Train derailment investigated

An investigation is underway into the derailment of a train on the Dublin to Cork line earlier today.

The 11am service hit debris from a landslide south of Portarlington in Co. Laois, with 310 people on board at the time; however nobody was injured in the incident.

The driver is being treated for shock today and major disruptions are expected to affect services to and from Dublin, Cork, Kerry Limerick, Galway and Westport as only one line is in operation on that section of the track.

Iarnród Eireann spokesman Barry Kenny said he optimistic that there won't be major delays on tomorrow’s services but that there may be some slight delays as a result of the derailment.

“We hope to have full services,” he said, “but the full extent of the damage can only be properly assessed when we have re-railed the locomotive and brought the train away from the scene to get our crews in to work on that aspect of the recovery.”