Dublin–Rosslare railway line

The Dublin-Rosslare Main Line is a main rail route between Dublin Connolly station and Rosslare Europort, where it connects with ferry services to the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. The line between Dublin and Greystones is electrified and forms the southern part of the DART service. Between Bray and Rosslare the line is single track only. The line connected with the Limerick–Rosslare line outside Rosslare Strand until 2010. From Wicklow on, semaphore signalling was used until April 2008, when the entire line was upgraded to the mini-CTC system controlled from Dublin Connolly. Although it is considered a separate route, the line is continuous after Dublin Connolly, where it connects with the Belfast–Dublin main line. The section between Westland Row (Dublin Pearse) and a point on the line just after Salthill and Monkstown station is the oldest railway line in Ireland, opening in 1834. At that time, the railway terminated adjacent to the start of Dún Laoghaire Harbour's West Pier, at a station called Dún Laoghaire.

Dublin–Rosslare Main Line
Rock protection from flooding at Kilcoole
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleEast of Ireland
TerminiDublin Connolly
Rosslare Europort
Stations29
Service
TypeCommuter rail, Inter-city rail
Heavy rail
SystemIarnród Éireann
Operator(s)Iarnród Éireann
DART
Commuter
InterCity
Depot(s)Dublin Connolly
Rolling stock8100 Class (DART)
8500, 8510 and 8520 Classes (DART)
29000 Class (Commuter)
22000 Class (InterCity)
History
Opened17 December 1834 - 24 June 1882
Technical
Line length162 km
Number of tracksDouble track (Dublin Connolly–Bray) and Single track (Bray–Rosslare Europort)
CharacterTertiary
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC OHLE (North of Greystones)
Route map

Year
closed
Dublin Connolly
for Dublin Airport
R. Liffey
Tara Street
Dublin Pearse
for Dublin Airport
Grand Canal Street railway works
1925
Grand Canal Dock
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Ballsbridge Showground
Passengers 1941
Goods 1971
Serpentine Avenue
Sandymount
Sandymount
Sydney Parade
Sydney Parade
Merrion Gates
Merrion
1934
Booterstown
Williamstown
1841
Blackrock
Seapoint
Salthill and Monkstown
Kingstown Harbour (west pier)
1837
Dún Laoghaire Mallin
Carlisle Pier
1980
Sandycove Cutting
Sandycove
and Glasthule
Glenageary
Dalkey (Atmospheric)
1854
Dalkey
Killiney Hill Tunnel
Obelisk Hill
1858
Killiney
moved
1882
Ballybrack
1863
1882
Shankill
MP 11 (to Pearse)
1958
MP 11 (to Harcourt St.)
Woodbrook Halt
1960
Bray
Bray Daly
Bray Cove Halt
1929
Bray Head Tunnel No.1
Bray Head Tunnel No.2
Bray Head Tunnel No.3
Bray Head Tunnel No.4
Greystones
Kilcoole (limited service)
Newcastle
1964
Wicklow Murrough
1976
R. Vartry
Wicklow
Rathnew
1964
Glenealy
1964
Rathdrum
Avoca
1964
Woodenbridge Junction
1964
1945
Glenart platform
1925
(private halt for Earl Carysfort)
Arklow
Inch
1963
Gorey
Camolin
1963
Ferns
1977
Enniscorthy
R. Slaney
Enniscorthy Tunnel
Edermine Ferry
1963
Waterford line
1963
Macmine Junction
1963
Killurin
1963
Killurin Tunnel
Ferrycarrig Tunnel
Wexford (Carcur)
1872
Wexford O'Hanrahan
Wexford South
1977
Felthouse Junction
1910
Limerick-Rosslare Line
2010
Rosslare Strand
Kilrane
1963
Rosslare Europort

Services

  • Monday-Friday

4 trains Dublin to Rosslare
1 train Dublin to Wexford
3 trains Rosslare to Dublin
1 train Rosslare to Dundalk
1 train Gorey to Dublin

  • Saturday

3 trains in each direction Dublin to Rosslare
1 train Gorey to Dundalk

  • Sunday

3 trains in each direction Dublin to Rosslare

No freight services operate on this route as of 2015. Up until 2002, ammonia and fertiliser trains operated from Shelton Abbey near Arklow, where a fertilizer plant was located. However, this closed in late 2002, since when there have been no regular freight trains on this line. Bagged cement trains also operated in the past to Arklow and Gorey.

On a few Sundays during the summer the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland operates the "Sea Breeze", a steam hauled train with heritage carriages, between Dublin and Wexford/Rosslare.

Traction

Now withdrawn 2700 Class DMU (2702) at Arklow

From late July 2004, Dublin-Rosslare services have been worked exclusively by diesel railcars. Initially the railcars used were drawn from the 2700 Class fleet, but these were replaced within a year. At present, most services are worked by the 22000 Class, of which there are four carriage sets, with the 29000 Class working some services. These however, will be replaced by the 22000 Class DMU's by 2020. Prior to July 2004, services were worked by sets of Mark 2D carriages hauled by 071 class locomotives.

Signalling

In April 2008, the signalling on this route was upgraded to the mini-CTC system, controlled from Connolly Station. Apart from the Limerick Junction station area on the Dublin-Cork route, which was itself upgraded to CTC in 2011, it had been the last of the routes radiating from Dublin to use Electric Train Staff (ETS) and semaphore signalling, which was still in place south of Wicklow up until April 2008.

Many of its signal cabins were situated on the corner of a footbridge. Examples include Wicklow, Rathdrum, Arklow and Gorey. At present these cabins remain in situ.

Main connections

This line connects at Dublin Connolly with the Enterprise onwards to Dundalk, Portadown and Belfast Central as well as the Sligo Line.

There is also at Rosslare Europort connections by Stena Line to Fishguard Harbour to the West Wales Line onto Carmarthen, Swansea, Cardiff Central, for Reading and London Paddington.

At Rosslare Europort Irish Ferries connect Pembroke Dock (West Wales Line as such) as well as Cherbourg.


See also

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