Services are infrequent, with two trains per weekday in each direction from Ballybrophy to Limerick. In addition, there is a commuter service, forming part of the Limerick Suburban Rail network, which has one train from Nenagh to Limerick. The commuter train service runs Mondays to Fridays. On Sundays there is one train in each direction, Limerick-Ballybrophy.[3] Services on the line are formed of IE 2800 Class (diesel) railcars.
This service is an improvement over previous timetables. The North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership lobbied Irish Rail to improve the timetable to suit commuters, which they duly did, to a limited extent.[4] The service is mostly patronised by passengers who connect into morning Limerick to Heuston Station trains and evening trains in the opposite direction, at Ballybrophy Station.
The railway line has several speed restrictions, particularly close to Limerick city. Although the line offers a geographically shorter and more direct route between Limerick and Dublin, it takes almost an hour longer than travelling from Limerick to Dublin via Limerick Junction. The train is slower than travelling by car between Nenagh and Limerick. The railway line does not serve major employment and educational facilities in Limerick such as the National Technology Park and the University of Limerick which are located near the line.
Proposed developmentsedit
In November 2016 it was announced the line was very likely to close in 2018 as the demand for the service was low and CIE/IE wished to close it to save money.[5] This was subsequently ruled out by Iarnród Éireann.[6]
In 2021, the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership issued online petitions to improve the Limerick–Ballybrophy railway line service. [7][8] There is a phased continuous welded rail (CWR) track relay project being carried out on the line over the last few years.[when?] There is currently[when?] approximately 12 miles of the old jointed track left to be replaced with CWR in the relay project. The majority of the remaining jointed track yet to be relaid is between Cloughjordan and Roscrea stations.[8] The North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership hopes that, once the CWR relay project is completed, signalling system on the Limerick–Ballybrophy railway line will then be upgraded to help improve the speed limits imposed on trains travelling on the line.[8][failed verification]
^"Breakthrough for rail group" - Nenagh Guardian, 1 October 2005
^"Rail Review 2016" (PDF). Ireland: National Transport Authority. August 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^"Rail closure claims rejected by Iarnród Éireann; Taoiseach rules out rail lines being axed". Irish Examiner. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
^"Upgrade and Invest in the Limerick – Nenagh – Ballybrophy Railway Line".
^ abcHalloran, Cathy (13 January 2021). "North Tipperary residents call for better rail service". RTÉ.ie.
November 12, 2023
limerick, ballybrophy, railway, line, limerick, ballybrophy, line, miles, railway, line, connecting, city, limerick, with, ballybrophy, county, laois, line, diverges, from, limerick, limerick, junction, railway, line, killonan, junction, continues, north, east. The Limerick Ballybrophy line is a 52 5 miles 84 5 km 2 railway line connecting the city of Limerick with Ballybrophy in County Laois The line diverges from the Limerick to Limerick Junction railway line at Killonan Junction and continues in a north east direction with five intermediate stops at Castleconnell Birdhill Nenagh Cloughjordan and Roscrea The line ends at Ballybrophy where it joins the Dublin Cork Main Line Limerick Ballybrophy lineOverviewStatusOperationalTerminiLimerick ColbertBallybrophyStations7ServiceTypeHeavy rail commuter railSystemIarnrod EireannServicesLimerick BallybrophyOperator s Iarnrod EireannRolling stock2800 ClassHistoryOpened19 October 1857 1857 10 19 1 TechnicalLine length52 5 mi 84 5 km Number of tracks1Track gauge5 ft 3 in 1 600 mm Irish gaugeOperating speed30 mph 48 km h Route mapvteLimerick toBallybrophy lineLegendBallybrophyDublin Cork main lineRoscreaCloughjordanNenaghBirdhillCastleconnellDublin Cork main line and to WaterfordLimerick ColbertServices are infrequent with two trains per weekday in each direction from Ballybrophy to Limerick In addition there is a commuter service forming part of the Limerick Suburban Rail network which has one train from Nenagh to Limerick The commuter train service runs Mondays to Fridays On Sundays there is one train in each direction Limerick Ballybrophy 3 Services on the line are formed of IE 2800 Class diesel railcars This service is an improvement over previous timetables The North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership lobbied Irish Rail to improve the timetable to suit commuters which they duly did to a limited extent 4 The service is mostly patronised by passengers who connect into morning Limerick to Heuston Station trains and evening trains in the opposite direction at Ballybrophy Station The railway line has several speed restrictions particularly close to Limerick city Although the line offers a geographically shorter and more direct route between Limerick and Dublin it takes almost an hour longer than travelling from Limerick to Dublin via Limerick Junction The train is slower than travelling by car between Nenagh and Limerick The railway line does not serve major employment and educational facilities in Limerick such as the National Technology Park and the University of Limerick which are located near the line Proposed developments editIn November 2016 it was announced the line was very likely to close in 2018 as the demand for the service was low and CIE IE wished to close it to save money 5 This was subsequently ruled out by Iarnrod Eireann 6 In 2021 the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership issued online petitions to improve the Limerick Ballybrophy railway line service 7 8 There is a phased continuous welded rail CWR track relay project being carried out on the line over the last few years when There is currently when approximately 12 miles of the old jointed track left to be replaced with CWR in the relay project The majority of the remaining jointed track yet to be relaid is between Cloughjordan and Roscrea stations 8 The North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership hopes that once the CWR relay project is completed signalling system on the Limerick Ballybrophy railway line will then be upgraded to help improve the speed limits imposed on trains travelling on the line 8 failed verification References edit Roscrea station PDF Railscot Irish Railways Retrieved 7 September 2007 Reidy Michael 30 October 2021 Network Statement PDF 2022 ed Irish Rail p 75 Retrieved 21 September 2022 Limerick Ballybrophy timetable Breakthrough for rail group Nenagh Guardian 1 October 2005 Rail Review 2016 PDF Ireland National Transport Authority August 2016 Retrieved 21 December 2020 Rail closure claims rejected by Iarnrod Eireann Taoiseach rules out rail lines being axed Irish Examiner 7 February 2018 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Upgrade and Invest in the Limerick Nenagh Ballybrophy Railway Line a b c Halloran Cathy 13 January 2021 North Tipperary residents call for better rail service RTE ie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Limerick Ballybrophy railway line amp oldid 1111770266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
