Portarlington and Limerick Junction upgrades coming?

[dowlingm]

Over on IRN a poster called Platform 10 has indicated that Portarlington speed restrictions will be lifted to 60 from 30 on the conclusion of some ongoing trackwork, cutting running times by about three minutes. Another poster, ThreeAspect, indicated that ultimately Portarlington will go to 80mph and Limerick Junction will see 60mph (currently 25) and CTC, with Platform 10 adding that a down platform will go in with additional stopping Cork services being added due to conflict elimination, with the benefit of additional connections.

[As an aside, although not Dub-Cork related, P10 also mentioned elsewhere a raising of LJ-Waterford to 50mph allowing 4 x daily service].

Anybody here know anything about these projects?

[Mark Gleeson]

I won't comment on anything on IRN

There is a project in Irish Rail under the name of the Portarlington realignment project or something similar, IE management confirmed it to us over 2 years ago

It involves the replacement of all life expired track and some changes to the the up loop and the down trailing siding (it was removed on the May bank holiday). The speed limit through the station area will be increased to 60mph the limit being the geometry on the curve approaching from Dublin. Its worth about 4 minutes to a non stop train and a matter of 30 seconds at most to a train which is stopping anyway.Both platforms will be extended at the Dublin end by about 50-60m

The Limerick Junction Waterford line is to be resignalled using Mini CTC and a service of up to a train every 2 hours is envisaged linking presumably with Dublin Cork trains, thats all tentative but I believe my source.

Upgrade work has already begun at Limerick Junction and various pieces are being done, both signal cabins will be closed which also means Tipperary will be a CTC fringe. Speed limit will go back to 80mph as it was in the 1980's and all the signalling will be replaced so the gap in cab signalling at Limerick Junction will be filled, thats worth 6 minutes to a train which doesn't stop and probably 1-2 minutes for any train which does

There is a new platform as well however I don't have specifics

Overall for Dublin Cork which doesn't stop in Limerick Junction it should save 10 minutes counteracting the 10 minutes lost to the KRP works hopefully meaning 2:35 is back on the table falling to 2:20-2:25 once the KRP is finished

[dowlingm]

thanks for the "non comment" Mark

[Mark Gleeson]

None of my info comes from IRN bulk of it comes from open discussion with IE management in the past few years, its real not best guess crayon stuff

[Thomas J Stamp]

also not on IRN is the major rebuild of Templemore station.

Also, not on IRN was the fact that we told you about the disgraceful curtailment of services over the bank holiday due to these works well before Irish Rail did.

But thats what you get from us, stuff you really need to know.

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp

Also, not on IRN was the fact that we told you about the disgraceful curtailment of services over the bank holiday due to these works well before Irish Rail did.

I knew from platform11 about the works before they happened, because IE 'forgot' to drop the notice leaflets into our estate, which is the closest to the line.
(v.close indeed with our windows lit up like daytime all night and my poor neighbours' toddlers spending all night shouting 'Diggers!')

[Mark Gleeson]

The IE annual report states after the works in Portarlington the line speed will be 80mph, if this is the case it will mean a much much bigger reduction in journey times than first envisaged

[2Funki4Wheelz]

Out of curiousity, which curve is the problem at Port, the one on the Dublin side or the Cork/Galway side?

[Mark Gleeson]

Dublin side one, it doesn't look bad until you stick your head out the window

The 90mph limit applies to the Cork side curve in theory the limit could be 90mph through the platforms and 80mph in the Dublin side curve, the points under the bridge are the weak spot