This article deals with transport in Waterford city in Ireland. The city is connected by road, rail, bus, air and sea. There are currently proposals for a bus rapid transit system, consisting of bus trams, or streetcars, to be used in future.[ citation needed ]
Rail services in Waterford are provided by Iarnród Éireann, Ireland's national railway system. Rail services run from Plunkett Station Waterford. The station is located across Rice Bridge on the North side of the city. Services are provided to Dublin, Limerick, Rosslare Europort, Kilkenny, Clonmel. Freight services are also provided to Dublin, Port of Waterford and Rosslare Europort
There are seven daily services to Dublin, including an express service which departs at 07:10 and takes 1 hour 50 minutes. Other services take around 2 Hours 10 Minutes. On Sundays there are four services.
There are two daily services to Limerick Junction via Clonmel. All services connect with Limerick, Cork, Ennis and Galway.
There used to be one daily service to Rosslare Europort. The service connected with Stena Line and Irish Ferries sailings to Fishguard and Pembroke Dock in the UK respectively. This rail service was announced to be suspended starting from 21 July 2010. [1] It was replaced by a revised Bus Éireann Route 370 service from 20 September 2010. However this bus service does not serve Waterford Railway Station. [2] In November 2016 it was revealed that Waterford could lose its connection to Limerick Junction by 2018 with the closure of the Limerick Junction Waterford line by CIE/IE to save money as the line has low demand. [3]
The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Waterford and Suir Valley Railway [4] follows 10 km of the old Waterford to Dungarvan - Cork route along what is now part of the Deise Greenway. It is a heritage line that runs between Bilberry outside Waterford and Kilmeaden. The railway is a registered charity which operated by volunteers.
Eurolines Coach route 890 ceased running in 2018.
Number | Locations Served | |
---|---|---|
890 | Pembroke Dock, Kilgetty, Carmarthen, Pont Abraham, Cardiff, Bristol, Reading and London Victoria Coach Station |
Bus Éireann and JJ Kavanagh and Sons provide bus services around Waterford city centre and to other towns and cities in Ireland. All regional bus services depart from the Waterford Bus Station on the quay and city centre services run throughout the city.
Planning for bus lanes in the city centre are at an early stage and bus lanes will be on Parnell Street, Manor Street, The Mall, and the South Quays. A bus lane will be in each direction. On street parking will be removed from Parnell Street to facilitate the lanes. All of this is part of the city centre green plan. [5]
Bus Éireann City services
Number | Route |
---|---|
W1 | Clock Tower - The Mall - Parnell Street - Manor Street - Manor Village - The Vee - WIT - Ballybeg - Ashe Road - Canon Street - Barrack Street - Mayor's Walk - Ballybricken - Waterford Bus Station - Clock Tower |
W3 | Clock Tower - The Mall - Parnell Street - John Street - Ballytruckle - Saint John's Park - Greenfields - Avondale - Kilcohan Park - Ballytruckle - Parnell Street - The Mall - Clock Tower |
W2 | Clock Tower - Waterford Bus Station - Thomas Street - Ballybricken - Lower Yellow Road - Morrisson's Road - Canon Street - Lisduggan - Brownes Road - WIT - Ashe Road - Hennessey's Road - Ceannt Road - College Street Campus - Parnell Street - The Mall - Clock Tower |
W4 | Peter Street - Clock Tower - Waterford Bus Station - Thomas Street - Hypercentre - Congress Place - Dominick Place - Gracedieu Road - Carrickpherish Road - Cleaboy Road - Brownes Road |
W5 | University Hospital Waterford - Farran Park - Parnell Street - The Mall - Clock Tower - Waterford Bus Station - Thomas Street - Ballybricken - Lower Yellow Road - Upper Yellow Road - Hillview |
J. J. Kavanagh & Sons Waterford City Service
Number | Route |
---|---|
607 | Tesco Ardkeen - Williamstown Road - Ballygunner - Dunmore Road - Clock Tower - Ferrybank - Abbey Park |
617 | Ballygunner - Dunmore Road - Clock Tower - Ferrybank - Slieverue (and serves Tesco Ardkeen, Williamstown Road, and Abbey Park after 19:00) |
627 | Ballygunner - Dunmore Road - Clock Tower - Rockshire Road - Newrath |
Bus Éireann Regional services
Number | Route |
---|---|
4/X4 | New Ross - Waterford - Carlow - Dublin - Dublin Airport |
40 | Waterford - New Ross - Wexford - Rosslare Europort - (east) |
40 | Waterford - Dungarvan - Youghal - Cork - Killarney - Tralee (west) |
55 | Waterford - Clonmel - Limerick - Shannon Airport |
73 | Waterford - Athlone - Longford |
360/A | Waterford - Tramore |
362 | Waterford - Kilmacthomas - Dungarvan |
365 | Waterford - Thomastown |
366 | Waterford - Cappoquin - Lismore |
367 | Waterford - Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel |
370 | Waterford - New Ross − Campile - Duncannon − Wellingtonbridge - Wexford - Rosslare Strand - Rosslare Europort |
371 | Waterford - New Ross - Adamstown |
J. J. Kavanagh & Sons
Number | Route |
---|---|
736 | Waterford - Carlow - Dublin - Dublin Airport |
--- | (WIT) - Thurles - Roscrea - Cashel - Clonmel - Nenagh |
Dublin Coach
Number | Route |
---|---|
600 | Cork - Dungarvan - Waterford Institute of Technology - Waterford - Kilkenny - Dublin |
Suir Way Regional services
Number | Route |
---|---|
611 | Waterford - Dunmore East |
608 | Waterford - Passage East |
609 | Waterford - Portlaw |
On 19 October 2009 the N25 Waterford City Bypass opened. The route consists of 23 kilometres (14 mi) of dual carriageway as well as 14 km (9 mi) of single carriageway and a second crossing over the River Suir. The road was designed as a toll road. [6] [7]
On 22 March 2010, a section of the M9 opened as part of the new motorway linking Waterford with Dublin. The final section between Carlow and Knocktopher was opened on 9 September 2010, completing the 118.5 kilometres (73.6 mi) route. [8] Journey times to Kilkenny, Carlow and Dublin have been reduced. [9]
In 2007 the R710 Outer Ring Road opened. The road is a dual-carriageway which connects Ardkeen with the Waterford City Bypass, which in turn connects to major primary routes. The R709 forms the Inner Ring Road around the south of the inner city. Waterford Airport is located on the R708 road, accessible from the city centre and ring roads.
Road | Route | E-Route |
---|---|---|
Kilkenny - Carlow - Dublin | --- | |
Clonmel - County Tipperary - Limerick | --- | |
New Ross - Wexford - Rosslare Europort (east) | E-30 | |
Dungarvan - Youghal - Cork (west) | E-30 | |
Waterford City - Port of Waterford | --- |
Waterford City Council are in the early stages of planning to have Cycle tracks in the city centre as part of the city centre green plan. There are other cycle tracks in the city but they are not in the main city centre. The new cycle lanes will be on Parnell Street, Manor Street, The Mall, and the South Quays. There will be a lane in each direction.
In July 2010 Waterford City Council have started to put cycle lanes around the city. Currently there is a cycle lane in both directions on the Cork road. They start from Ballybeg and continue into the city centre. There are also lanes being put on the quays.
The Waterford Greenway is Ireland's longest greenway, and connects the city with Mount Congreve, Kilmeaden, Kilmacthomas, and Dungarvan. [10]
Port of Waterford which was located adjacent to the city centre until 1992 was moved to Belview on the N29 on the north bank of the River Suir. The Port is the closest to mainland Europe from Ireland. Waterford Port is one of the busiest ports in Ireland.
The port is important for tourism in Waterford. Cruise Ships dock in Dunmore East, Waterford Port and the quay in Waterford City Centre. [11] In September 2008 a new 190-metre quay was built that cost €11 million.
In 2017 the port of Waterford handled a gross tonnage of 2.5 million. [12]
The port hosted the Tall Ships race in 2005 and 2011.
The closest passenger port is Rosslare Europort in County Wexford [13] (72 km (45 miles) away by road), which has services to Fishguard, Pembroke Dock, Cherbourg, Roscoff and Le Havre.
Waterford Airport is located 9 km south-east of Waterford. The airport serves Waterford and the south east region. There is currently no carrier operating flights at this airport. Aer Southeast is a new carrier established at Waterford Airport in 2017 and will operate flights to London Luton, Birmingham, and Manchester when they obtain a licence to operate these services.
There is an air sea rescue service operating out of Waterford Airport from a dedicated Irish Coastguard base. [14] This operation is currently contracted to a private operator, CHC Ireland. Rescue cover is provided by a Sikorsky S-61. A reserve S-61 helicopter is also based here.
Most of the transport system in Ireland is in public hands, either side of the Irish border. The Irish road network has evolved separately in the two jurisdictions into which Ireland is divided, while the Irish rail network was mostly created prior to the partition of Ireland.
Limerick is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 102,287 at the 2022 census, Limerick is the third-most populous urban area in the Republic of Ireland, and the fourth-most populous city on the island of Ireland. It was founded by Scandinavian settlers in 812, during the Viking Age.
Waterford is a city in County Waterford in the south-east of Ireland. It is located within the province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour. It is the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland. It is the ninth most populous settlement on the island of Ireland. According to the 2022 census, 60,079 people live in the city, with a wider metropolitan population of 82,963.
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 National Primary Route; and to Rosslare Europort, Cork and Waterford by the N25. The national rail network connects it to Dublin and Rosslare Europort. It had a population of 21,524 according to the 2022 census.
Córas Iompair Éireann, or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Republic of Ireland, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport within the Republic and jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, for the railway service between Dublin and Belfast, via Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown. The company is headquartered at Heuston Station, Dublin. It is a statutory corporation whose members are appointed by the Minister for Transport.
Bus Éireann is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The company's primary hub is Busáras, located in Store Street, Dublin. In 2022 it operated 229 Public Service Obligation Routes, 14 expressway routes and 8940 school transport routes.
Rosslare Europort is a modern seaport located at Rosslare Harbour in County Wexford, Ireland, near the southeasternmost point of the island of Ireland. The port is the primary Irish port serving the European Continent with 36 direct services to the Continent weekly. It handles passenger and freight ferries to and from Cherbourg, Dunkirk and St Malo/Roscoff, in France, Bilbao in Spain and Fishguard and Pembroke Dock in the United Kingdom. Since July 2022, a new freight route between Rosslare and Zeebrugge, Belgium was introduced by Finnlines for a twice weekly ro-ro service between the two ports.
Rail transport in Ireland is provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann, or Irish Rail, is the operator of the national railway network of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). It operates all internal InterCity, Commuter, DART and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast. In 2019, IÉ carried a record peak of 50 million passengers, up from 48 million in 2018.
Connolly station or Dublin Connolly is one of the busiest railway stations in Dublin and Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. On the North side of the River Liffey, it provides InterCity, Enterprise and commuter services to the north, north-west, south-east and south-west. The north–south Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Luas red line light rail services also pass through the station. The station offices are the headquarters of Irish Rail, Iarnród Éireann. Opened in 1844 as Dublin Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre.
The village of Rosslare Harbour, also known as Ballygeary, grew up to serve the needs of the harbour of the same name, first developed in 1906 by the Great Western Railway and the Great Southern and Western Railway to accommodate steamferry traffic between Great Britain and Ireland. This port also serves France and Spain, traffic is mainly roll-on roll-off (RoRo). Rosslare Harbour railway station opened on 30 August 1906.
Waterford Airport is located in Killowen, 4 NM southeast of Waterford. It serves southeastern Ireland. The airport is operated by Waterford Regional Airport plc.
The N25 road is a national primary road in Ireland, forming the route from Cork to Rosslare Europort via Waterford City. The road is part of the E30 European route and a short section is also part of the E01 European route. It forms part of the proposed Atlantic Corridor route.
Rosslare Europort railway station(Irish: Stáisiún Chalafort Ros Láir) serves Rosslare Harbour in County Wexford, Ireland. The station is owned and operated by Iarnród Éireann and is the southern terminus of the Dublin–Rosslare railway line.
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.
Many companies operate public transport services in Dublin, most of which are state-owned or semi-state-owned.
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.
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.
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.
Kilsheelan is a village and civil parish within the barony of Iffa and Offa East in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is also one half of the Roman Catholic parish of Kilsheelan & Kilcash in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.
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