Rail line closed by flooding in December set to reopen

The last stretch of rail network that has remained closed due to flooding following storms in December is expected to reopen today.

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that an inspection train will depart Limerick for Ennis at 1pm and the line will be reopened for passenger trains at 4.30pm if the outcome of that inspection is satisfactory.

The Ennis to Limerick rail line at Ballycar, near Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co Clare, has been closed for almost 140 days following extensive flooding starting in late December. Water levels, which also resulted in the closure of a local road, dropped significantly in recent weeks while a test train was able to travel the affected stretch of rail line last week.