Flooded rail link out for a month

THE Limerick-Ennis rail line, which has been flooded since early February, will not open for another two weeks as part of the line remains under water.

At the height of the problem there were 17 inches of water covering the line and there are still seven inches of water on the line.

More than 600 commuters use the Limerick-Ennis service every week. Since Irish Rail was forced to cancel the service, an alternative bus service has been put in place. But this has resulted in a 33% drop in customer numbers.

Business development manager with Irish Rail, Jim Gallivan, said the company has been monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

He said: “Up to last Friday the water was dropping by up to an inch every day, but we then had more bad weather and lots of rain, and over the last few days, while there has been no deterioration in the situation, the water has remained at seven inches above the line.”

Mr Gallivan said it is unlikely that the line will reopen before Easter.

“Engineers will have to pass it fit for use,” he said.

The introduction of the Limerick-Ennis commuter service led to an increase in customer numbers.