Railways in Ireland have been around for almost 180 years.
When they first arrived they brought Ireland to the forefront of cutting edge technological change. The railways took over from canals as the new means of mass transportation of people and goods.
Having once enjoyed a Golden Age, railways were to enter a long period of decline – but today their revival is being championed once again.
The early years of the New Millennium witnessed the greatest investment in the Irish rail network since railways first came to Ireland… A sort of renaissance has taken place right across the network and, despite the current recession, is set to continue albeit slowly into the future….bringing the railways out of decades of neglect and into line with 21st Century expectations.
Having once enjoyed a Golden Age, railways were to enter a long period of decline – but today their revival is being championed once again. What factors led to the recent transformation paralleled with relevant historical references in respect of the growth and decline of railways in Ireland from the 1830s.
In relation to fleet expansion, orders of DARTs were suspended indefinitely in October 2009, but Dublin suburban routes are almost at capacity.
Some call for the expansion of the rail network in the Republic. The route from Limerick to Waterford is due to have a realistic service for the first time in decades. Nevertheless, this is the only non-Dublin InterCity route in existence. A railway right of way exists from Limerick, up through the west, to Sligo. This has been titled the Western Railway Corridor (WRC) and some see it as a possible counterbalance to investment in Dublin. Phase 1 is complete with the line from Ennis to Athenry open since March 2010. Phases 2 and 3, from Athenry to Tuam, with an extension from Tuam to Claremorris to link up with the Westport/Ballina line to Dublin, are deferred indefinitely. Future proposals would see the line extended to Sligo, where it would also link with Ireland West Airport Knock.
When they first arrived they brought Ireland to the forefront of cutting edge technological change. The railways took over from canals as the new means of mass transportation of people and goods.
Having once enjoyed a Golden Age, railways were to enter a long period of decline – but today their revival is being championed once again.
The early years of the New Millennium witnessed the greatest investment in the Irish rail network since railways first came to Ireland… A sort of renaissance has taken place right across the network and, despite the current recession, is set to continue albeit slowly into the future….bringing the railways out of decades of neglect and into line with 21st Century expectations.
Having once enjoyed a Golden Age, railways were to enter a long period of decline – but today their revival is being championed once again. What factors led to the recent transformation paralleled with relevant historical references in respect of the growth and decline of railways in Ireland from the 1830s.
In relation to fleet expansion, orders of DARTs were suspended indefinitely in October 2009, but Dublin suburban routes are almost at capacity.
Some call for the expansion of the rail network in the Republic. The route from Limerick to Waterford is due to have a realistic service for the first time in decades. Nevertheless, this is the only non-Dublin InterCity route in existence. A railway right of way exists from Limerick, up through the west, to Sligo. This has been titled the Western Railway Corridor (WRC) and some see it as a possible counterbalance to investment in Dublin. Phase 1 is complete with the line from Ennis to Athenry open since March 2010. Phases 2 and 3, from Athenry to Tuam, with an extension from Tuam to Claremorris to link up with the Westport/Ballina line to Dublin, are deferred indefinitely. Future proposals would see the line extended to Sligo, where it would also link with Ireland West Airport Knock.
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