Iarnród Éireann has said that construction has started on the temporary station at Adare which is set to support thousands of spectators travelling to and from the Ryder Cup in September 2027.
The temporary station consists of a platform and external concourse. Construction, which is expected to take 6 months, is being progressed alongside works on the reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes Freight Line which is expected to be complete in October 2026.
The station works are funded by the Department of Transport, through the National Transport Authority (NTA), and are being delivered by Cara Plant Hire Limited.
Oliver Tierney, Iarnród Éireann Project Manager, joins Martha Mares of O’Connor Sutton Cronin and Declan Maher of Cara Plant Hire to mark the beginning of works on a temporary station at Adare. It will enable thousands of supporters to attend the Ryder Cup in 2027.
Iarnród Éireann is working closely with the NTA to support the overall NTA public transport plan for the Ryder Cup. It is likely that the Ryder Cup special rail services will operate outside of regular timetable hours and will utilise existing train fleet, running a shuttle service between Limerick Junction and Adare on the reinstated Foynes rail line. The shuttle will meet trains from Dublin and Cork at Limerick Junction where passengers can interchange, supporting thousands of spectators in getting to and from the venue.
Limerick to Foynes Freight Line
Works are well advanced on the reinstatement of the 42km Limerick to Foynes Rail Line, with the project set for completion in October 2026. Track laying was complete in 2025 and works on signalling and telecommunications continuing to make progress. Works are also progressing on the refurbishment of Foynes Station which will be used for staff accommodation on site.
The €151.5 million Limerick to Foynes Freight Line project includes:
- Completion of 42km of track reinstatement
- Closure and upgrades of user worked level crossings
- Installation of signalling & telecoms infrastructure
- Full refurbishment of Foynes Station building and train shed roof
- Connection of Foynes line to existing network at Limerick
- Reinstatement of 13 public road level crossings with CCTV monitored crossings, representing an improvement in safety over the previous gated crossings.
Once the line is commissioned in October 2026, driver route training will commence before the first freight services begin operating in early 2027.
Iarnród Éireann Rail Freight 2040 Strategy will position rail at the centre of Ireland’s freight transport system, creating connections and giving greater opportunity for business to switch from road freight to more sustainable rail freight.
Reopening of the line, working with Shannon Foynes Port Company, will deliver a reliable, frequent, and sustainable logistics option for many companies that currently or in the future will use the port of Foynes.
