Flooding could disrupt Limerick-Ennis rail services for 'at least six weeks'
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Limerick to Ennis rail services are to be suspended from Monday due to anticipated flooding along the railway, Iarnród Éireann has said.
Iarnród Éireann said flood waters had risen significantly at Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway line in recent days, and, as a result, it expected the line “to close, and for services to be suspended” from Monday “until further notice”.
It said bus transfers would be in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions for all services. This means Limerick to Ennis and Ennis to Limerick services will be replaced by bus, and Limerick to Galway and Galway to Limerick will involve a bus transfer between Limerick and Ennis, and train between Ennis and Galway.
“The flooding occurs due to the cumulative affect of rainfall, and the slow drainage associated within Ballycar’s geological and hydrogeological environment. As a result, the line is expected to be closed for many weeks,” a spokesperson said.
Iarnród Éireann's communications manager Barry Kenny said services on the line may be disrupted for "at least six weeks".
He said the culumative effect of rainfall this winter had caused the flooding, which had seen water water rise “above the rails”.
"The nature of this area is it's a karst landscape,” he told RTÉ's .
“The water flows in slowly and flows out very slowly. So it's the cumulative effect of the rainfall we've had this winter that is causing the flooding and the water level is still rising."
Iarnród Éireann said it would monitor flood levels, which are continuing to rise, and advise customers on likely service restoration dates when flood levels begin to recede.
It also apologised to customers for the disruption.