Limerick Junction railway station

Last updated

Limerick Junction

Gabhal Luimnigh
Irish Rail logo.svg
Limerick Junction Station (geograph 4911585).jpg
Looking south in 2016 before platform four was built in 2019. The lines are from right to left are: station access loop; Dublin (up) line; and Cork (down) line. The building in the centre is the watertower.
General information
LocationLimerick Junction, County Tipperary, E34 E984
Ireland
Coordinates 52°29′58″N8°12′04″W / 52.49944°N 8.20111°W / 52.49944; -8.20111
Owned by Iarnród Éireann
Operated by Iarnród Éireann
Platforms4
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Other information
Station code16 [1]
Fare zoneN
Key dates
1848Station opened
2007Number of platforms reduced to three
2011Signalling upgraded to CTC
2019New platform opened
Services
Preceding station  Iarnrod Eireann simple logo 2013.png Iarnród Éireann  Following station
Thurles   InterCity
Dublin-Cork railway line
  Charleville
Thurles   InterCity
Dublin-Tralee Main Line
  Mallow
Terminus  InterCity
Limerick-Rosslare railway line
  Tipperary
Limerick Colbert   Commuter
Limerick Line Shuttle
 Terminus
Location
Limerick Junction railway station

Limerick Junction (Irish : Gabhal Luimnigh) is the interchange railway station for trains originating in Limerick, Dublin Heuston, Cork, Waterford, Tralee and Ennis stations. [2] The station opened on 3 July 1848.

Contents

The station was highly noted for its layout which prior to 1967 required every train making a stop at the station to make a reversal to do so. [3] The latest changes in 2019, including the addition of a new island platform, mean only trains to and from the Waterford direction need to reverse before and after accessing the station.[ citation needed ]

Location

The station is located in the townland of Ballykisteen, County Tipperary, Ireland, in the county's historical barony of Clanwilliam. [4] It is some 21 miles (34 km) from Limerick City, 107 miles (172 km) from Dublin Heuston, [5] and 58+14 miles (93.7 km) from Cork. [6] Tipperary town is about 3 miles (5 km) away to the south-east, [3] and the station was originally named "Tipperary Junction".[ citation needed ] The station lies just of the N24 road from Limerick to Waterford. Tipperary Racecourse lies just to the west of the station. [7]

Beyond a cluster of railway cottages there has been no development of a village around the station, [7] though there is a public house, and the settlement would be considered a small hamlet.

Services

There are 48 trains on a weekday to 6 destinations: 17 trains to Dublin Heuston, 13 to Cork, 2 to Waterford, 11 to Limerick and 3 to Ennis .

There is an hourly train to Limerick, with some services extended to Ennis or Galway. Most trains operating between Dublin and Cork or vice versa stop here.

Buses

Amongst other bus services, Local Link route 855 stops at Limerick Junction Railway Station (the timetable is 855 – (T41) Tipperary Town to Cashel via Cahir & Limerick Junction Timetable [8] ).

Layout

Because of its complex layout it has a special place in railway lore: it is the only remaining railway junction in Ireland where two lines cross at a near-90-degree angle, the other being the "Dundalk Square" crossing near Dundalk. [7] [9] One route is the Dublin-Cork main line, while the other is the line from Limerick to Waterford. [10] Trains from all four locations are served, some connecting to Ennis in County Clare and Tralee in County Kerry.

The layout consists of four platforms, all of which are in use. The main line platform, number 1, is a through platform and primary use is for trains from Cork which access the station from a loop off of the main "up" line to Dublin. It is also possible for trains from Dublin, Limerick or Waterford to access the Platform 1 if required. The terminal platform, to the west of Platform 1, is numbered 2 and 3 for parts nearest and furthest from the buffers respectively. This allows two trains to be present at once, typically allowing a Waterford train and Limerick train to be simultaneously present. Access to Platforms 2 and 3 for trains from anywhere other than Limerick requires reversing. A train coming from Waterford must cross the Dublin-Cork main line towards Limerick, reversing along the curve used by trains arriving from Limerick. It can then stop at the Limerick bay.

Platform 4, added in 2019, is used by trains from Dublin towards Cork. The platform is accessed by footbridge from platform with lifts to the upper level also provided. A disadvantage with platform 4 is that cross platform interchange of trains is no longer possible.

History

The station opened on 3 July 1848 as the latest extension of the GS&WR line from Dublin to Cork, connecting to the Waterford and Limerick Railway (W&LR) at the same time which had opened to Tipperary from Limerick some two months previously. [11] The station was owned by the GS&WR, the W&LR paying rent for use. [10]

Pre-1967

Limerick Junction pre 1967 (simplified). Limerick junction incomplete track diagram - Pre-1967.png
Limerick Junction pre 1967 (simplified).

The original layout was soon altered to the one that was to remain until 1967, requiring all trains to reverse to access the station. [7] Trains from the W&LR would arrive at the station prior to and leave after than those from the GS&WR. [12] It was common for trains to Dublin and Cork to be arranged to across at the same time, with 10 minutes being allowed for the stop, and the locomotives for Dublin and Cork facing each other, four trains being in the station at the same time. [12]

The W&LR briefly in 1880 constructed a platform at Keane's points, where its trains left the W&LR line to the GS&WR station, leaving passengers to walk to the GS&WR platform. [13]

In 1955 the crossing from the Cork platform to the down line was changed from a diamond crossing to a ladder crossing. The change, made to support a new cement train service, meant that a train coming from Cork could proceed directly to Limerick without reversal. [13]

1967

Limerick Junction 1967-2007 (simplified) Limerick junction incomplete track diagram - Post-1967.png
Limerick Junction 1967–2007 (simplified)

The 1967 changes were, at least in part, initiated by the closure of the Waterford–Mallow railway line and subsequent diversion of the Rosslare to Cork boat trains to run over Waterford to Limerick line instead. [13] Also in 1967 a short curve was constructed just north of Limerick Junction allowing through main line trains between Limerick and Dublin without reversal at Ballybrophy or Limerick Junction itself, trains using the direct curve being unable stop at the station. [13] The curve is only used by three trains each way per day since the most recent timetable changes in December 2009. Through running (without reversal) from Limerick to Mallow and Cork is possible.

The station at Limerick Junction is surrounded by track. Trains accessing the Waterford bay from Limerick or Waterford must reverse into the platform. Trains from Waterford also reverse back from "Keane's points", where the curve out from the station joins the line.

2007

Limerick Junction 2007-2019 (simplified) Limerick junction incomplete track diagram - Post-2007.png
Limerick Junction 2007–2019 (simplified)

c. 2007 the platform south of the station building was truncated leaving to elimination of the "Waterford Bay" with the vacated area being allocated to a car park.

The line skirting to the west of the station to the Waterford Bay became disused from 2006. [14] The track layout here has been reduced to now only two platforms. The bay platform to the north is used for trains to Limerick and Waterford/Rosslare and the main line platform is used for Dublin to Cork trains. The Waterford bay, which was located at the south end of the station, is now lifted and the so has the line that ran behind the station. The scissor crossover which is located halfway down the mainline platform is due to be lifted and the south loop of the mainline has now been disconnected. The Cork half of the through platform has also been removed and the area used to extend the car park.

2019

Limerick Junction from 2019 (simplified) Limerick junction incomplete track diagram.png
Limerick Junction from 2019 (simplified)

A new platform 4 became operational on 25 August 2019. [15] Associated works included a new 20 metre span footbridge, passenger shelters and seating and new lighting. [16] The platform, measuring 260 metres, has removed the constraints and speed restrictions associated with the former single platform which catered for all Dublin to Cork/Kerry services in both directions. [17] Improved journey times of up to five minutes for Dublin to Cork/Kerry services, and of up to 11 minutes for Limerick to Cork/Dublin services due to improved connections will be delivered over time, the company hopes. [17] A new footbridge with high capacity lifts was also built, catering for customers transferring to the new platform. The investment was worth €3.5m to the station. [17] The planning application for the new platform and associated works was submitted to Tipperary County Council in April 2018, with planning permission granted in June 2018. [18] Works were completed both between trains and during railway possessions. [16]

Horse racing

Limerick Junction was also the name of the racecourse at the same location. In 1986 it was renamed Tipperary Racecourse. The course is not conducive to winter racing because of the frequency of water-logging. Racing here is a major attraction during the summer months and large crowds are attracted to the venue, especially for the Thursday evening meetings.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Ireland</span>

Rail transport in Ireland is provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Development Plan</span> Large infrastructure developments in Ireland

National Development Plan was the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on (mainly) national infrastructure. The first five-year plan ran from 1988 to 1993, the second was a six-year plan from 1994 to 1999 and the third ran as a seven-year plan from 2000 to 2006. A fourth National Development Plan ran from 2007 to 2011. The main elements of the third plan were the development of a national motorway network between the major cities in Ireland. The upgrading of the rail network was a secondary scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heuston railway station</span> Railway terminal in Dublin, Ireland

Heuston Station, also known as Dublin Heuston, is one of Dublin's largest railway stations and links the capital with the south, southwest and west of Ireland. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ), the national railway operator. It also houses the head office of its parent company, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The station is named in honour of Seán Heuston, an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, who had worked in the station's offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Southern and Western Railway</span> Major railway company in Ireland (1844–1924)

The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland from 1844 until 1924. The GS&WR grew by building lines and making a series of takeovers, until in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was the largest of Ireland's "Big Four" railway networks. At its peak the GS&WR had an 1,100-mile (1,800 km) network, of which 240 miles (390 km) were double track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallow railway station</span>

Mallow railway station is an Irish station on the Dublin-Cork railway line, Mallow-Tralee railway line and Cork Suburban Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thurles railway station</span> Station in County Tipperary, Ireland

Thurles railway station serves the town of Thurles in County Tipperary in Ireland. The station is on the Dublin–Cork Main line, and is situated 86.5 miles (139.2 km) from Dublin Heuston. It has two through platforms and one terminating platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballybrophy railway station</span> Station in County Laois, Ireland

Ballybrophy is a railway station in the village of Ballybrophy, County Laois, Ireland, halfway between Borris-in-Ossory and Rathdowney in the Barony of Clandonagh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limerick Colbert railway station</span> Railway station in Limerick, Ireland

Limerick railway station also known as Colbert Station or Limerick Colbert serves the city of Limerick in County Limerick, Ireland. It is on Parnell Street and is the main station on the Limerick Suburban Rail network. It has approximately 2,500 rail passengers a day travelling on four rail routes. The Bus Éireann bus station on site services approximately one million passengers a year, with 125 buses departing each day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosslare Strand railway station</span> Station in County Wexford, Ireland

Rosslare Strand railway station is in Rosslare Strand, County Wexford, Ireland. It is the junction of the Dublin–Rosslare railway line and the Limerick–Rosslare railway line, the Rosslare Strand to Waterford section of which is mothballed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterford railway station</span> Station in Waterford City, Ireland

Waterford railway station is a railway station which serves the city of Waterford in County Waterford, Ireland. The station is located across Rice Bridge on the north side of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clonmel railway station</span> Station in County Tipperary, Ireland

Clonmel railway station serves the town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cahir railway station</span>

Cahir railway station serves the town of Cahir, County Tipperary in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tipperary halt</span> Railway station in Tipperary, Ireland

Tipperary Station is a railway station that serves the town of Tipperary, County Tipperary in Ireland. It is approximately 500 metres from centre of town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farranfore railway station</span> Train station in southwest Ireland

Farranfore railway station serves the village of Farranfore in County Kerry, Ireland. It is located a short distance away from Kerry Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin–Cork railway line</span> Transport link between Irelands largest cities

The Dublin–Cork Main Line is the main InterCity railway route in Ireland between Dublin Heuston and Cork Kent. In 2018, 3.46 million passengers travelled on the line, a 10% increase from 2017 figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limerick–Rosslare railway line</span> Railway line in Ireland

The Limerick–Rosslare Main Line is a railway route in Ireland that linked the city of Limerick on the Atlantic coast with Rosslare Europort on the coast of the Irish Sea. It also serves the city of Waterford, and at Limerick Junction it connects with the Dublin–Cork railway line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limerick Suburban Rail</span>

Limerick Suburban Rail are a group of Iarnród Éireann commuter train services from Limerick Colbert to various other destinations on three different lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway</span> Former railway company in Ireland

The Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway (WL&WR), formerly the Waterford and Limerick Railway up to 1896, was at the time it was amalgamated with the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1901 the fourth largest railway in Ireland, with a main line stretching from Limerick to Waterford and branches to Sligo and Tralee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limerick–Tralee railway line</span> Railway line in Ireland

The Limerick–Tralee line, also known as the North Kerry line, is a former railway line from Limerick railway station to Tralee railway station in Ireland. It also has branch lines to Foynes and Fenit. Much of the line today has now been converted into a greenway, the Great Southern Trail.

The Waterford–Mallow railway line ran from Waterford to Mallow and allowed for trains to run directly from Waterford to Cork City.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Diagrams are a not-to-scale reasonable representation of the key elements of the layout but omit some siding, points and yards. See for example (Casserley,1974, p.46) for a more comprehensive diagram.
  2. (Ahrons,1954, p.16) referring to pre-1900 claims a continuous line along the main platform with points back to the main line from the centre where (Casserley,1974, p.46) and Murray & McNeill, 1976, p.174) indicate curves at that point

Footnotes

  1. https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/rail-fares-and-tickets/fares-info/dublin-tralee
  2. Irishrail 2012.
  3. 1 2 Mulligan 1990, p. 46.
  4. Townlands 2021.
  5. Mulligan 1990, pp. 46, 175.
  6. Casserley 1974, p. 46.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Murray & McNeill 1976, p. 176.
  8. "855 – (T41) Tipperary Town to Cashel via Cahir & Limerick Junction Timetable" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. Casserley 1974, p. 170.
  10. 1 2 Murray & McNeill 1976, p. 175.
  11. Murray & McNeill 1976, p. 18.
  12. 1 2 Ahrons 1954, pp. 16–17.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Bairstow 2011, p. 62.
  14. Cooney 2020.
  15. "departure time changes from Sun 25th August". wwww.irishrail.ie. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  16. 1 2 "News Stories". Theglobalinfrastructuregroup.com. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 "New platform planned at Limerick Junction to keep time improvements on track". Limerickleader.ie. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  18. Hyland 2018.

Sources