Madam, – The Bray to Harcourt Street line opened in 1854 and closed in 1958. In 2010 trains of a different sort will run on much of its former track-bed as far as Cherrywood, while the final phase of the Luas Green line will run to Bray, thus restoring the inland rail route.
The Cork to Youghal line opened in 1860 and closed in 1963. A former section of the line as far as Midleton reopened in 2009.
The Navan to Dublin line opened in 1862 and closed in 1963. In 2010 a new line will open from Dublin to Pace using the original track-bed and the remaining section to Navan is scheduled to open in 2015.
The Western Rail Corridor opened in 1894 and closed in 1976. A former section of the line from Limerick to Ennis reopened in 1988, followed by another section in 2010 to Galway, with the reinstatement of the original line to Claremorris scheduled for 2015.
Trains serving the mail-boat began operating from Rosslare Harbour in 1906. In 2008, Irish Rail moved the station a 15-minute walk from the port, followed by changing the timetables so there was no onward train connection for ferry foot passengers and now intends to close the line in 2010. How long will it take to re-open it? – Yours, etc,