Increased passenger numbers on Nenagh rail line

Local partnership calls on politicians to provide funding

Passenger numbers on the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line between 2022 and 2023 increased by 61%, North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership was told during a meeting last month with Irish Rail management.

The meeting was attended by Irish Rail CEO Jim Meade; John Kennedy, District Manager, Colbert Station, Limerick, and Cathal Mangan, Chief Civil Engineer with Irish Rail. They were told that this increase was due to consistent journey times and the installation of continuous welded track (CWT).

Irish Rail would like to see an increase in services, the partnership said in a statement after the meeting, but the company does not have the budget for either automating level crossing gates or upgrading signalling. The group is now calling on elected representatives to ensure the necessary funding is allocated to the line to allow the infrastructure upgrades.

The partnership pointed out that the recent All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review had committed to having a two-hourly service on the line, and they were informed by Mr Meade that the company should be in a position to increase services by the end of 2026 when sufficient extra trains are released by the electrification of trains in the greater Dublin area by the DART + programme. The partnership said that Mr Meade made it clear that Irish Rail will have enough trains and drivers then and will have the ability to operate more services, but stressed that all timetables and timetable changes were subject to the approval of the National Transport Authority.

Meanwhile, the partnership will be inviting all candidates in the June local elections to a meeting in Nenagh Arts Centre on Thursday, April 4, at 6pm to ask them to include rail transport as part of their election policy.