Iarnród Éireann will invest €6 million in a major upgrade of its Cork-Cobh commuter line through the replacement and refurbishment of a pair of 117-year-old viaducts which will improve safety and allow trains travel at faster speeds on the line.
According to the company's business development manager in Cork, Mr Andrew Roche, the commuter line to Cobh will be closed December 9th to January 10th, 2005 to allow work take place on the Belvelly and Slatty Viaducts near Fota Station.
Mr Roche said the line would be closed from Glounthaune to Cobh, with alternative bus services operating in place of trains as engineering staff set about replacing the Belvelly viaduct and renewing the Slatty viaduct.
"The Slatty viaduct comprises six wrought-iron bowstring girder spans and masonry arches at both approaches - it spans 127.2 metres and it now needs safety-critical renewal works which will cost €3.1 million," said Mr Roche.
The work on the Slatty viaduct will involve strengthening the approach arches to accommodate the new deck, strengthening the bowstring girders, repairing the piers, installing a new deck and a track direct fixing arrangement over the bridge, he said.
"The Belvelly viaduct comprises three wrought-iron bowstring girders spans with masonry arches. It spans some 57.6 metres and it requires replacement to ensure the continued safe operation of services across the viaduct and it will cost €2.9 million," he said.
The frames for the Slatty viaduct and the arches for the Belvelly viaduct are both being manufactured by Thompson Engineering of Carlow and will be brought to Cork and stored in Cork Dockyard before being shipped up-river by barge for installation.
"The works on Belvelly and Slatty, as well as yielding safety benefits, will also allow trains travel at a faster speed across both viaducts," said Mr Roche, adding that passenger trains on the line were currently limited to 50 m.p.h. but have to slow to 25 m.p.h. to cross the viaducts.
Rail passengers on the Cobh line could travel by train as far as Glounthaune where bus transfers would accommodate customers in both directions, he added.
