Galway-Limerick opening

[Colm Moore]

http://twitter.com/irishrail/

Lashing out of the heavens at Craughwell, but still community turning out in force http://tweetphoto.com/16294683

http://twitter.com/irishrail/

# Official launch train for Limerick-Galway line is on the move. Full services begin tomorrow, Tues 30th March. about 4 hours ago via UberTwitter

http://twitter.com/irishrail/

# Big crowds at new stations to welcome Limerick-Galway launch train. Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan + Craughwell open to public tomorrow about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter

[dowlingm]

a 4 car 2700 consist full of hangers on and a 3x22k to bring Dempsey back to Dublin. Plaques and banners and hooleys.

How many taxi fares would that have paid to let the Waterford-Rosslare train depart at 1745 (after the Dublin train arrives) rather than 1720?

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=686

Limerick-Galway rail service commences Tuesday 30th March by Corporate Communications

Almost 34 years after the last scheduled passenger train operated between Limerick and Galway line, a special launch train carrying invited guests will once again traverse the tracks between the two cities later today (Monday 29th March), to officially open the new Limerick – Galway service.

The €106.5 million new route will be officially launched by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD following the completion of the renewal of the Ennis-Athenry line. Scheduled services will commence tomorrow, Tuesday 30th March.

Joining Minister Dempsey and CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr John Lynch at the launch celebrations will be the Mayors of the cities and counties along the route, elected representatives, community and business groups, members of the project team and other invited guests.

The Ennis to Athenry renewal will:
- Deliver direct Galway to Limerick services, in comfort, and with reliable city to city journey times
- Serve Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway; and new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell with 83, 72, 53 and 62 parking spaces at each respectively. Sixmilebridge Station has been delivered in conjunction with Clare County Council
- Expand commuter links to Limerick and Galway
- Promote balanced regional development, in line with National Spatial Strategy objectives, by linking two Gateways – Limerick and Galway – and serving the hub of Ennis

The investment project delivered by Iarnród Éireann, and funded by the Irish Government under Transport 21, involved:
- Renewal of 36 miles of track, including all necessary fencing and drainage and installation of points and crossings at Gort and Ennis.
- A 90m platform with furniture, signage, shelter, Automatic Ticket Vending Machine, lighting, car park, PA, Customer Information Systems, help point and CCTV provision at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. These stations are also accessible to the mobility impaired
- At Ennis and Athenry stations, PA, Customer Information Systems, help point and CCTV has been provided
- Repair and improvement work has been undertaken on bridges on the route to allow rail services to operate
- Modernised signalling systems
- Over 100 level crossings have been eliminated

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman, Dr John Lynch, previewing the service, said “already it is clear there is tremendous public support for and interest in this new service. We have boosted capacities on trains throughout launch week such is the level of enquiries from people right along the route, and we are very confident that demand will easily outstrip the projections made for this service.”

Speaking today Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said: "This is a truly historic day for the West of Ireland because for the first time in over 30 years passenger trains will again run between Limerick and Galway. It is the longest section of track to be re-opened in the entire country and it is also the first Inter-City line to be re-opened"

The Minister continued: "I would like to acknowledge the dedication and vision of the various groups and organisations that have worked over the years. Your support for projects such as the Western Rail Corridor is crucial. I cannot overstate the critical importance of local support for Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor in promoting the development of Phase 2 and 3"

The service will launch with five services in each direction, Monday to Saturday, serving all stations en route, with four services each way on Sundays. Services will operate as follows (from 30th March):

Monday to Saturday
Galway to Limerick
Dep Galway....... 06.40 09.45 12.10 14.30 17.25
Arr Athenry...... 06.53 09.58 12.23 14.43 17.38
Dep Athenry...... 06.56 10.03 12.26 14.46 17.41
Dep Craughwell... 07.05 10.12 12.35 14.55 17.50
Dep Ardrahan..... 07.17 10.24 12.47 15.07 18.02
Dep Gort......... 07.32 10.41 13.01 15.21 18.14
Arr Ennis........ 07.59 11.08 13.28 15.48 18.41
Dep Ennis........ 08.00 11.08 13.28 15.48 18.44
Dep Sixmilebridge 08.17 11.26 13.46 16.06 19.01
Arr Limerick..... 08.39 11.48 14.08 16.28 19.24


Monday to Saturday
Limerick to Galway
Dep Limerick..... 06.00 09.35 11.55 14.15 18.05
Dep Sixmilebridge 06.21 09.56 12.16 14.36 18.26
Arr Ennis........ 06.40 10.14 12.34 14.54 18.44
Dep Ennis........ 07.05 10.14 12.34 14.54 18.44
Dep Gort......... 07.33 10.41 13.01 15.21 19.11
Dep Ardrahan..... 07.43 10.51 13.11 15.31 19.21
Dep Craughwell... 07.54 11.02 13.22 15.42 19.32
Arr Athenry...... 08.05 11.12 13.32 15.52 19.42
Dep Athenry...... 08.08 11.19 13.35 15.56 19.45
Arr Galway....... 08.25 11.34 13.51 16.13 20.00


Sunday
Galway to Limerick
Dep Galway....... 08.25 12.05 16.25 18.40
Arr Athenry...... 08.38 12.18 16.38 18.53
Dep Athenry...... 08.41 12.21 16.41 18.57
Dep Craughwell... 08.50 12.30 16.50 19.06
Dep Ardrahan..... 09.02 12.42 17.02 19.18
Dep Gort......... 09.14 12.54 17.16 19.36
Arr Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 17.43 20.03
Dep Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 17.43 20.03
Dep Sixmilebridge 09.59 13.39 18.01 20.21
Arr Limerick..... 10.23 14.02 18.24 20.43

Sunday
Limerick to Galway
Dep Limerick..... 09.00 12.40 16.10 18.30
Dep Sixmilebridge 09.21 13.01 16.31 18.51
Arr Ennis........ 09.39 13.19 16.49 19.09
Dep Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 16.49 19.09
Dep Gort......... 10.09 13.49 17.16 19.36
Dep Ardrahan..... 10.18 13.58 17.26 19.46
Dep Craughwell... 10.29 14.09 17.37 19.57
Arr Athenry...... 10.40 14.20 17.47 20.07
Dep Athenry...... 10.42 14.22 17.50 20.10
Arr Galway....... 10.59 14.39 18.09 20.25

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0329/rail.html

Limerick to Galway rail line reopened
watch listen Monday, 29 March 2010 22:23

The Limerick to Galway rail line has been officially reopened, with trains travelling between the two cities for the first time in 34 years.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said support for this phase of the project would be critical to the successful completion of the next phase from Galway to Tuam due to be opened in 2011.

Minister Dempsey today attended the official departure of the first service from Limerick at 10.30am.
Advertisement

The re-opening of the rail link comes after €160m was spent upgrading the Ennis to Athenry line.

As well as serving Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, the project involved the building and total fit-out of new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell.

Car parking facilities, as well as mobility-impaired access, are provided at the new stations.

There will be five services each way along the new route starting at 6am from Limerick, with journey times varying from just under two hours to two-and-a-half hours.

An estimated 300,000 passengers a year are expected to use the service.

The new link has been widely welcomed, however Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said it was disappointing the route did not include a terminal at Moyross as part of the important regeneration process.

Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who lives in Oranmore, said the greatest mistake on the line was that it did not include a stop there, which serves a hinterland of up to 15,000 people.

An Oranmore stop is planned to open in 2011.

West on Track, which has campaigned heavily for the new service, said it is important to proceed to phases two and three to Tuam and Claremorris.

However, Iarnród Éireann cannot say when these phases will be started given the current difficulties with the State finances.

http://www.rte.ie/business/2010/0329/rail.html

Limerick & Galway reconnected by rail again
watch Monday, 29 March 2010 14:19

The new Limerick to Galway rail line was officially launched today - reopening the rail links between the two cities for the first time in 34 years.

However, some reservations have been expressed that the service does not include the populous areas of Moyross in Limerick and Oranmore in Galway.

The re-opening of the rail link comes after €106m has been spent on upgrading the Ennis to Athenry line.

As well as serving Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, the project involved the building and total fit out of new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. Car parking facilities, as well as mobility impaired access, are also provided at the new stations.

There will be five services each way starting at 6am from Limerick, with journey times varying from just under two hours to two and a half hours. An estimated 300,000 passengers a year are expected to use the service.

'West on Track', which has campaigned heavily, for the new service said it was important to proceed to phases two and three to Tuam and Claremorris. However Irish Rail can not say when these phases will be start given the current difficulties with the State finances.

[Colm Moore]

http://transport.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=188

Dempsey opens Western Rail Corridor between Limerick and Galway
29 - 03 - 2010

Passenger trains run between Limerick and Galway for the first time in over 30 years

Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Transport today, in Galway, opened Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor which will provide 5 services each way daily serving Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway as well as the new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. Another new station will be built at Oranmore. There will be four services each way on Sundays.

This is the longest section of track to be re-opened in the entire country and it is also the first Inter-City line to be re-opened.

The Minister said: “This is a truly historic day for the West of Ireland. For the first time in over 30 years passenger trains will again run between Limerick and Galway. This will facilitate passengers to travel between Limerick and Galway rather than travelling to Portarlington.”

The reopening of Ennis to Athenry will:
* Deliver direct Galway to Limerick services;
* Serve Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway; and new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell as well as Oranmore in the future;
* Expand commuter links to Limerick and Galway;
* Promote balanced regional development, in line with National Spatial Strategy objectives, by linking 2 Gateways – Limerick and Galway and serving the hub of Ennis.

The Minister continued: “I cannot overstate the critical importance of local support for Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor in promoting the development of further phases of the Corridor. I am seeking to progress planning of the Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3, to ensure that we are in a position to move speedily to construction at the earliest possible date.”

The reopening of the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) from Ennis to Claremorris was included as a priority project under Transport 21. The next step will be for Iarnród Éireann to undertake a detailed evaluation of Phases 2 and 3 with a view to arriving at precise costs to undertake the works.

Transport 21 provided for the phased reopening of the line
* Phase 1: Ennis to Athenry - opens today
* Phase 2: Athenry to Tuam - due to be completed in 2011
* Phase 3: Tuam to Claremorris - due to be completed in 2015
* Phase 4: Claremorris to Collooney - to be preserved under the Clár Programme

The Minister concluded, “Now that the dream of reopening Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor has been realised, the challenge is to ensure its success.”


Ends

Further information: Press Office, Department of Transport - (01) 6041090 /6041091.

Note to editors:

In the past decade, over €50 million has been spent on the Galway-Dublin line, €100 million on the Mayo Line and €150 million on the Sligo-Dublin line.

[dowlingm]

Never mind the thin headcounts, business will boom once the Franken22K arrives.

[ccos]

From Railway gazette

Western reopening to encourage regional development
31 March 2010
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey formally launched the Western Rail Corridor service on March 29.

IRELAND: Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey formally launched Ireland's first revival of an inter-city route on March 29. The following day a regular service of five daily return trains ran between Limerick and Galway for the first time since 1976.

The €106·5m Phase 1 of the project to reopen the Western Rail Corridor covered the 58 km Ennis - Athenry section and stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. An additional station is to open at Oranmore in 2011, and one is planned for Crusheen.

Reopening of the mothballed north-south route was a priority under the government's Transport 21 strategy. As well as expanding commuter services into the cities of Limerick and Galway, it is intended to promote regional development and reduce centralisation on Dublin. 'This is a truly historic day for the west of Ireland', said Dempsey.

National railway Iarnród Éireann is now working on accurate costings for reopening of the 25 km from Athenry to Tuam in 2011, and the 27 km Phase 3 to Claremorris in 2015. The 74 km alignment of the former route from Claremorris to Collooney and Sligo is to be protected.

* The Ballina - Dublin Port container service operated by IÉ under contract to International Warehousing & Transport since August 2009 will be increased from two to three trains per week in April.

[corktina]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Never mind the thin headcounts, business will boom once the Franken22K arrives.

any official statistics on passenger numbers ? After 4 months, the levels of usage should have settled down to a predictable level.

[Mark Gleeson]

Some details on numbers finally arrived

Summer was good, kind of expected as everyone took a trip out of curiosity

Post summer numbers are dreadful, the classic 'line in trouble' phrase has been mentioned at the highest levels in IE. The motorway and new express Bus Eireann service appeared as well during the year.

Full numbers by quarter will be available soon

[neoncircles]

Was on a Limk-Galway and vice versa to and from Ennis the other day. Well, everyone got on/off in Ennis! A very small number remained on the train it seemed for Galway. The draft new timetable they've posted now has no improvements at all for journey times- 20 minutes could easily be knocked off. Its not going to compete with the bus, at all.

[dowlingm]

Even the X51 offers a stop near GMIT, whereas there's no train halt in Renmore or Oranmore. Too busy building halts in the middle of nowhere, and plotting them in Crusheen for the love of god...