Iarnrod Eireann has announced plans to pin Ireland’s longest railway bridge, the Barrow Bridge on the Wexford Waterford rail line, in the open position...
Iarnrod Eireann wrote to South East on Track last week to announce plans to pin Ireland’s longest rail bridge the Barrow Bridge near Great Island in Co. Wexford into the open-to-shipping position. Constructed in 1906, the Bridge has continuously operated for over a century, although regular passenger services on the line ceased in 2010.
Following a ship striking the bridge in February 2022, Iarnrod Eireann has announced plans to pin the bridge in the open-to-shipping position by the end of December 2022. Iarnrod Eireann has noted that significant repairs have become necessary costing in the region of €5-10 million. These repairs are expected to commence once funding has been obtained from the vessel’s insurers
South East on Track has written to Iarnrod Eireannn seeking clarification on the decision to pin the bridge open, as well as requesting that the work proceed as soon as possible without waiting for funding from the ship’s insurers. A series of maintenance trains crossed the bridge in 2022, after the damage took place.
In 1991 a ship struck the Barrow Bridge requiring repairs in the region of £3-5 million. These repairs were completed in three months, with the High Court case involving Irish Rail and the ship’s insurers lasting until 2001. As a result of this, South East on Track is asking Irish Rail to proceed with the repairs and not wait until the funds are dispersed.
The Wexford-Waterford railway line is currently under examination for reopening as part of the All Island Strategic Rail Review and it is imperative that the Barrow Bridge being out of service does not impact the overall viability of the line.
Value our site? Register NOW for as little as €3 per-year…
For a €3 Subscription, click here.
For a €6 Subscription, click here.
Enjoy our content? Want to keep reading it? By registering, you will have access to all of Wexford Weekly’s content and you’ll also be supporting a growing independent brand. We thank you for your continued support. It costs less than one cent per day to register on Wexford Weekly. If you value our site, we really appreciate it.
– Access to all content
– Improved, premium features
– Discounts on products
– First to know about future buses
– Discounts on future events
Read also:
Remember to submit your news to Wexford Weekly! To advertise on our socials or website, email our team at info@wexfordweekly.com
