Calls for investment in Tipperary rail lines as commuters face long journeys 

Commuters were left locked out of Nenagh railway station earlier this month. Picture: Nenagh and Tipperary Community group via Facebook.

The Government has been urged to invest in rail lines in north Tipperary as commuters face long journeys and poor accessibility.

Ryan O’Meara, a Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, has criticised outdated infrastructure and highlighted the issues faced by commuters in Nenagh, Cloughjordan, Roscrea, and Birdhill.

Mr O’Meara told the Dáil: “If I wanted to depart Nenagh for Dublin tomorrow, the earliest I could arrive in Dublin by using rail locally is 9.53am, which isn’t much use if you are commuting for work”.

He said the route was “already there” and that a new rail line is not needed — but faster travel times and more frequent services are needed.

Mr O'Meara also criticised the signalling system in place on the Ballybrophy rail line, which he said is dated.

“The signalling system is not out of the last century but actually the century before that," he said. 

"A hundred years ago, when Countess Markievicz, Éamon de Valera, and Seán Lemass were planning the foundation of Fianna Fáil, the signalling system on the Ballybrophy line was not new technology then and yet we are still using that technology today.” 

Mr O’Meara said long-term investment with a “long-term vision” was the answer.

He also made the case for a transport hub at Nenagh railway station, which would improve connectivity in the town and in Tipperary.

“Back in January, councillor JP O’Meara and I met with the National Transport Authority to discuss the proposal. Tipperary County Council have the plans, and in all honestly, we deserve that investment for a key transport hub,” he said.

Earlier this month, Irish Rail issued an apology to passengers who were left locked out of Nenagh railway station as the gates were locked.

The passengers missed their connection in Ballybrophy as a result, sparking debates about the issues faced by commuters in the region.

A post shared on a Tipperary community page on Facebook read: “Between the locked up building, limited train service and issues like this, there really needs to be more thought put into developing better access to public rail infrastructure in Nenagh.”