Passenger and freight rail services resume between Limerick and Waterford this morning, following the reopening of the Cahir viaduct amid criticism from disgruntled railway users, writes Tim O'Brien.
The viaduct was reopened yesterday after a €2.6 million rebuild, with passenger service frequency set to rise from one to three journeys a day in each direction. The viaduct was closed in October 2003 when a goods train derailed and severely damaged the structure.
Iarnród Éireann announced yesterday that 40-year-old carriages which operate the route are to be replaced with railcars bought in the 1990s. Special "welcome back" fares are to be made available to passengers.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, who performed the opening ceremony, said it was "a clear statement of the Government's commitment to the upgrading of the railways".
However the railway users' group, Irish Railway News, said connection times of about 60 minutes at Limerick Junction severely restricted the attractiveness of the new service.
The group, which has proposed an alternative timetable, said there was a 73-minute wait at Limerick Junction for passengers ex-Dublin connecting with the 4.20 p.m. service to Waterford.
They also said there was:
r a 53-minute wait at Limerick Junction for passengers travelling to Limerick on the 2.15 p.m. ex-Waterford.
r No early morning service ex-Limerick.
r No evening peak service ex-Limerick as the last departure is at 3.40 p.m.
r No trains operating westbound ex-Waterford between 2.15 p.m. and 9.16 p.m.
A spokesperson said the group's alternative timetable would enable Limerick to Waterford travellers to spend a full day in either location, or in Dublin or Cork.
The group proposed four daily trains between the two cities, with services connecting to Dublin and Cork-bound services at Limerick Junction.
Limerick to Waterford journeys "could be reduced to a competitive time of between 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 33 minutes, while the service between Waterford and Wellingtonbridge and Rosslare would be improved," the spokesperson said, adding that a commuter service has also been proposed.