Líne Lastais ó Luimneach go Faing
The 42km stretch of railway between Limerick city and Foynes Port originally opened in 1858 but has been inactive since 2001. The line remained under the stewardship of Iarnród Éireann and is now being renewed to support the reintroduction of rail freight services.
Under the Iarnród Éireann Rail Freight 2040 Strategy we are committed to positioning rail at the centre of Ireland’s freight transport system, creating connections and giving greater opportunity for business to switch from road freight to more sustainable rail freight. Reopening of the line, working with our colleagues at the Shannon Foynes Port Company, we will deliver a reliable, frequent, and sustainable logistics option for many companies that currently or in the future will use the port of Foynes.
Construction works on the line commenced in early 2023 and it is anticipated that the route will be commissioned for freight services in the first half of 2026.
You can contact the project team by emailing foynesproject@irishrail.ie
Key milestones of the works are outlined below, with all works commencing at the Foynes end of the line working towards Limerick city:
- December 2022 - Construction contract awarded to SISK
- March 2023 - Vegetation clearance and removal of existing track began
- May 2023 - Boundary fencing installation commenced / Works commenced on the restructuring of Robertstown Viaduct
- September 2023 - River Maigue Bridge removed for essential restoration works / Delivery of all new rail for the project commenced
- January 2024 - Clearance of vegetation and old track completed / Installation of ducting & drainage pipes along the route begins
- February 2024 - Replacement track formation and installation of new ballast bed begins
- April 2024 - River Deel Bridge reinstalled / Track laying with the installation of new rail and concrete sleepers begins
- September 2024 - The River Maigue bridge reinstated
- October 2024 – Tamping, Signalling and telecommunications works begin
- December 2024 – Track laying largely complete
- Throughout 2025 – Signalling and telecommunications works continue
- H1 2026 - Planned completion of project
The Limerick to Foynes Freight Line project aligns with and supports Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy, and the Shannon Foynes Port Company Masterplan, Vision 2041. The reopening of the Limerick to Foynes rail line for freight services also satisfies several national, regional, and local development objectives as well as objectives of common interest with the EU as defined in Article 7 of the TEN-T guideline, with the following specific contributions:
- Interconnection of the modes of transport rail and ship services, promoting intermodal transport.
- Promotion of environmental protection by strengthening freight transport via rail and sea rather than road transport.
- Extension of interconnections
The line regeneration, while initially for rail freight services, will not preclude the possibility of passenger services being reintroduced on this line in the future subject to further infrastructure upgrades and funding.