The works will resume from January 5, 2026, affecting some off-peak morning rail services, Mondays to Thursdays. The works to protect the rail line on the approach to Waterford, an area which has been prone to flooding and disruption, began on August 25.
In line with the planned schedule, the works are now paused to facilitate those travelling to and from Waterford over the busy festive season, including for the Waterford Christmas festival, Winterval. The final day of pre-Christmas works was on Wednesday this week, November 26.
Customers travelling to and from Waterford over the coming weeks are reminded of the extensive choice of daily services, with eight trains each way between Waterford and Dublin Heuston – nine each way on Fridays – including a daily 8.20pm Waterford to Dublin Heuston service, Monday to Saturday, for those attending evenings at Winterval.
Waterford North Quays Public Transport elements are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the urban regeneration and development fund, the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority and by Waterford City and County Council.
“We thank customers for their cooperation and understanding during these crucial works, being delivered as part of the wider Waterford North Quays development,” said a company spokesperson.
The development will benefit rail customers through the new Waterford Plunkett Station as part of the integrated transport hub, opening in 2027, and with improved connectivity through the new public transport bridge to Waterford’s commercial heart.
The project is addressing long-standing flooding issues at the approaches to Waterford, while facilitating new signalling to restore track capacity to the station area.
Works on the flood defence programme, consisting of a combination of sheet piled walls, impermeable trenches and an extensive drainage network with two associated pumping stations, will resume on January 5,, 2026.
The works will take place from 8am to 2.30pm on Mondays to Thursdays during the period from January 5 to March 26 next.
As a result, from January 5, the following service alterations will apply.
The 7.20am and 10.15am Dublin Heuston to Waterford will terminate at Kilkenny, with bus transfers from Kilkenny to Thomastown and Waterford.
The 11am and 1.05pm Waterford to Dublin Heuston will have bus transfers from Waterford and Thomastown to Kilkenny, and train from Kilkenny to Heuston.
The 9.45am Limerick Junction to Waterford will terminate at Carrick-on-Suir with a bus transfer from Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford.
This ensures that only two of eight services each way daily between Waterford and Dublin are affected Mondays to Thursdays, and that weekends are unaffected.
