximately €32billion investment in rail over the next 25 years.”
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
For Limerick and the Mid West, this means improved services from Limerick to neighbouring cities such as Galway, Cork, Waterford, and Dublin, as well as the development of new rail stations and a commuter suburban rail system network in Limerick.
Mr Lynch also said that, with works on recommissioning 42 kilometres of track on the Limerick to Foynes freight line well underway, the rail service is now looking at connections to other ports and harbours in the region. He also spoke of the potential to provide park and ride facilities around the city.
“We believe that these efforts can support significant population and employment growth in the region and also enable further housing development,” he said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Fergus Kilcoyne raised concerns about suggested plans to dismantle temporary rail stations to Adare for the 2027 Ryder Cup after the event, which he described as “madness”.
“We’re after narrowing the streets of Limerick. O’Connell Street is a one-way-system. Limerick City is a bottleneck and anyone that drives a car will tell you that,” Cllr Kilcoyne hit out.
“I recently suggested that the railway lines need to be used to get people back into the city, because they can’t do it anymore by car. It now takes people an hour or an hour and a half to get to work. It’s not good enough.”
The answer to this, he believes, is in the form of temporary platforms at Patrickswell and Rosbrien.
“We’re going to have people arriving for the Ryder Cup into Limerick Junction from Cork, Kerry, and Dublin, and it’s going to be a bottleneck like O’Connell Street. We’re going to have to have 25,000 parking spaces for this event and, if all goes well, up to 15,000 of these will be in Patrickswell, I’m now requesting a temporary platform for a field we’ve purchased. I think it’s imperative we get it fast-tracked,” the Fianna Fáil man said.
Independent councillor Ursula Gavan felt the eastern part of Limerick has been overlooked by Irish Rail and pointed to urgent need for improvement works on the Castleconnell to Ballybrophy line, which services Annacotty.
“There’s no plans for improvement there, and there’s at least 3,500 people working in Annacotty Business Park who would love some service to the estate. They don’t even have a bus service out there, but there is capacity for a platform. It would be a great service, not only to Annacotty, but to the university and technological park as well,” Cllr Gavan said.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle welcomed plans for a temporary platform in Rosbrien, which he hoped would be a “great boost” for the city. However, he agreed with his City East colleague Cllr Gavan, and felt a platform was also needed on the other side of the city.
“I’m sitting here about 400 yards from the railway line in Annacotty Business Park and I’d love someone from the capital side of Irish Rail to come and visit the site because the Dublin Road from Annacotty into Limerick is being locked up with congestion. Our only hope is a railway line,” Cllr Doyle insisted.
The Fine Gael man considered this would be a “great tragedy” considering the railway line was there but the missing link, he believes, is the funding to provide a build a small railway station at Annacotty.
Mr Lynch explained to the City East representatives that the Limerick Area Commuter Study sees Irish Rail now looking at enhancing commuter rail services where it can provide them. Locations, he told councillors, now being assessed.
Cllr Daniel Butler (FG) wanted to know if the Irish Rail line, which is currently redundant, will be considered as part of this commuter study. He also suggested that Raheen Business Park be looked at as part of this study.
In response, Mr Lynch said that Irish Rail’s first approach is to reopen and reutilise any existing track infrastructure as it’s easier than build new tracks on green sites. He also confirmed that the Irish Cement line is being considered as part of the study.
Cllr Martin Ryan (FF) supported the calls for a platform at both Annacotty and Raheen business parks. He also took the view that with Limerick Junction passing through a number of former stations in locations such a Dromkeen, Pallasgreen, and Oola, there is potential now for developing them as commuter park and rides.
Independent councillor Eddie Ryan praised Irish Rail for the service at Limerick Junction, describing the transfer from trains as “seamless”.
“You have to walk five or six metres across the platform to go to Limerick, or vice versa, for Dublin. It works very well. It’s a great lifeline to us.”
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme