Programme for Government 2020

Thomas Morelli · 04-07-2020, 18:32

The recently agreed-on programme for government says it prioritizes the Dublin Metro and expansion of DART & Luas.
It gives a few other vague mentions of railways.
The whole thing can be read here:
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/n...e-for-govt.pdf

Part of page 14:

Quote:

Specifically, the Government will prioritise plans for the
delivery of Metrolink, Luas and other light rail expansion, DART
expansion and interconnector and Bus Connects in Dublin,
Cork, Galway, and Limerick.

Part of page 15:

Quote:

We will:
· In line with the commitment in the National Planning
Framework to balanced regional development,
prioritise rail projects in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and
Waterford on existing and unused lines.
· Continue to fund safety works and capital
improvements to the rail network, expand the Irish
Rail fleet and progress the electrification of rail
services to decrease journey times and emissions.
· Commission an economic evaluation of higher-speed
rail links between our main cities.

I'm curious about the mention of projects in Cork, Galway, Waterford & Limerick on existing & unused lines.
I can't imagine what they are referring to, if they have any projects in mind at all.
Would anyone here know any projects which they might be referring to here?

Mark Gleeson · 13-07-2020, 19:31

There is talk of Waterford Rosslare. The New Ross bypass has hurt the future opportunities.

The doc is vague, the Green party are out canvasing for feedback and expanding

comcor · 16-07-2020, 21:26

I would presume the mention of Cork, Limerick and Galway was a just new stations on existing lines. There have long been plans for stations at Blarney and Kilbarry between Cork and Mallow, and a P&R station on the Cobh/Midleton lines (although the site is now compromised). In Galway a station between Oranmore and Galway is often mentioned as a possibility. In Limerick there has been mention of a station at Moyross on the way to Ennis.

I don’t think any of the lines to Youghal, Tuam or Foynes are quick wins as they need significant investment.

There are mutterings of forcing a rail line to be built along side the M20 to get the Greens to agree to it, but building a line alongside a new motorway seems a sure fire way to undermine it before it gets built.

dowlingm · 17-07-2020, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by comcor

I would presume the mention of Cork, Limerick and Galway was a just new stations on existing lines. There have long been plans for stations at Blarney and Kilbarry between Cork and Mallow, and a P&R station on the Cobh/Midleton lines (although the site is now compromised). In Galway a station between Oranmore and Galway is often mentioned as a possibility. In Limerick there has been mention of a station at Moyross on the way to Ennis.

I don’t think any of the lines to Youghal, Tuam or Foynes are quick wins as they need significant investment.

There are mutterings of forcing a rail line to be built along side the M20 to get the Greens to agree to it, but building a line alongside a new motorway seems a sure fire way to undermine it before it gets built.

Crusheen (between Ennis and Gort) is on the Network Statement as a forthcoming station

http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/...yStations.html

comcor · 17-07-2020, 16:09

I would have thought the last thing needed between Ennis and Athenry would be another station to slow services down more. At least with Moyross, you could serve it with trains only running between Limerick and Ennis.

Crusheen is small. For comparison's sake, this is a non-exhaustive list of towns, on or within 2km of a rail line, that are larger and don't have a station.

Mountrath
Kilmallock
Buttevant
Blarney
Cratloe
Caherconlish
Mooncoin
Mullinavat
Newcastle
Ferns
Dunleer
Castlebellingham

A couple of observations about that list
- There are way better candidates than Crusheen. Specifically, places that could drive commuter traffic, like Dunleer, Blarney or Newcastle.
- In the absence of designated stopping services outside urban areas, we could kill the already poor timings on our rail network

dowlingm · 18-07-2020, 18:20

A halt wouldn’t do much harm if it was adjoining a PSR. Not sure if there is one in Crusheen. A station with a passing loop would inject flexibility into the timetable - but given the failure to build one straight away in Oranmore, to build one at all in Sixmilebridge, and the lifting of ones between Limerick Junction and Waterford, I don’t think we should hold our breath.

Moyross should have a 2 platform halt (“Musgrave Park/LIT”) and a single track one in Cratloe could be called “Bunratty (Cratloe)”

Killonan could have had one if Limerick bothered to develop a town around the junction together with a decent link road to Plassey.

Kilmallock is too close to Charleville; moving Charleville Station a bit north to be closer to Kilmallock’s catchment could work given that the existing station is remote, but with the loop it would likely be too expensive.

Doubt Mountrath would see a halt for 1800 people on a high speed section of the line unless Ballybrophy was closed and the Nenagh branch was reoriented via Borris in Ossory and points north as a third main track into Portlaoise which seems a bit unlikely to me...

13-07-2020, 19:31	#2
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	There is talk of Waterford Rosslare. The New Ross bypass has hurt the future opportunities. The doc is vague, the Green party are out canvasing for feedback and expanding __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

16-07-2020, 21:26	#3
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	I would presume the mention of Cork, Limerick and Galway was a just new stations on existing lines. There have long been plans for stations at Blarney and Kilbarry between Cork and Mallow, and a P&R station on the Cobh/Midleton lines (although the site is now compromised). In Galway a station between Oranmore and Galway is often mentioned as a possibility. In Limerick there has been mention of a station at Moyross on the way to Ennis. I don’t think any of the lines to Youghal, Tuam or Foynes are quick wins as they need significant investment. There are mutterings of forcing a rail line to be built along side the M20 to get the Greens to agree to it, but building a line alongside a new motorway seems a sure fire way to undermine it before it gets built.

17-07-2020, 16:09	#5
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	I would have thought the last thing needed between Ennis and Athenry would be another station to slow services down more. At least with Moyross, you could serve it with trains only running between Limerick and Ennis. Crusheen is small. For comparison's sake, this is a non-exhaustive list of towns, on or within 2km of a rail line, that are larger and don't have a station. Mountrath Kilmallock Buttevant Blarney Cratloe Caherconlish Mooncoin Mullinavat Newcastle Ferns Dunleer Castlebellingham A couple of observations about that list - There are way better candidates than Crusheen. Specifically, places that could drive commuter traffic, like Dunleer, Blarney or Newcastle. - In the absence of designated stopping services outside urban areas, we could kill the already poor timings on our rail network

18-07-2020, 18:20	#6
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	A halt wouldn’t do much harm if it was adjoining a PSR. Not sure if there is one in Crusheen. A station with a passing loop would inject flexibility into the timetable - but given the failure to build one straight away in Oranmore, to build one at all in Sixmilebridge, and the lifting of ones between Limerick Junction and Waterford, I don’t think we should hold our breath. Moyross should have a 2 platform halt (“Musgrave Park/LIT”) and a single track one in Cratloe could be called “Bunratty (Cratloe)” Killonan could have had one if Limerick bothered to develop a town around the junction together with a decent link road to Plassey. Kilmallock is too close to Charleville; moving Charleville Station a bit north to be closer to Kilmallock’s catchment could work given that the existing station is remote, but with the loop it would likely be too expensive. Doubt Mountrath would see a halt for 1800 people on a high speed section of the line unless Ballybrophy was closed and the Nenagh branch was reoriented via Borris in Ossory and points north as a third main track into Portlaoise which seems a bit unlikely to me...