Maynooth rail line reopens after tractor crashed through barrier

Irish Rail said Maynooth-Sligo services faced some disruption

A screenshot taken from CCTV footage of the tractor on the railway line. Photograph: Iarnród Éireann.
A screenshot taken from CCTV footage of the tractor on the railway line. Photograph: Iarnród Éireann.

The Maynooth rail line has reopened after a tractor crashed through a level crossing in Co Kildare as barriers were closing this afternoon.

The vehicle caused significant damage to the barriers in Barberstown and around 2,000 people were affected by knock-on delays.

Shortly before 5.30pm on Thursday evening, the company posted on its Twitter account that there was major disruption on the Maynooth-Sligo service after the tractor struck the barrier at Barberstown in Kildare.

The 17.05 Connolly to Sligo train was returned to Connolly to allow customers make alternative arrangements.

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Iarnród Éireann told people on social media who said their train was stuck at Clonsilla that there were would be "massive" delays to commuter services as the barrier needed to be completely replaced.

The company initially indicated the repairs would take several hours. Shortly after 6pm, however, it said the Maynooth-Sligo services had been restored with knock-on delays of 30 minutes after the incident.