Tipperary rail campaign says new bus links will boost case for a new midday train service

North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership has welcomed the increase in Local Link bus services operating in north Tipperary.

New services from Portumna, Lorrha, Carigahorrig, Terryglass, Ballinderry, Coolbawn Quay, Coolbawn Cross, Puckaun, Dromineer, Ballycommon and Nenagh, ending at Nenagh railway station, began on November 27.

The first bus leaves Portumna at 5.50am, arriving at the Nenagh railway station at 7.23am, with other morning services beginning and ending in Puckaun. The last bus leaves Nenagh railway station at 10.15pm to return to Portumna.

“The Partnership has been campaigning for connectivity between bus and rail for some time,” said Virginia O'Dowd of the NTCRP. This 322 bus route provides opportunity for people to avail of the bus services to make train connections in Nenagh for Dublin and Limerick. For example, the 322 leaves Portumna at 5.50am, arriving at Nenagh

railway station at 7.23am, giving time to connect with the Nenagh to Limerick train at 7.47am, getting into Colbert station at 8.40am. People can also avail of the Nenagh to Dublin train, which leaves at 7.50am, arriving at Heuston station at 9.57am,” she said.

Ms O'Dowd also pointed out that bus users from Puckaun can also mconnect with the 9.55am train to Limerick. There is also an opportunity to link with the 6.03pm train from Nenagh to Dublin, as the bus arrives from Portumna at 5.43pm, she said.

“For the past two years, our rail service has fallen within the priority bracket for a midday service, but, unfortunately, nothing has been delivered. The Partnership is calling on Irish Rail and the NTA to deliver this service during 2024,” said Ms O'Dowd.

“With these new bus links, the Limerick to Ballybrophy line is now in a more attractive position to have the midday service implemented,” she said.

Ms O'Dowd welcomed the new information signage and the displayed timetables at the stations along the line.

The new bus routes were welcomed by Cllr Joe Hannigan at the November meeting of Nenagh Municipal District Council.

Cllr Hannigan asked if there was any progress on turning the railway station into a transport hub.

However, District Manager Marcus O’Connor said that, while the Council would like to see all services at the railway station, they “haven’t succeeded in persuading the NTA”.

He said the Council had been “banging the drum for a long time” about a hub, and he wondered if there was any “joined up thinking”.

Mr O’Connor pointed out that the station building was up for rent and a case could be made that there was a place needed for people to sit down and have a coffee.

He also stated that there was plenty of car parking and shelters could be provided along with EV chargers.

“The cost would be very little,” he said. “But we need a change of mind.”

He said that he had met the Minister and the CEO of the NTA and the Council could write to them again as the hub would be a “sensible and logical development for the town.

Cllr Hannigan said that it was “beyond comprehension” that there was no buy-in for that