Flooding continues to cause disruption

Flooding in the midlands severely disrupted train services yesterday, while householders in some areas resorted to pumps to keep rising water levels at bay.

The heavy rainfall and gusting winds of the last week have left part of the Dublin-Sligo rail line under water. Iarnród Éireann said the extreme weather conditions meant part of the line had to be closed, which necessitated the use of buses to facilitate passengers between the northwest and the capital.

The flooded line between Dromod and Carrick-on- Shannon has caused the cancellation of the 4pm Dublin to Sligo train service for the rest of this week. Passengers can be accommodated on the 5.05pm service from Connolly to Sligo, Iarnród Éireann said.

Bus transfers between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford will remain in place all this week due to the flooding.

Iarnród Éireann said water levels remain at 60mm above the rail head and stressed that inspections are being carried out daily.

“It doesn’t seem to be receding the way we would have expected,” said Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny last night. “I would not call it a regular occurrence, but when there is extreme rainfall, it is a stretch that we monitor closely.”

The flooding caused disruption to Dublin-Sligo services on a number of days last week.