Road travel on one of Kerry's busiest routes was interrupted yesterday when the engine of an Iarnród Éireann passenger train failed at a major crossing and left the train straddling the N22.
The 9.15 a.m. Tralee to Cork train was hit by engine failure shortly after it pulled out of Killarney at the Minish gate-crossing about three miles from Tralee.
Some 200 passengers were removed from the 30-year-old train and taken by bus to Cork. However, it took over an hour to align a new engine and allow cars through on the main Killarney-Cork road. The train service to Kerry has been the subject of recent controversy, with Tralee Fianna Fáil councillor Ms Norma Foley comparing it to Thomas the Tank Engine.
Mr Barry Kenny, Iarnród Éireann spokesman, said yesterday that, in addition to new inter-city rail stock on the KerryDublin route, the county could expect new rail cars on the Cork route. These will be available in three years. The county had the oldest signalling system in Ireland and this had to be replaced.
New track had also been laid and this had to be carried out before the problems with rolling stock could be addressed, Mr Kenny said. When everything was in order there would be a Tralee-Dublin service every two hours, he said.