Nenagh Line Cancellations
 

The IE website has details (Oct 8th) of upcoming cancellations and bus substitutions between Limerick and Ballybrophy until December 9th. It would appear that normal services are virtually suspended or curtailed all November. What's going on? Driver shortages? Track improvements? Rolling stock shortages?

Where is Alan Kelly when we need him?

Track relaying I believe.

Well, I hope that's good news and that some improvement in the current dreadful running times will result.

However for a line which is regularly slated as being ripe for closure and a basket case, the cynic in me says that the extra costs of this work will be used to justify closure in the not-too-distant future. Hope I'm wrong, but repainting stations used to be a surefire predictor of closure.

What made me put the initial question was that the Nenagh line disruptions were "due to operational reasons", with no mention of track improvements. Mind you, they may be doing some desperately needed repair to the track which hardly merit being called "improvements"

There was some serious cable theft recently which put the ETS out of service. The splitting of trains at Nenagh requires the ETS banking staff setup which doesn't work with pilot working.

The track beyond Nenagh is in dreadful condition

Irish Rail say "Operational Reasons" - appears to be more convenient to run buses than to sort out the problems caused by cable theft.

There are very extensive closures scheduled between Birdhill and Ballybrophy during November and December. Apparently relaying has commenced in the Ballybrophy-Roscrea section. Any chance that the significant expense incurred will result in improved journey times?

If not, why not?

Obviously great to see any investment in the line but the worst section of the line is the section between Nenagh and Limerick.

If they want to attract regular commuter passengers, they will have to improve the times in and out of Limerick.

My preference would be they keep the line closed until the have upgraded the entire track. Hardly makes sense to leave >30% of the track as is.

Limerick Nenagh is plagued by staffed level crossings, this impacts speeds. Track condition Nenagh - Ballybrophy was by far the worst

A full refurbishment to decent standards would be upwards of 50 million

Are they not in the process of upgrading the track between Nenagh and Ballybrophy? Continuous Welded rail replacing the old track?