[ongoing since 18-11-2009] Carrick-on-Shannon - Longford closed

[Mark Gleeson]

18th November: Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

18th November 2009, 8.45hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line near Strokestown.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.

Its amazing how the network collapses after a bit of rain

[ThomasJ]

Fair enough, if its a bit of rain but days like this we have got continously over the last few weeks!

News reports were also saying this morning that roads in parts of leitrim were badly flooded !

[Mark Gleeson]

So far

Carrick-on-Shannon-Longford closed - flooded
Wicklow - Rathrum closed - landslide
Arklow - Gorey closed - embankment collapse/landside
Dun Laoghaire - Bray was closed - flooded

After all the money spent on infrastructure we should expect better

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

So far

Carrick-on-Shannon-Longford closed - flooded
Wicklow - Rathrum closed - landslide
Arklow - Gorey closed - embankment collapse/landside
Dun Laoghaire - Bray was closed - flooded

After all the money spent on infrastructure we should expect better

Fair enough but in the arklow/wicklow and leitrim cases flooding have been reported on the roads as well the rain in those areas have been that severe, in both those cases weather warnings were out warning of these problems.

[ACustomer]

The IE website notice on the Sligo line disruption says that it is due to flooding on the line "near Strokestown". I thought this looked odd and checked the map: the Sligo line harldy comes within 10km of Strokestown, which is on the other side of the Shannon, between Longford and Dromod.

Which raises the question: why are transfers not being done between Longford and Dromod? It sould seem on the face of it to be simpler.

[seamus kilcock]

Mark Gleeson states 'Its amazing how the network collapses after a bit of rain'.
An uncalled for remark. The 'bit of rain' you refer to has been extremely heavy during the past week or so. Even the Inland Waterways Association has issued a warning to all those using our waterways.
My front garden in Kilcock was 50% flooded this Wednesday morning; a very rare occurance indeed.
It is simply not possible for Irish Rail to have knowledge of every possible landslide etc.
However there is little or no excuse if it is the same area that is repeatedly affected by heavy rain. Does anyone know if the Sligo line closure is at a known 'blackspot'?

[Mark Gleeson]

This is a wet country by nature, far too many incidents of landslides and collapses.

Dun Laoghaire Bray is closed so often when there is heavy rain it has ceased to be 'act of god'. The Rosslare line seems to suffer far too often as does the Sligo line

The rail network should be able to survive a heavy downpour, massive amount of money was spent on sorting it out, and it appears the new drainage doesn't work, well at least the Dalkey Sandycove drainage as ceased working

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=566

UPDATE Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 18th November 2009, 17.00hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line.

This will continue until tomorrow morning, Thursday 19th November, at the earliest. A further update of service arrangements will be available at that time.

Delays of 35 to 45 minutes will result, due to bus transfers.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.

[seamus kilcock]

Fact is the last 3 years so called Summers were the three wettest on record.
The weather stations appropriate to the Sligo line are at Claremorris and Mullingar.
Rainfall at Claremorris up to 18 Nov is already 74% more than the average and is 111% (!) more than all of October.
Rainfall at Mulliingar up to 18 Nov is already 51% more than the average
and is 49% more than all of October.
Reports from the West of Ireland state there are floods just now where there were never any.
I have no doubt the rail network is being affected by the exceptional rainfall during the last 3 years at locations which previously never had a problem from flooding/landslides.

[ACustomer]

Well you can add to the list: a few minutes ago the IE website reported that there are bus transfers between Ballinasloe and Athenry because of flodding. And to add to the fun traffic congestion is delaying the buses....

[dowlingm]

I think the point to be made though is that IE plan on the basis that normal flooding is to be accommodated as if it only happened every decade.

While it was a short commuter service Limerick-Ennis could be written off but now a huge investment has been sunk into Ennis-Athenry and therefore flooding on the existing trackage has a direct impact on the business case (haha, what business case). Similarly the Shannon Bridge replacement cost means that the Sligo line needs to be kept open and making money.

IE should now engage with one of the universities to do research into flood prevention and landslip prevention not just through slapping up concrete walls but ideas like adding trees and other vegetation which will not only keep the water level lower in the ground pre-flood but also keep the ground bound together rather than sliding away. (Coniferous trees preferably - IE don't know how to deal with leaves)

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=566

UPDATE 19th November: Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 19th November 2009, 12.00hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line.

This section of the line will remain closed until further notice. This website will be updated as further details become available.

Delays of 35 to 45 minutes will result, due to bus transfers.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=566

Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 21sst November 2009, 09.45hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line.

This section of the line will remain closed until further notice. This website will be updated as further details become available.

Delays of 35 to 45 minutes will result, due to bus transfers.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=566

Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 23rd November 2009, 13.15hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line.

This section of the line is expected to remain closed for the remainder of this week.

Delays of 35 to 45 minutes will result, due to bus transfers.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.

[Mickey H]

Any update on when the line is likely to re-open?

IE have not bothered to update their page in over a week

[Mark Gleeson]

It will be some time yet before it can reopen.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=566

Bus transfers Carrick on Shannon to Longford due to flooding by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 1st December 2009, 21.00hrs

Bus transfers are currently in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin line, due to flooding on the line.

This section of the line is expected to remain closed for the remainder of this week.

Delays of 35 to 45 minutes will result, due to bus transfers.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.