The front carriage of a train derailed this morning several hundred metres south of Wicklow town after striking debris from a "significant" landslide caused by heavy rainfall over weekend.
The driver onboard the out-of-service train was unharmed in the incident at 5am, according to an Irish Rail spokesman.
The line between Wicklow and Gorey will be closed until November 30th to clear the track and to strengthen an embankment next to the line south of Arklow. Bus transfers are in operation for rail services between Wicklow and Gorey.
There is the potential of further flooding and road conditions will become more severe as rainfall increases throughout the week, Met Éireann warned today.
A high water table and full rivers caused by ongoing wet weather mean flooding potential remains high in spite of intermittent rainfall predictions, a Met Éireann spokesman said.
"Any amount of rainfall could cause a problem when normally it wouldn't have," he said.
Brighter weather with sunny spells and scattered heavy showers will extend from the southwest through the day as the rain gradually clears northeastwards, according to Met Éireann.
However, rain will return tomorrow evening and become heavier until Friday morning. Most areas can expect at least 5 centimetres of rain, but the western third of the country could be more badly affected.
Severe flooding in parts of the country continued to delay travel and make roads inaccessible this afternoon with secondary and back roads most affected.
AA Roadwatch urged motorists to be careful after persistent rain in many areas continues the risk of flooding.
Ballycanew Road in Gorey, Co Wexford remains closed today outside at Ballykale Cross due to flooding and a burst water main. It is not expected to reopen before November 21st.
Heavy flooding at Glynn in Co Kilkenny also affected an HGV diversion in place because of works.
Bad flooding was reported at Elphin in Co Roscommon. Drivers were advised to approach the area with caution. Roads out of Roscommon town were also affected.
Flooding caused delays in Co Cork around Cloghroe Church, Hop Island, Manch Bridge, Ballylangley, Poulavone and Mayfield. Today’s racing at Cork racecourse was cancelled due to adverse water logging.
There was flooding between Rathvilly and Blessington in Co Wicklow.