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Kingstown - Dublin rail line
it wasn't until 1834 that the first railway was built, the Dublin and Kingstown Railway (D&KR) between Dublin and Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), a distance of 10 km (6 mi).[2] Due to local opposition the first terminus, Kingstown Harbour, was adjacent to the West Pier. It took a further three years before the line reached the site of the present station. The contractor was William Dargan, called "the founder of railways in Ireland", due to his participation in many of the main routes. The D&KR were -
Midland Great Western Railway main line
The Midland Great Western Railway main line connected Dublin to Galway and Clifden via (Athlone); there were a number of branch lines: Kingscourt via Navan,
Nesbitt Junction (near Enfield) to Edenderry,
Sligo, with further branches to Cavan Town and Ballaghaderreen,
Westport with further branches to Ballinrobe and Killala via Ballina in County Mayo,
Attymon Junction to Loughrea.
The Railway was first incorporated in 1845. Both the Ballinrobe and Claremorris Railway 19 km (12 mi), opened 1892 a -
Belfast and County Down Railway Opened
The Belfast and County Down Railway (B&CDR) linked Belfast south-eastwards into County Down. It was incorporated in 1846; the first section opened in 1848; absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948 and all but the line to Bangor closed in 1950. -
Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (CB&SCR
The Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (CB&SCR) was one of the major Irish railways; incorporated 1845, the first section opened 1851. It operated from Cork, serving towns along the southern coastal strip to the west of the city. It had a route length of 150 km (93.75 mi), all single line. The Railway was largely concerned with tourist traffic, and there were many road car routes connecting with the line, including one from Bantry to Killarney called The Prince of Wales Route, which operated a -
The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee (CDRJC) operated in north-west Ireland during the 20th century. The parent line opened 1863, 178 km (111 mi) (narrow gauge). It was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1906 which authorized the joint purchase of the then Donegal Railway Company by the Great Northern Railway of Ireland and the Midland Railway Northern Counties Committee. The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway 31 km (19.5 mi), opened 1909, was worked by the CDRJC -
West Clare Railway
West Clare Railway 43 km (27 mi); (914 mm (3 ft) gauge); opened 1887; eight locomotives, 146 other vehicles -
lines merged to form Great Southern Railways
In 1925, the railway companies within Saorstát Éireann were merged to form the Great Southern Railways. -
Córas Iompair Éireann formed
This company was amalgamated in 1945 with the Dublin United Transport Company to form Córas Iompair Éireann -
Luas line opened on old track line
One notable closure was that of the Dublin & South Eastern Harcourt Street railway line in Dublin, despite being regarded as an important commuter artery. In 2004, part of the route reopened as part of the new Luas tram system.
