Notes: The Limerick and Foynes Railway was built between 1856-1858
with intermediate stations at Fort Etna, Patrickswell, Kilbobbin,
Adare, Ballingrane Junction (Rathkeale) and Askeaton. It was
part of the North Kerry line which was extended from a junction
at Ballingrane to Rathkeale and Newcastle West in 1867. The
line was further extended by the Limerick and Kerry Railway
in 1880 from Newcastle West to Tralee via Listowel. The line
closed completely between Ballingrane and Listowel in November
1975, with the remaining section of the North Kerry between
Listowel and Tralee closed completely by June 1978. A junction
existed at Patrickswell for the Cork Direct line to Charleville
on the Dublin to Cork mainline but this was closed in March
1967 by CIE.
The Foynes line has been effectively closed recently and due
to the downgrading of their freight business the seaport is
now sending cargo by road, a situation the Port Company would
like to reverse. Passenger services on the Foynes ceased on
4th April 1963 and the last freight service was a fertiliser
for Athenry on October 30, 2000. Possible freight customers
have stated that Irish Rail's intent to pass on the cost of
reopening directly via service charges have made freight unviable
and thus they have engaged road haulage instead. In December
2001, while not formally closed, the line was designated an
engineers siding and despite Irish Rail's holding the line under
'Care and maintenance', the line and station infrastructure
are showing serious neglect. The line was last visited by the
weedspray train on 7 May 2002. The last known movement on the
line was on 9th January 2003 when a permanent way inspection
car visited the line. In 2004 a track panel was dumped on the
line just out side Limerick Check Cabin making it impossible
for a train to enter the line.
On April 25, 2005 Limerick County Council passed a resolution
making the Limerick-Foynes line a protected structure. This
was stayed by the High Court on June 26, 2005 at the request
of counsel for Córas Iompair Éireann (parent company
of Irish Rail), who claimed the line was still operational and
that the decision would mean any upgrade of the line would require
planning permission.
In Irish Rail's December 2005 working timetable, locomotives
have been banned from travelling beyond Ballingrane due to the
condition of Robertstown viaduct near Foynes.
Success with the Ennis and Nenagh commuter routes may lead
to a re-opening of part of the line to serve the busy Raheen
Industrial Estate and nearby commuter areas but this will require
a commitment of funding from government for rolling stock, signalling
and station remediation.
For more pictures of Foynes Station see Ciaran's
Irish Rail Album and Industrial
Heritage Ireland web site
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