Category: IH News 2025

The Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) has released a brief report on an incident that occurred in January 2025 at Navan Road Parkway Station in Dublin.

To cut a long story short (full report linked to above), the gates on Platform 2 (citybound platform) at Navan Road Parkway were left locked on the morning of 31st January 2025, resulting in a number of passengers crossing the tracks to exit the station from Platform 1, where the access gates were not locked.

Interestingly, the RAIU report notes that in such instances, those on the line are not trespassers in the legal sense of the term.

I recently had a letter published in the local media, accusing Irish Rail of incompetence, basing this assertion on 35 years of experience of criticising same. It looks like the RAIU agree.

The redevelopment of the North Quays in Waterford is underway. Technically, such a project would be worthy of comment on this site, due to port environments falling under the definition of IH.

I specifically link to this article in the Waterford News and Star as it contains a timeline for the opening of the new railway station in Waterford being built as part of this project and information about the current station.

It is noted that the transport hub will be substantially complete by Q2 2026 but signaling work on the railway will not be complete until Q2 2027. Given the light use of this section of line east of the current Waterford station (freight traffic to Belview), I am at a loss to understand why Irish Rail cannot realign the track and install the associated signalling now.

The article notes that the canopies at the present Waterford station are protected structures and therefore, CIE will be required to keep these (having said that, the ‘care and maintenance’ practiced by Irish Rail/CIE is not something to shout about).

Could I suggest that the present Limerick/Dublin facing bay platform be leased to the Irish Traction Group as an alternative to their present isolated facility at Carrick on Suir? Having their locomotives in Waterford would be a tourist attraction and an appropriate re-use of the platform facilities.

I reported previously on the Factory Girls memorial in Derry. As with most Government initiatives (“Government” includes all levels of authority and control), it would appear that TPTB went ahead and came up with an idea that did not have the support of those directly connected to the subject matter.

Ireland Live reports on a protest by members of a group called “Friends of the Factories” about the memorial, which, although on site and revealed, is due to have its official “unveiling” on 22 May 2025.

The Government of Ireland make available certain grants for the repair of historic structures. The 2025 award list has been published and contains 5 structures of an IH nature:

Former Railway Goods Shed, Railway Road, Co. Cavan
Binnacle Ltd. Repairs to roof and rainwater goods to facilitate the future public use of this disused industrial building.
This would appear to be the former GNR(I) goods store in Cavan Town.

Billis Mills, Watermill by Billis Bridge, Drumollard, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan; Katarina McNabb & Christopher Liu
Repairs to joinery and masonry structure of this unique ‘double mill’ as part of ongoing restoration of this rural industrial heritage complex

Former Warehouse, The Mall, Ramelton, Co. Donegal; Carmel Patterson Repairs to roof and rainwater system to secure this structure and facilitate plans to bring it back into use as town centre residential properties

Former Railway Station, Oughterard, Co. Galway, Owenriff Investments Ltd.
Repairs to roof, windows and rainwater goods of this nineteenth century former railway station.

Railway Footbridge, Moate, Co. Westmeath, Westmeath County
Council
Restoration of this currently inaccessible cast iron footbridge, including conservation of decorative ironworks and installation of new deck to reinstate public access.

The Irish Independent reports that a grant in the amount of €130,000 has been issued towards the restoration of the former Oughterard railway station.

I recently posted about the GoFundMe campaign for Elphin Windmill, to raise funds for repair to the damaged sails, caused by Storm Eowyn.

Today, I put my money where my mouth is and donated EUR2,000 to the campaign.

It has finally happened – the long talked about memorial to the female shirt factory workers in Derry has been unveiled.

The Derry Journal reports that representatives of former shirt factory workers were given the honour of unwrapping the memorial in an area beside the Guildhall in Derry City.

A GoFundMe campaign to facilitate the repair of the damage caused to Elphin Windmill during Storm Eowyn has been setup and can be accessed here.