Limerick Leader article from June.

[John.]

I came across the interview with Johnny O'Connell from Castleconnell station. Very nice. But i noticed a reference to Shale trains from Silvermines to Mungret! Am I getting embarrasingly confused here? I was under the impression that Silvermines closed in the awful charmless year of 1993! Someone cast me a frickin' bone here! Is there some kind of mix up here, or am I missing out on something.....?

[Mark Gleeson]

Silvermines is long closed

The shale comes from a place called Kilmastulla just beyond Birdhill. Generally unknown that there can be 3 or 4 trips a day

[John.]

I knew it was too good to be true...... None the less, in these days of decreasing freight services, it offers SOME degree of hope, the problem of course, is for how long........

[Jister]

Originally Posted by John.

I knew it was too good to be true...... None the less, in these days of decreasing freight services, it offers SOME degree of hope, the problem of course, is for how long........

In a few years there will be motorway door to door, so that will probably be the death of the shale traffic, although 3 or 4 trips a day sounds like significant volume.

By then the lines will be busy transferring commuters around the Limerick area on 4 trains an hour [not]

[John.]

I'm sure people are sick to the guts of questions like this by now, so forgive me if I'm resorting to worn out cliches. I was interested in knowing the exact "line up" for the current rail freight service. Would I be correct in assuming in reads something like this.....?


Westport - Ballina. Logs.
Westport - Sligo. As above.
Sligo - Waterford. As above.
Waterford - Ballina (Via Cherryville). Liners.
Navan - Dublin Port. Ore.
Drogheda Platin - Mungret. Cement.
Drogheda Platin - Cork. As above.
Drogheda Platin - Waterford. As above.
Birdhill - Mungret. Shale.
Dublin - Belfast. Limited Liner service.
Dublin - Cork. As above.

[Mark Gleeson]

As far as I know

Ballina Waterford Logs.
Sligo Waterford Logs.
Waterford - Ballina (Via Cherryville). Norfolk Line twice a week
Navan - Dublin Port. Iron Ore 3 times daily
Drogheda Platin - Waterford. Cement
Waterford Mungret Cement (temp)
Birdhill - Mungret. Shale.

Internal freight is limited to
Connolly Dublin Port oil
Fairview Inchicore Dart Bogies
Limerick Inchicore Wagon Wheels

And you will see Tara Mines wagons in Limerick from time to time

[James Shields]

Hmmm, I see trainloads of beer barrels trundelling through the docklands quite a bit. Where are they coming from?

[kilman]

lostcarpark,
These would have been Guinness kegs, but I believe that this has stopped or is about to stop.
Begs the question, what will happen to the space at Heuston where the loading/unloading happens. Increase car park?Build apartments or will we get platforms 9,11,12,13 and 14 out there!!

[AZ1]

Anyone know what will happen to the Athy freight branch to the local cement works, now that cement trains are no more?
Would IE have plans for that land, or does it just get abandoned?
Could it be sold off to bring in cash and free up space for other local usage?
Just curious! Thanks.