Iarnród Éireann passengers are facing significant alterations this weekend as extensive engineering works take place on multiple corridors. Track teams are renewing points on the Limerick–Limerick Junction line and upgrading signalling on the Cork commuter network, while separate ballast tamping is under way between Dromod and Sligo. The works run from the early hours of Saturday 17 October until the final trains on Sunday 18 October. Bus substitutions are in operation on many early-morning Ballybrophy and Heuston services, adding up to 45 minutes to journey times. The 05:25 Limerick–Heuston and several peak-time Cork–Heuston trains are cancelled, with passengers directed to alternative services or to bus transfers connecting at Limerick Junction. The maintenance window, chosen to coincide with lower weekend demand, is part of a €150 million ‘Infrastructure Resilience’ programme funded by the National Transport Authority. Irish Rail says the renewed track will permit a 10 km/h speed increase on critical sections, shaving four minutes off future inter-city schedules and reducing vibration for residents living alongside the line. Business commuters heading to Shannon Free Zone and Galway’s medical-devices cluster have been advised to use the TFI Journey Planner and allow additional transfer time at Limerick Junction. Freight operators carrying dairy and pharma products from Kerry to Dublin Port have re-timed some overnight trains to avoid the blockade. Full timetables are available on irishrail.ie and the TFI Live App. Normal patterns are expected to resume with the 04:45 Sligo–Connolly on Monday.
Source: Transport for Ireland
