*Photograph: John Mangan
IARNRÓD ÉIREANN will reopen the Ennis to Limerick rail line from 4pm on Saturday.
On Wednesday afternoon, Iarnród Éireann announced plans to undertake an inspection of the rail line. It has been closed for over a month since March 18th due to repeated flooding at the Ballycar section.
Ennis to Limerick and Limerick to Ennis train services have been replaced by bus transfers since the middle of March.
Flood waters have now receded, and final inspections and patrols have taken place prior to reopening on Saturday afternoon.Bus transfers will remain in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions until Saturday afternoon.
Travelling by train has been a very popular method of reaching Cusack Park for Clare hurling supporters since the introduction of the provincial round-robin series. With Clare hosting Limerick in Ennis on Sunday, the potential return of rail services would provide a lift for businesses in the county town.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), “It will be a big help to the town with all the road works that are going on in Ennis, for people to be able to travel by public transport to Ennis would be a big help and a boost for the town. The people travelling by train for matches in Ennis will stay around all day before the match, they will support the coffee houses, pubs and restaurants”.
On Saturday 20th April, the following services will operate: 18:15hrs Limerick to Galway, 19:50hrs Limerick to Galway, 20:30hrs Limerick to Ennis, 17:25hrs Ennis to Limerick, 17:50hrs Galway to Limerick, 18:45hrs Galway to Ennis, 21:10hrs Ennis to Limerick
A full service will operate from Sunday 21st April onwards.
