The railway that runs from Limerick to Foynes, in County Limerick will be reopening and work has started, the preliminary clearance of vegetation etc is underway. It’s been a while in coming, planning permission was granted in 2019 for the renewal of the viaduct.
It opened on 29 April 1858, as the terminus of a line from Limerick which was subsequently extended west from Ballingrane to Tralee. It was last used for passenger services in 1963, but continued as a freight line until 2001. Now, the port of Foynes intends to become a centre for offshore wind turbine production, and the rail link will be a vital part of the transport network.
Foynes was a major centre for flying boats in the 1930s and 40s. They used it as the last port of call on transatlantic crossings and it played a significant role in World War Two. The opening of Shannon airport in 1942 changed things considerably and the Foynes flying-boat station closed in 1946. There is now a very good museum in the old terminal building with a full size replic of most of a Boeing 314 flying boat.

Here’s a few photos of the disused line I took in July 2019 on a visit to the west coast of Ireland.









If you’re thinking of visiting Ireland, check out the accomodation available at Booking.com. This affiliate link gives me a small commission that helps to pay for the upkeep of this site and doesn’t cost you any extra.
When the left luggage point at the station isn’t convenient I use Radical Storage. The network of shops and other outlets worldwide keeps your bag safe and it’s all managed through the app. So if you arrive in a city with no local currency and the station lockers don’t take card payments, Radical Storage will work. This is an affiliate link that earns me a small commission when you join.
Thanks for reading. Check out my other posts on travel, heritage railways and more.
Please click like and subscribe for more random railways content. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. If you would like to help me with a small donation towards producing more content please buy me a coffee:

ko-fi.com/randomrailways
There’s also a wide range of my photos available on T shirts, mugs and lots more at Redbubble