Waterford - Limerick

Current Status

The Waterford Limerick rail line currently has only 2 trains per direction per day - with the morning trains arriving in Limerick at 10:06 and Waterford at 11:30 - not suitable for commuters.

The journey time is very slow with the 123km journey taking on average 2 hours 9 minutes, travelling at an average speed of 58 kmph or 36 mph.

What’s possible?

The poor journey time is solvable. A report prepared by Systra (viewable here) shows that very simply, (an inexpensively) the journey time could be cut to 1 hour 50mins, by automating the level crossings and removing the reversal at Limerick Junction. This beats the private car.

Full route modernisation - new signalling, relaying sections of track - adding loops at Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary Town would give a Limerick-Waterford journey time of 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes). This would comfortably beat the private car. This brings Clonmel within 30 minutes of Waterford City.

What are the next steps?

Commit to infrastructure upgrades to allow a faster service.

Install new passing loops to allow more frequent service.

Long Term Goals

South East On Track’s eventual goal is an all-day hourly Limerick-Waterford service extended easterly to Wexford Town & westerly to Galway.