Waterford trains to be disrupted for six months to allow works to stop repeated flooding
The flood prevention works are intended to address the recurring flooding issue that has occurred over many years and to make the line resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Irish Rail is advising passengers that the works will cause disruption to some off-peak rail services on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings for a period of six months.
Advertisement
Services will be affected starting from next Monday, 25 August, until 27 November. There will be a break over December for the Christmas period before works recommence on 5 January until 26 March.
Works will take place from 8am to 2.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays.
The following changes will be in place:
the 7.20am and 10.15am services from Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford,
the 11am and 1.05pm services from Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny for a train from Kilkenny to Heuston
The 9.45pm service from Limerick Junction to Waterford will terminate at Carrick-on-Suir, with bus transfer from Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford.
Works will also be carried out to allow a new electrical signalling system to replace the existing mechanical system.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Waterford trains to be disrupted for six months to allow works to stop repeated flooding
WATERFORD TRAIN SERVICES will face some disruptions on weekday mornings over a period of six months as works commence to try to deal with repeated flooding on the line. The flood prevention works are intended to address the recurring flooding issue that has occurred over many years and to make the line resilient to the impacts of climate change. Irish Rail is advising passengers that the works will cause disruption to some off-peak rail services on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings for a period of six months. Advertisement Services will be affected starting from next Monday, 25 August, until 27 November. There will be a break over December for the Christmas period before works recommence on 5 January until 26 March. Works will take place from 8am to 2.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays. The following changes will be in place: the 7.20am and 10.15am services from Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford, the 11am and 1.05pm services from Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny for a train from Kilkenny to Heuston The 9.45pm service from Limerick Junction to Waterford will terminate at Carrick-on-Suir, with bus transfer from Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford. Works will also be carried out to allow a new electrical signalling system to replace the existing mechanical system. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Worst times to travel this bank holiday weekend as 18million drivers to hit the road
BRITS are being warned of traffic chaos this August bank holiday as nearly 18 million drivers prepare for getaway trips. In England and Wales, motorists are set to make 17.6 million leisure journeys between Friday and Monday. 2 The RAC and Network Rail both urged people to check routes before leaving home and plan extra time for journeys Credit: Getty The South East and South West are tipped to suffer some of the worst congestion as families head for the coast. The RAC said traffic will start building on Friday with three million trips planned. That number rises to 3.4 million on Saturday, before dropping slightly to 2.4 million on Sunday and climbing back to 2.7 million on Monday. On top of that, another 6.1 million drivers say they will be on the roads at some point across the long weekend, adding to the strain. Although slightly down on last year's record 19.2 million trips, the forecast is still the second-highest since 2020, when the end of lockdowns saw huge numbers head out on staycations. INRIX warns the M5 between Bristol and Devon will be the worst bottleneck, with jams of over 40 minutes expected on both Friday and Saturday. The M20 in Kent is also tipped for gridlock, especially for holidaymakers heading towards Dover and Folkestone for Channel crossings. The worst times to drive are predicted to be between 10am and 7pm on Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Monday. On Sunday, traffic should be mostly free-flowing. Elon Musk's Cybertrucks are coming to Britain - and may spell the end of household bills Best and worst times to travel Experts say the smart move is to set off after 7pm on Friday, before 9am on Saturday or before 11am on Monday to dodge the worst delays. With hot weather set to tempt even more people out at the last minute, breakdowns could rise sharply. RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: 'With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18m drivers planning getaway trips. "More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations.' He added:'We're expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the South East and South West regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups. "Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.' The RAC is urging motorists to check their cars before setting off to avoid misery. Drivers are advised to top up oil and coolant, check tyre tread and pressure, and ensure vehicles are 'road ready' before a long trip. Meanwhile, rail passengers face fresh disruption with strikes and engineering work. CrossCountry services will grind to a halt on Saturday due to an RMT walkout over ticket scanning. Boss Shiona Rolfe admitted: 'It is hugely disappointing to not operate any services on Saturday, knowing the inevitable disruption to many of our passengers' journeys over the bank holiday weekend.' And Network Rail will carry out 261 projects nationwide, including a total shutdown of the East Coast main line between London King's Cross and Peterborough on Sunday. That will affect long-distance trains to Scotland run by LNER and Lumo, while Avanti West Coast services will be reduced and some diverted. London Euston is also affected, with a limited timetable for Avanti services, while no trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International from Saturday to Monday. Helen Hamlin, Network Rail's chief network operator, said: 'While the vast majority of the railway will be running, works on some parts of the network are unfortunately unavoidable, as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that we wouldn't be able to complete in a normal weekend.' The RAC and Network Rail both urged people to check routes before leaving home and plan extra time for journeys. Best and worst times to drive this August Bank Holiday Friday 22 August 2025 Best: After 7pm After 7pm Worst: 10am – 7pm Saturday 23 August 2025 Best: Before 9am Before 9am Worst: 9am – 5pm Sunday 24 August 2025 Best: Free-flowing traffic predicted Free-flowing traffic predicted Worst: Free-flowing traffic predicted Monday 25 August 2025 Best: Before 11am Before 11am Worst: 1pm – 6pm
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I visited Christmassy Lapland in the middle of summer – with reindeer rides & Santa meet-and-greets in 27C temperatures
I'm leaving with certainty that the spirit of Santa is as magical in July as it is in December LOOKS LIKE XMAS I visited Christmassy Lapland in the middle of summer – with reindeer rides & Santa meet-and-greets in 27C temperatures IT may sound jolly odd, but Santa is a hot attraction for the summer. 'Welcome to Lapland,' says the Uber driver as he flashes a smile. 6 Mrs Claus knits a scarf Credit: Supplied 6 Reindeer at their most impressive in summer Credit: Getty Advertisement 6 Santa's mail is organised all year round by busy elves Credit: Alamy It's mid-July, and I've arrived at 'the official home of Santa Claus'. I'd heard whispers about Rovaniemi's summer scene, but I hadn't quite realised how passionately the city upholds its year-round festivities. My first stop is the Santa Claus Village — an immersive Christmassy epicentre north of the Finnish city centre. If it sounds bizarre, it certainly feels it. Advertisement On the drive to the village, I watch bikini-clad crowds weaving through Rovaniemi's streets towards the Rovaniemen Uimaranta — a sandy beach on the banks of the River Kemijoki. It's 27C and summer is underway. Yet the signs of the city's festive subculture are unmissable. Free-roaming reindeer sunbathe next to roadsides, and we whizz past a barbershop named 'Santa Hair'. I'm basked in sunshine as I step into Santa Claus Village, a collection of red-painted alpine buildings amid fir and pine trees. Advertisement Aside from Santa meet-and-greets, there's the functioning Main Post Office, Santa's Pets and Arctic Circle Husky Park. With free entrance, you can explore at your own pace. It's not the lack of snow that strikes me first, but the absence of crowds. Rather than hordes of thermal-clad tourists, there's a summery serenity in the air. Best travel money options: currency, cards and tips for spending abroad In the main square, residents casually cross the white line that marks the official Arctic Circle boundary — accompanied by plodding dogs on leads. Last December, there was a three-hour waitlist to begin queuing to see Santa Claus, now I watch a young family walk straight in. Advertisement Ignorance is bliss and I've decided I'm too anxious to discover if I'm on the 'naughty or nice' list. Instead, I'm focused on meeting some of the four-legged helpers. I dash towards the reindeer, where visitors are promised intimate hand-feeding encounters. Elves serve ice cream Summer is a special season for the reindeer. Their antlers are at their largest and most of the females have calves at foot. Adjoining the reindeer pen is the home of another Christmas celebrity: Mrs Claus. 6 A lad straddles the Arctic Circle boundary Credit: Shutterstock Advertisement 6 The village in summer Credit: Shutterstock 6 The temperature is displayed in the Arctic Circle Credit: Shutterstock Her lodge is set back from the main walkway and if everyone else is aware that it's July, the elves in charge of decor have not got the memo. A floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree glistens in the corner, while beaming elves serve ice cream and pastries. 'When people visit in winter, I always tell them to visit in summer,' says Mrs Claus, in a lilting voice with a twinkle in her eye. She spins a rhythmical tale: Summers spent swimming, fishing for salmon ('Santa's favourite') and picking blueberries to incorporate into her baking. Advertisement The thawing of the forest shapes the activities that Santa Claus Village has on offer, though not as dramatically as you might expect. Inside the Post Office, the elves still stamp and mail letters, sorting selected letters into a designated post box marked 'December 2025'. The Husky Park welcomes tourists to play with puppies or take rides on wheeled sledges adapted for snowless conditions. While trainers replace clunky snowshoes for walks along forest trails. Christmas isn't a season, but a mindset. Advertisement Now, I'm leaving with certainty that the spirit of Santa is as magical in July as it is in December.
