Double track lines in Ireland

[deltic]

Apart from Dublin commuter lines, Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast and a few other short sections, the vast majority of lines in Ireland are single track. Were they all built like this or have any been singled over the years?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The M & GW main line to Galway (via Mullingar) was double track from Dublin to Ballinasloe as was the Sligo branch from Mullingar as far as Longford. They were singled during the difficult early years of the Republic as an economy measure. Nowadays of course Galway trains run on the rival GS & W main line via Portarlington and the direct Mullingar to Athlone line via Moate has been abandoned.

 

[thenorthern]

Limerick to Galway I think is double track.

 

[duesselmartin]

Limerick to Galway I think is double track.

Single track.
I think Waterford to Limerick had wide enough overbridges to install a second track

 

[InterCity:125]

Apart from Dublin commuter lines, Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast and a few other short sections, the vast majority of lines in Ireland are single track. Were they all built like this or have any been singled over the years?

What struck me as strange is that the lines from cork to Cobh and Midleton are both double track when single track with passing points would work fine. I’ve never even seen platform 2 in use at Midleton.

 

[deltic]

What struck me as strange is that the lines from cork to Cobh and Midleton are both double track when single track with passing points would work fine. I’ve never even seen platform 2 in use at Midleton.

I assume the line to Cobh was quite important in the past as it was a major transatlantic port but as you say surprised it was not singled as a cost cutting measure post "The Emergency"

 

[geoffk]

What struck me as strange is that the lines from cork to Cobh and Midleton are both double track when single track with passing points would work fine. I’ve never even seen platform 2 in use at Midleton.

Cobh is double track but I thought Midleton was single track with a long loop at Carrigtwohill. Belfast to Bangor and to Kilroot on the Larne branch also double track.

 

[DT611]

What struck me as strange is that the lines from cork to Cobh and Midleton are both double track when single track with passing points would work fine. I’ve never even seen platform 2 in use at Midleton.

I believe the long term plan is to ultimately grow the cork suburban, so while the current infrastructure could be viewed as over-kill for today's operations, long term it's a good thing that it exists as it makes it a lot easier and a lot less costly to bring the improvements and growth in services whenever they are eventually needed and rolled out.

 

[InterCity:125]

I believe the long term plan is to ultimately grow the cork suburban, so while the current infrastructure could be viewed as over-kill for today's operations, long term it's a good thing that it exists as it makes it a lot easier and a lot less costly to bring the improvements and growth in services whenever they are eventually needed and rolled out.

That’s what I assumed.