[14/08/2012] GAA - Tipperary V Kilkenny at Croke Park
 

http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4635

No services from Carrick On Suir/Clonmel/Cahir I see even though Clonmel is twice the size of Nenagh and with a much higher level of patronage along that line when it comes to daily passenger numbers.

32,000+ Urban population along the Limerick Junction-Waterford line in South Tipperary of Carrick/Clonmel/Cahir/Tipperary vs under 14,000 from the Ballybrophy-Limerick line in North Tipperary urban areas Birdhill/Nenagh/Cloughjordan/Roscrea (excludes rural populations outside all towns)

With more than twice the population (obviously more potential customers to target) it is unbelievable they NEVER provide additional services along this line never mind a much needed Sunday service.

People in South Tipp need to stand up and say enough. Both bus and rail services have deteriorated over the years with talks recently of Carrick On Suir losing its bus service http://www.tippfm.com/news/detail/no_decision_made_on_the_future_of_carrick_to_dubli n_bus_route Meanwhile in Nenagh trains are still travelling everyday with under four passengers daily.

I can recall GAA specials on the Waterford - Limerick section in the past.

Problem is the 'minister' is in North Tipperary

Problem is the Minister is not in South Tipperary, nobody to give Irish Rail a kick up the rear end.

Interestingly, this year, it appears that the 1705 from Limerick to Ballybrophy on the 18th of August will be an ICR and will terminate at Birdhill on the return working. This leaves the set positioned at Birdhill for Sunday's special.

The revised Tipperary constituency combines North and South Tipp, so Alan Kelly had better pander to the people of Clonmel and Carrick is he is to have any chance of re-election.

No way to run a railroad, though.

Almost everybody agrees Nenagh should have been closed 20-30 years ago. I just wonder how much more money will be spent in the coming months on empty trains and GAA specials before Iarnród Éireann acknowledge they are just throwing it into a bottomless pit.

My brother was also telling me that the latest word around the pubs in Nenagh they are going on about tourism (again) as a plan B for the line as a last ditch attempt to save it from closure. No doubt they will use the recent restoration of Nenagh castle and increase in visitors to prevent it closing.