InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) - Iarnród Éireann InterCity Future - D

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) - D

Iarnród Éireann InterCity Future

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Western Rail Corridor

The Department of Transport's project proposed that several hundred million euros would be invested by the Irish Government in improving the railway network. This would see connection of some of the radial lines out of Dublin, which enable inter-regional services to be operated without travelling through the capital. A major part of this included plans for the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Claremorris, a route totalling 110 km/68.5 miles.

Stage 1 - Ennis to Athenry - Completed
Stage 2 - Athenry to Tuam - Deferred indefinitely
Stage 3 - Tuam to Claremorris - Deferred indefinitely

If stages 2 and 3 were completed, the Westport, Galway and Limerick lines from Dublin would be connected, allowing regional InterCity services to be run between these destinations without having to travel via Dublin.

Stage 1 of the project began on 16 November 2007, relaying track between Ennis and Athenry, a distance of approximately 60 km/36 miles.

The WRC project has been widely criticised as passenger numbers have been extremely low, with critics saying it would be cheaper for Irish Rail to put each passenger in a taxi than running the train. Rhetoric aside the line has seen massive growth as reported in the Irish Times: "Of particular note was the growth in passenger numbers on the western rail corridor, which saw a 72.5 per cent increase from 29,000 to 50,000 journeys through the Ennis- Athenry section of the line.

" Almost 100,000 people used the service between Ennis and Galway in 2017. 390,000 travelled on the line between Limerick and Galway in 2018. Passenger numbers are up 22.9% in the first quarter of 2019, and the line is expected to carry 420,000 people this year.

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Dublin-Cork

Iarnród Éireann also maintains an ambition to increase speeds on the Dublin-Cork line. The current Mark 4 coaches are capable speeds of up to 125 mph, but are limited to 100 mph, because of speed restrictions on the track. In order to achieve the desired higher speed, the infrastructure of the line would have to be upgraded.

In 2015 further upgrade plans were announced. Iarnród Éireann's chief executive David Franks outlined how ballast was to be renewed between Hazelhatch and Kildare, which was to allow 160 km/h (100 mph) running on the 80 km (50 mi) long stretch. Further upgrades such as the removal of level crossings and bridge replacements are expected to bring journey times from Cork to Dublin to under 2 hours.

The line is expected to be fully electrified by 2030.

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Overview

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Status: Operational

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Owner: Iarnród Éireann

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Locale: Ireland

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Stations: 83

Service

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Type: InterCity

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) System: Iarnród Éireann

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Services: 14

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Operator(s): Iarnród Éireann

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Rolling Stock: 201 Class

Mark 4

22000 Class

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Opened: 1972 (As Mainline)

1984 (As InterCity)

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Number of Tracks: 1-6

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Track Gauge: 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

InterCity (Iarnród Éireann) Operating Speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum

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