IRISH Rail have confirmed to Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely that the railway lines at Rathbane and Janesboro will receive some long-awaited attention in the coming weeks.
Cllr Kiely has met with Irish Rail and Roxboro Gardaí, after which, she said, it was agreed that the level crossing at Rathbane will be automated.
“There will be CCTV and works will start in April. Pedestrian safety will be the priority, especially given that children use this route to get to school,” she told the Limerick Post.
According to the City East representative, rubbish will be removed before Good Friday from the track and some of the fencing has already been repaired at her request.
“Further breeches in the fence will be addressed soon. New fencing contractors have been appointed. Until then, Irish Rail security will monitor the area with the help of the Garda Crime Prevention team at Roxboro Road,” she revealed.
“It will be 2026 before we see trains on the line, but it is proposed that we could see a one-hourly service for freight, with a passenger service after that”, Cllr Kiely suggested.
“The boundary of the tracks will be secured with new fencing in the coming months to protect houses. It will be higher and stronger than the existing fence.”
Contractors were on site at the Boro Park in recent days to look at options, and Cllr Kiely says that fencing will be erected to stop access from the tracks on both the Janesboro and Prospect sides.
“This is a great result for residents and users of our beautiful park and is long overdue. Irish Rail have really worked with me on this issue and have given a commitment on dealing with me on anything else that may arise,” she concluded.
