Western Railway Corridor

Western Railway Corridor
Railway lines in the west of Ireland.
The Western Railway Corridor, and other
ex-GSWR lines, are in green.
The lines in red are ex-MGWR lines.
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleWest of Ireland
Coordinates52°39′32″N 8°37′26″W / 52.659°N 8.624°W / 52.659; -8.624
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeCommuter rail, Inter-city rail
Heavy rail
SystemIarnród Éireann
ServicesInterCity:
Limerick–Galway
Commuter:
Limerick–Ennis
Operator(s)Iarnród Éireann
Rolling stock2800 Class (Commuter)
22000 Class (InterCity)
Ridership531,000 (2019)[1]
History
Opened2 July 1859 (1859-07-02)
Completed1 October 1895 (1895-10-01)
Closed5 April 1976 (1976-04-05)
Reopened30 March 2010 (2010-03-30)[2]
Technical
Line length60.375 miles (97.164 km) [3] (Operational track only)
Number of tracksSingle track[3]
CharacterTertiary
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Operating speed50 miles per hour (80 km/h) (Limerick–Ennis)
80 miles per hour (130 km/h) (Ennis–Athenry) [3]
Route map

Year
closed
Sligo Mac Diarmada
Sligo Quay
2000
Ballysadare
1963
Collooney
(GSW)
1963
Leyney
1963
Carrowmore
1963
Tubbercurry
1963
Curry
1963
Charlestown
1963
Swinford
1963
Kiltimagh
1963
↑ Phase 4
↓ Phase 3
Claremorris
Ballindine
1963
Milltown
1963
↑ Phase 3
↓ Phase 2
Tuam
1976
Ballyglunin
1976
↑ Phase 2
↓ Phase 1
Athenry
Craughwell
Ardrahan
Gort
Tubber
1963
Crusheen
1976
Ennis
Clare Castle
1963
Ardsollus & Quinn
1963
Ballycar & Newmarket
1963
Sixmilebridge
Cratloe
1963
Longpavement
1963
Limerick Colbert

The Western Railway Corridor is a term, used since c. 2003, for a partly disused railway line running through the west of Ireland. Currently two sections of the line, from Limerick via Ennis to Athenry and from Collooney to Sligo, see regular services, with other sections either closed or only technically classed as open.[4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ "Western Rail Corridor users up according to Irish Rail". Connacht Tribune. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  2. ^ Deegan, Gordon (9 February 2010). "Opening date for rail corridor". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Reidy, Michael (30 October 2021). Network Statement (PDF) (2022 ed.). Irish Rail. pp. 41, 78–79. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Maps". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Maps". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Maps". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Maps". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.