Major flood prevention works to protect Waterford rail line underway

28 Iúil 2025

Works from late August to early 2026 will affect some off-peak morning rail services, Mondays to Thursdays

Major flood prevention works to protect the rail line on the approach to Waterford are underway, as part of the Waterford North Quays Development, Iarnród Éireann has advised customers.

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 / 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.

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 25metre in height and 0.6m wide and will be installed generally along the low watermark line. The wall line is located 5metres to 7metres 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 (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. 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.

25^th August to 27^th November 2025, and 5^th January to 26^th March 2026

Works will take place from 08:00hrs to 14:30hrs on Mondays to Thursdays during the above dates.  As a result, the following service alterations will apply:

• 07:20hrs and 10:15hrs Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford
• 11:00hrs and 13:05hrs Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny, and train from Kilkenny to Heuston.  Please note bus transfers will depart Waterford at 10:45hrs and 12:50hrs respectively, please check Journey planner for details.
• 09:45hrs 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.