Ballybrophy halt

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Ballybrophy Halt

Dublin to Cork Line

Legend

Phoenix Park Tunnel (To Dublin Connolly)

Luas Red Line (To Dublin Connolly)

Dublin Heuston

Luas Red Line (To Tallaght)

Inchicore Works

Cherry Orchard & Parkwest*

Clondalkin*

Hazelhatch & Celbridge*

Sallins & Naas*

Newbridge*

Kildare

Dublin-Waterford Line

Monasterevin*

Portarlington

Dublin-Westport/Galway

Portlaoise

Limerick-Ballybrophy Line

Ballybrophy

Templemore*

Thurles

Limerick-Rosslare line

Limerick-Ennis Line

Mallow-Tralee Line

*Not served by through trains from Dublin to Cork

The old water tower from the days of steam, 2002

Ballybrophy Halt is a small railway halt at Ballybrophy, County Laois, Ireland, near Borris-in-Ossory and Rathdowney. The halt is the junction for services to Limerick via Nenagh. Comparatively few services stop there.

The station opened on 1 September 1847^[1] as Roscrea & Borris, was renamed Roscrea & Parsonstown Junction in 1858, and renamed again in 1871 as Ballybrophy. The station lacks a lift on the footbridge for crossing the track. Therefore passengers who cannot use steps and are boarding or alighting from trains to Cork and Limerick via Limerick Junction must cross the tracks at ground level.^[2] This is only possible when the train is clear of the tracks.

[edit] The future

Ballybrophy's railway station is a connection point between the Dublin to Cork line and a line from Ballybrophy to Limerick. Trains wishing to cross from the Limerick to the Dublin line must perform time-consuming reversals. The line is lightly travelled, as an alternative routing via Limerick Junction is quicker and more comfortable due to newer track and fewer speed restrictions.

Due to the branch line's turn south to meet the line at Ballybrophy, some of those who favour retaining the line have theorised that continuing the line east with a stop at the more populated Borris-in-Ossory, joining the line nearer Portlaoise would be better for Dublin connections. However, in addition to the substantial capital cost of this work, substantial parts of the line would still need to be re-laid nearer Limerick to eliminate severe speed restrictions. Upgrades to the N7 road also dissuade rail usage.