All-island rail review sets out 37 billion-euro plan to improve services

[spudfan]

All-island rail review sets out 37 billion-euro plan to improve services (msn.com)

The salient parts. 

– Build a new direct line between Lisburn and Newry.

– Restore a line between Athenry in Co Galway and Claremorris in Co Mayo, connecting Tuam in Co Galway to the network.

– Reinstate the South Wexford railway.

– Develop a new rail link from Letterkenny in Co Donegal to Derry.

– Build a rail link that would cross central Dublin – potentially via a tunnel – to connect Heuston station, which receives trains from the south of the island, with the northern line that serves Connolly station.

 

Edited July 31, 2024 by spudfan

[Tractionman]

the doc can be accessed here

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cc8fc-all-island-strategic-rail-review/

 

'salient' points will probably differ between us all, but I find the duplication of the Belfast-Newry route odd, unless it is part of a new 'high speed' alignment for Belfast-Dublin? (edit: ok I see it is about increasing N-S capacity)

 

more capacity for rail freight would be good to see, and better rail-ferry links at ports.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2024 by Tractionman

[Branchline121]

1 hour ago, spudfan said:

All-island rail review sets out 37 billion-euro plan to improve services (msn.com)

The salient parts. 

– Build a new direct line between Lisburn and Newry.

– Restore a line between Athenry in Co Galway and Claremorris in Co Mayo, connecting Tuam in Co Galway to the network.

– Reinstate the South Wexford railway.

– Develop a new rail link from Letterkenny in Co Donegal to Derry.

– Build a rail link that would cross central Dublin – potentially via a tunnel – to connect Heuston station, which receives trains from the south of the island, with the northern line that serves Connolly station.

 

Don’t forget to them the reinstatement of the Derry Road and the direct line between Clongriffin and Drogheda. Also a short spur to Limavady and railway between Mullingar and Portadown. There’s finally the electrification of most of the important lines (Dublin radial lines to Cork, Belfast, Galway and Waterford + the Derry Road). It could really transform our railways if it actually happens, so hopefully it will.

[Branchline121]

The government’s follow-up, the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, came out today. Mostly just a reiteration of the AISRR but a bit more detail in some places. Reinstatement of the Mosney loop and Sligo platform 2 among some of the new proposals. Here it is for anyone who wants to give it a read. Below is a graphic from the document:

[GSR 800]

27 minutes ago, Branchline121 said:

The government’s follow-up, the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, came out today. Mostly just a reiteration of the AISRR but a bit more detail in some places. Reinstatement of the Mosney loop and Sligo platform 2 among some of the new proposals. Here it is for anyone who wants to give it a read. Below is a graphic from the document:

Seems like 'AIRR meets the Department of Finance' in terms of scaling back to a more realistic policy. Maintained commitment to reopening the Derry Road is probably the highlight here, along with the commitment to electrification throughout much of the network. 

The near-complete lack of any attention whatsoever to the Sligo line and absence of any commitment to the reopening of the Mullingar to Athlone section is quite the letdown. The Sligo is begging to be double-tracked out to Longford. It looks like Enfield might be getting a 'station enhancement ' though? This would go some way to improve services between Mullingar and Maynooth. Usually, trains have to cross at either Mullingar, Killucan, or Maynooth, often with significant delays knocked on throughout. Enfield is an obvious point for crossovers, but it is avoided at all costs, as it only has a single platform in use, even though the other is sitting right across from it, meaning trains have to reverse back into the loop. Just reinstating platform 2 and getting a footbridge would do a great deal for services here. Still pretty crazy to see the Sligo line basically get ignored compared to the rest of the network. The trains are incredibly overcrowded; only today, someone fainted on the packed morning Longford commuter. Not the first time I've seen it on a jam-packed 29.

Edited December 16, 2025 by GSR 800

[Darrman]

Some of the dots on the map are a bit off, but there is a textual list of "early interventions" for completion by 2030. In order:

• Reinstate Mosney loop and use Skerries loop more on the Belfast line
• Bring Sligo platform 2 and the disused Enfield platform back into use and build a loop somewhere between Sligo and Boyle on the Sligo line
• Build second platforms at Clara and Woodlawn on the Galway line
• Build a passing loop west of Claremorris on the Mayo line
• Build another platform at Limerick Junction and a passing loop east of Clonmel on Limerick-Waterford
• Build a spur at Portadown to future-proof the Derry Road later on

The general justifications are for increased service frequencies and improved resilience: hourly Sligos and two-hourly Mayos (presumably Westports) are mentioned, along with two-hourly Limerick-Waterford services. The Limerick Junction platform is stated to save 10 minutes on Limerick-Waterford journey times, so presumably would get rid of the reversal there, while it's also mentioned to facilitate Cork-Galway services. Where would you put this platform? My gut would put it immediately after the flat crossing near platform 4, but that would be useless for Cork-Galway service. Putting one before Keane's Points would be a long walk for the passenger. Maybe the plan is to just rebuild the whole thing? A "reconfiguration" is given in the major project pipeline.

As for the more vague loop positions given, I'd assume they'd reinstate Ballymote, Castlebar, and Carrick-on-Suir loops, and all stations have disused platforms and are roughly halfway between the loops in either direction. You could make a case to have the loop at Manulla for the Mayo line instead and open it for standard passenger service.

[226 Abhann na Suire]

I quite like the plan I have to say. While it’s not 100% ideal, it is definitely a start. The whole project is listed as early interventions before some of the heavier stuff in the review, although some of the stuff mentioned in this plan like the Derry Road and the Hazelhatch to Portarlington express route are brand new heavy infrastructure projects, and are being put ahead of other easy wins like the Waterford-Wexford line.

I suppose this is maybe fair with regards to the Hazelhatch to Portarlington line, as that was layered out in Project Connect earlier in the autumn, but it doesn’t explain why FourNorth is nowhere to be seen… The plan is vague about the improvements it mentions between Connolly and Clongriffin and doesn’t specify quad track, nor can we see the Clongriffin to Drogheda alignment being mentioned anywhere, something which I would personally consider more necessary than a Kildare bypass…

I’m not sure if I really understand the loop east of Clonmel either. Clonmel has a loop already which is up to modern standards (used only a month or so ago I believe), but could do with a lift and a resurface of platform 2. Surely they isn’t much benefit in a loop even closer to Waterford…

The ideal location for a loop on this line is Cahir as timetabling wise, it is exactly half way between Limerick Colbert and Waterford and would allow services to pass each other to connect the two cities with pre-9am arrivals at each. Tipperary also has a loop, but I don’t think it’s been used in a while (the northern turnout likely needs replacing) and also no second platform on the loop, like Enfield currently.

 Finally, it talks about ongoing projects and mentions the ‘Limerick-Athenry capacity enhancements, phase 1’ and shows station upgrades to what looks like Gort and passing loops at what seems to be Crusheen (fair enough, I know there’s talk of reopening the station) and for some stupid reason, Cratloe…

It could just be a misplacement on the map, but it definitely looks like Cratloe and I remember there being vague talk of the possibility of loop there a while ago. Why on earth not at Sixmilebridge??

There is a completely straight 5km section of track beyond the station where a dynamic loop could be installed alongside a second platform, and distance wise it is exactly halfway between where the branch leaves the Limerick Jnct line and Ennis, the next loop. So why on earth put one further towards Ennis, and at a point where trains will have to stop without a station…?

Does anyone have a link to that project or where I might be able to find info on it, because it lists it as an ongoing project, and as only being phase 1… Would love to see the whole project.

Anyway that’s just my tuppenceworth on a Tuesday afternoon, overall it’s a good plan and it’s great to see some all-island connected thinking about how to improve our rail network finally becoming a bit more tangible. 

[Branchline121]

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2026/0724/1584928-irish-rail/

Irish Rail have announced they plan to upgrade the Northern line to 4 tracks. First mention of this concept since GNRI days I presume?

[jhb171achill]

An interesting one, seemingly coming out of the blue.

IF they carry it out, and within a timescale before 8 tracks are needed, it will be a truly excellent plan, though it will inevitably lead to a major and difficult re-configuration of Connolly Station. 

One presumes that a central pair of tracks will take Enterprises, semi-fasts to Drogheda and Dundalk, and any goods trains if they ever bring them back. As many will know, it's an open secret that there is a substantial anti-freight lobby within IE.... but that, of course, could change or be forced to change.

Therefore, the "outer" lines would serve the suburban halts.

How to do it? In reality, a very large amount of it is perfectly feasible. The GNR line was built in cuttings and on embankments. Make the sides of cutting vertical (with stout concrete retaining walls) and it's surprising how much extra space would be made. Similarly, build similar up from the outer lower boundaries of embankments, same result. The big thing will be stations - including any that are listed. Looking at my own local area, the inland side (down line) of Malahide and Donabate will require listed structures and private land to be eaten, but the price is well worth paying. 

The Malahide Estuary line will need to be widened - this will be easy. 

Several road bridges (that in Malahide over the railway is a main road and a busy one) will need to be widened - major job in itself. 

Even without encroaching on much existing road space, huge disruption will be necessary - but again, worth it overall.

The idea has been mentioned before (by a highly qualified and experienced railway engineer who I know, for one), that a double track line built in a tunnel UNDER the existing line would be another solution - if so, this could link with an underground system - although in reality our politicians will uselessly kick THIS ball down the road for another 150 years...  Such a scheme would be executed with much less disruption, though it might cost a lot more. 

Either way, this is good news, and about time too! Let's hope they follow the words with action.