Newcastle to Wicklow Murrough
The project area spans approximately 8 km between Newcastle and Wicklow Murrough, with proposed works covering 4 km of this stretch. The railway is situated on a natural embankment at the back of the beach, which is a soft barrier beach feature underlain by hard geology. The railway is locally protected by rock revetments near Newcastle, Five Mile Point and Wicklow; the remainder is undefended, and some areas have a wide buffer (25-70 metres) between the beach and the railway. The project area falls within several designated conservation sites, including The Murrough Special Protection Area and the Murrough Wetland Special Area of Conservation.
Key hazards include wave overtopping—due to the low-lying railway and narrow beach—and erosion which may cause beach steepening and narrowing, potentially undermining both the rock structures and the railway over time.
Project Objectives
The objectives of the project between Newcastle and Wicklow Murrough are:
- To reduce the impacts of wave overtopping on railway infrastructure and operations,
- To reduce the risk of coastal erosion undermining the railway
Preferred Scheme
The preferred scheme involves a rock revetment along parts of the coastline between Newcastle and Wicklow Murrough to protect the railway from erosion and wave overtopping.
Rock revetment
A rock revetment will be built along parts of the frontage to prevent erosion and reduce wave overtopping onto the railway. It will consist of two layers of graded armour rock over an underlayer and geotextile. The rock is carefully selected for durability and stability, accounting for future sea level rise. The revetment’s design—its slope, height, and width—is calculated to reduce wave overtopping to acceptable limits to protect railway operations.
Figure 2: Illustrative view of rock revetment at The Murrough
Wave wall
At concept design, a concrete wave wall at the rear of the crest between Newcastle and Wicklow Murroughs was recommended to provide an impermeable barrier at the back of the rock revetments.
However, during preliminary design the rock revetment profile was adjusted to better absorb and dissipate wave energy and eliminate the need for a crest wall.
Pedestrian access steps
To ensure safe pedestrian access to and from the beach, the design includes 10 sets of precast concrete steps between Newcastle and Wicklow Murroughs. These steps help prevent beachgoers from being cut off by the tide. Their placement is based on the layout of the coastal defences, with steps spaced approximately every 600 metres, ensuring a maximum 300-metre walk to the nearest exit point.
Figure 2: Rock revetment north of The Murrough
Useful Material and Downloads
- Preferred Scheme Newcastle to Wicklow Murrough Brochure
- Illustrative view of rock revetment at The Murrough
- Illustrative view Rock revetment north of The Murrough
- Newscastle to Wicklow Murrough Location Plan
- Newcastle to Wicklow (Coastal Cell Area 6.2) Phase 3 Design Report
