by AndyB » Sun May 21, 2017 10:00 pm
Not as far as I know - that section, together with Ballybrophy-Killonan, is still at risk, and only running two passenger trains a day isn't going to help that.
Tipperary-Clonmel, Clonmel-Carrick-on-Suir, Carrick-on-Suir-Waterford West, Killonan-Birdhill, Birdhill-Roscrea, Roscrea-Ballybrophy, Navan-Tara Mines and theoretically Waterford Central for Barrow Bridge-Wellington Bridge and Wellington Bridge to Rosslare Strand for Grange Big are the only remaining ETS sections - and of those, Navan-Tara has an ETS padlocked to the mantlepiece of the cabin to save someone operating the Tara instrument (if the instruments are even there any more), Roscrea-Ballybrophy is usually worked manually with an ETS instrument at the junction for through workings, Wellington Bridge-Grange Big is worked by pilotman since Wellington Bridge is closed, and Waterford Central cabin is unlikely ever to reopen after the damage caused by a rock fall onto the through line a number of years ago.
Carrick-on-Suir is a victim of politics. No operational need for the loop, so it had to go, because every time Irish Rail spend money on something they don't need to run the existing timetable, they are crucified by the politicians.