A Historic Milestone for the Limerick to Foynes Railway Line – First Train Movements in 25 Years!

The 25th and 26th of October 2026 marked a significant milestone in the reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes Railway Line, with the commencement of commissioning activities and the first train movements along the route in 25 years. Just three weeks earlier, the installation of new points reconnected the Foynes line to the national rail network, paving the way for this landmark occasion.

O’Connor Sutton Cronin is proud to have played a key role in this important infrastructure project, contributing to its delivery from detailed design through to the construction and commissioning stages. The project has involved extensive refurbishment and reinstatement of railway infrastructure, including track formation, drainage, bridges, structures, level crossings and associated railway systems, bringing a long-disused railway corridor closer to operational use.

The commencement of commissioning represents the culmination of years of design, engineering, construction and collaboration, and marks a significant step towards restoring rail connectivity to the Port of Foynes.

This milestone reflects the collective efforts of Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail as client, OCSC as engineering consultant, John Sisk & Son Ltd as main contractor, and the wider project team, whose collaboration and commitment have been instrumental in bringing the railway back to this stage.

After 25 years, trains are once again moving on the Foynes line — a proud moment for everyone involved.