Limerick Junction railway station

Limerick Junction Gabhal Luimnigh
A train at Limerick Junction
General information
Location	Limerick Junction Republic of Ireland
Coordinates	52°29′58″N 8°12′04″W
Owned by	Iarnród Éireann
Operated by	Iarnród Éireann
Platforms	3
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Other information
Station code	LMRKJ
Fare zone	N
Key dates
1848	Station opened
2007	Number of platforms reduced to three
2011	Signalling upgraded to CTC

Dublin–Cork
Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Dublin Connolly & The Point Liffey Railway Bridge Dublin Heuston Luas Red Line to Tallaght & Saggart Inchicore Works Park West and Cherry Orchard † Clondalkin/Fonthill † Kishoge † Lucan (south) 1947 Adamstown † Hazelhatch and Celbridge † Straffan 1947 Sallins and Naas † to Tullow 1947 Newbridge † Curragh Racecourse 1977 Curragh Mainline 1999 Kildare † Dublin–Waterford Line Monasterevin † Portarlington † Dublin–Westport/Galway line Portlaoise to Mountmellick 1947 Conniberry Junction to Kilkenny 1962 Laois Traincare Depot Mountrath 1976 Limerick–Ballybrophy line Ballybrophy Lisduff 1963 Templemore Thurles to Clonmel 1963 Goold's Cross 1976 to Cashel 1954 Dundrum 1976 Limerick–Rosslare line to Limerick Colbert and Rosslare Limerick Junction Emly 1963 Knocklong 1977 Kilmallock 1977 to Limerick 1967 Charleville Buttevant 1977 Waterford–Mallow line 1967 Mallow Mallow–Tralee Line Mourne Abbey 1963 Rathduff 1976 Blarney (GSW) 1963 Kilnap Viaduct Cork railway tunnel Summerhill 1893 Cork Kent Cork–Cobh/Midleton line † Not served by services from Dublin to Cork

Limerick–Rosslare
Year closed Limerick Colbert to Foynes 2009 Western Railway Corridor to Galway Killonan 1963 Limerick–Ballybrophy line Boher 1963 Dromkeen 1976 Pallas Grean 1963 Oola 1963 ← Dublin–Cork line → Limerick Junction Tipperary Bansha 1963 River Suir Cahir Clonmel to Thurles 1967 Kilsheelan 1963 Carrick-on-Suir Fiddown and Portlaw 1855 Grange 1963 Dublin–Waterford line Mallow–Waterford line 1967 Waterford West goods yard Waterford Plunkett to New Ross 1995 River Barrow Campile 2010 Ballycullane 2010 Wellingtonbridge 2010 Duncormick 1976 Bridgetown 2010 Killinick 1976 Felthouse Junction curve closed 1918 Dublin– Rosslare Line Rosslare Strand Kilrane 1963 Rosslare Europort

Limerick Junction (Template:Lang-ga) is the interchange railway station for trains originating in Limerick, Dublin Heuston, Cork, Waterford, Tralee and Ennis stations.

Location

It is located in County Tipperary, Ireland and was originally named "Tipperary Junction".

Tipperary town is about 2 miles (3 km) away to the south-east.

Limerick Junction, with a cluster of railway cottages and a pub, is a small hamlet.

The station serves Tipperary Racecourse.

Layout

Because of its complex layout it has a special place in railway lore: it is the only remaining railway junction in Ireland where two lines cross at a near-90-degree angle. One route is the Dublin-Cork main line, while the other is the line from Limerick to Waterford. Trains from all four locations are served, some connecting to Ennis in County Clare and Tralee in County Kerry.

The layout consists of four platforms, but only two are in use, both north of the station building. The main line platform, number 1, is a through platform. The terminal platform, to the west of Platform 1, is numbered 2 for part of its length and 3 for the rest, to distinguish between the two trains that may be there in the event of a Waterford train and a Limerick train being present at once. Access to Platforms 2 and 3 for trains from anywhere other than Limerick requires reversing. A train coming from Waterford must cross the Dublin-Cork main line towards Limerick, reversing along the curve used by trains arriving from Limerick. It can then stop at the Limerick bay. The cumbersome procedure of trains to Waterford passing the station before reversing into Platform 4 was ended in 2007 and trains to Waterford as well as trains to Limerick now depart from Platforms 2 and 3. Other places in the Ireland that required some or all trains to reverse include:

• Kilkenny
• Killarney
• Athenry re-opened line from December 2009. Trains from Limerick to Galway reverse at Athenry

Until the 1960s trains on the main Dublin-Cork line, in both directions, also needed to reverse into the platforms if they were calling at the station (as almost all did); the main lines passing one or two tracks away from the platform and the points being arranged that trains in both directions needed to stop on the main line and then reverse over points into the platform. The tracks were rearranged in the mid-1960s to overcome this. What had always perplexed (and made Limerick Junction a centre of attention similar to the interest shown in the Listowel and Ballybunion monorail) is that there was always sufficient space for additional platforms, even to construct a "separate" (but linked) station on the Limerick to Waterford line, and certainly (as events proved) track alteration was feasible; the arrangement therefore seemed eccentric - certainly when main line trains between Cork and Dublin were required to reverse.

In 1967 a short curve was constructed just north of Limerick Junction allowing through main line trains between Limerick and Dublin without reversal at Ballybrophy or single (perhaps double) reversal around Limerick Junction itself. Trains using the direct curve cannot stop at Limerick Junction. The curve is only used by three trains each way per day since the most recent timetable changes in December 2009.

Through running (without reversal) from Limerick to Mallow and Cork is possible.

The station opened on 3 July 1848.

Old layout

The station at Limerick Junction is surrounded by track. Trains accessing the Waterford bay from Limerick or Waterford must reverse into the platform. Trains from Waterford also reverse back from "Keane's points", where the curve out from the station joins the line. The track layout here has been reduced to now only two platforms. The bay platform to the north is used for trains to Limerick and Waterford/Rosslare and the main line platform is used for Dublin to Cork trains. The Waterford bay, which was located at the south end of the station, is now lifted and the so has the line that ran behind the station. The scissor crossover which is located halfway down the mainline platform is due to be lifted and the south loop of the mainline has now been disconnected. The Cork half of the through platform has also been removed and the area used to extend the car park.

Horse racing

Main article: Tipperary Racecourse

Limerick Junction was also the name of the racecourse at the same location. In 1986 it was renamed Tipperary Racecourse. The course is not conducive to winter racing because of the frequency of water-logging. Racing here is a major attraction during the summer months and large crowds are attracted to the venue, especially for the Thursday evening meetings.

See also

• List of railway stations in Ireland
• History of rail transport in Ireland
• Rail transport in Ireland

External links

• Irish Rail Limerick Junction Station Website
• Eiretrains Limerick Junction photos
• South Tipperary Rail & Bus Website