Waterford train services to be disrupted by major flood prevention works
The flood prevention works will be undertaken by contractors for Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) and will address the recurring flooding issue which has occurred over many years at this location and ensure the railway service is climate resilient into the future.
As well as ensuring rail services are no longer impacted by flooding, both to the existing station and the new Plunkett Station from 2027, the works will allow a new electrical signalling system to replace the mechanical system which has been in place, and reinstate track capacity and routes to and from Waterford.
The company is advising customers that the flood defence works will necessitate disruption to some off-peak rail services on Monday to Thursday mornings over a total of six months, from late August onwards, excluding the Christmas season.
Waterford North Quays public transport elements are funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA).
What do the flood defence works involve?
The flood defence system will comprise a combination of sheet piled walls, impermeable trenches and an extensive drainage network with two associated pumping stations. This infrastructure is to be installed from Sally Park in the west to east of the new Plunkett Station and Transport Hub, over a 1.1km length.
The specific works on the Western Flood Defence Wall which will require service impacts are over an 800 metre section, from the western end of the main Plunkett Station platform to east of the Waterford West signal cabin.
Due to the depth to rock, the sheet piles are up to 25m in height and 0.6m wide and will be installed generally along the low watermark line. The wall line is located 5m to 7m from the passenger track. The flood defence wall will be installed from the River Suir, by means of two large barges and a piling rig.
Service impacts from works
Iarnród Éireann has worked with WCCC and BAM, the main contractor, throughout the project to minimise disruption to rail services and to identify the optimum approach to these works.
'On detailed review of the works, due to the potential to foul the line, Iarnród Éireann has identified that line closure is required and unavoidable,' said a spokesperson. 'This will be during the lifting and placing of piles due to their length, the working environment and the proximity to the railway.
'The agreed work programme seeks to balance the timescale for delivery of the flood defence system with avoiding disruption to the busiest rail services on the route.'
The work dates will occur from August 25 to November 27 this year, and from January 5 to March 26, 2026.
Works will take place from 8am to 2.30pm on Mondays to Thursdays during the those dates. As a result, the following service alterations will apply: the 7.20am and 10.15am Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford
The 11am and 1.05pm Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny, and train from Kilkenny to Heuston. The 9.45am Limerick Junction to Waterford will terminate at Carrick-on-Suir with bus transfer from Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford.
This ensures that only two of eight services each way daily between Waterford and Dublin are affected Mondays to Thursdays, and that weekends are unaffected. It will also ensure that full services operate throughout December and the New Year period, crucial for city centre traders and tourism.
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Iarnród Éireann chief executive Jim Meade said: 'The Waterford North Quays project is a transformative one for Waterford and for public transport serving the city.
'As well as delivering a new integrated transport hub incorporating a relocated Plunkett Station, it will resolve the recurring flooding issues which have disrupted rail services to and from Waterford for many years.
'This is a trend which has worsened with the impact of climate change, so it is far-sighted to incorporate these works in the wider programme.
'We welcome Waterford City and County Council's commitment to the protection of key public transport infrastructure, and thank them and their contractors for the proactive engagement which has been core to the Waterford North Quays programme.
'While any disruption is regretted, we believe the programme strikes the right balance between the needs of rail customers and the efficient delivery of these crucial flood defence works.'
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