Aerial view of the old Irish Cement Rail line . With the reopening of the Foynes railway line for goods traffic , is there a possibility this might get reopened also ?
Never realised the Mungret branch was so interesting - I did Foynes and Ballingrane/Tralee a few times over the years but somehow missed this. Thanks for posting.
Remember it well, usually 2 engines pulling the cement tankers until Iarnroid Eireann lost interest in freight. Train used to go through Ballykeeffe daily at around 5pm.
Remember it well. Thanks for posting. Remember all the traffic holdups at the level crossing at Childers Road near the parkway and near the cement factory. Don't know how it would work today. CIE had the monopoly of cement transport for years. Musthavebeeninefficientlost it to trucks. I love trains and tracks but wouldn't like it back because of holdups always at peak times.
It looks as though the track right of way has been retained, with some mothballed lines being re-opened. Just so long as the land is not wasted on another greenway which can go anywhere rather than wasting the potential for rail freight to take traffic off the roads.
Agreed, not a huge fan of turning railway's into greenways tbh, it's not appealing walking or cycling then on the train tbh, or old railway lines turned into residential, industrial area or whatever they build on top of them, so yeah
It is hoped that the cement line will get a new lease of life as a commuter line with stations at Mungret, Ballykeeffe and Dooradoyle/Crescent shopping centre.
The psychopaths who closed all these lines should all be ashamed of themselves even though there all probably long since gone, we once had the most extensive rail network in the world and look at us now but a shadow of that former glory, 5 counties without a rail network, for shame, let's hope many open up before 2030, some towns are desperately crying out for such services.
And there's still some that are alive or their descendents or their little followers continue said traditions, now all the good railway are left abandoned, dug up for roads or residential/industrial buildings and such, or turn them into greenways which is a new trend now (greenways aren't appealing or the same as on the rail, its mostly fields or such which is just that tbh)
