Editing Limerick (section)

==Transport==

===Air===
[[Shannon Airport]] is 20&nbsp;km west of the city in [[County Clare]]. It is one of Ireland's main airports and is accessible from Limerick via the [[N18 road (Ireland)|N18]] dual carriageway and from other regions via the [[Limerick Tunnel]]. It has scheduled flights to European and North American destinations. There is no rail link to the airport. Coonagh airfield, a few kilometres west of [[Caherdavin]], serves small private aircraft. [[Kerry Airport|Kerry]] and [[Cork Airport]]s are around 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours drive away, respectively. [[Kerry Airport]] is connected via [[Farranfore railway station]] from [[Limerick railway station]], and [[Irish Citylink]] provide a direct service to Cork Airport<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citylink.ie/|title=Dublin to Galway Bus &#124; Galway-Dublin Airport|website=www.citylink.ie}}</ref>
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===Bus===
[[File:Bus Limerick.jpg|thumb|City Centre bus service]]
Local public transport is provided by several companies. [[Bus Éireann]], Ireland's state-owned bus company, operates a number of services subsidised by the National Transport Authority, while a number of provide operators also run commercial bus services in and around Limerick. An updated city bus network was introduced in Limerick City in December 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.limerickpost.ie/2016/12/03/bus-eireann-enhances-limerick-city-network/|title=Bus Éireann enhances Limerick City network|date=3 December 2016|website=Limerick Post Newspaper|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204121736/http://www.limerickpost.ie/2016/12/03/bus-eireann-enhances-limerick-city-network/|url-status=live}}</ref> which introduced new routes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buseireann.ie/news.php?id=2206&month=Nov|title=Enhanced Limerick City Network December 2016|website=buseireann.ie|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924172303/https://www.buseireann.ie/bus_eireann_news.php?id=2206&month=Nov|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, Bus Éireann further changed and improved the Limerick City timetable, including increased frequency and later operating times.

Other rural buses run to towns and villages in the county and to [[Shannon Airport]]. There are also a number of Intercity and international buses from Bus Éireann's [[bus station|bus terminal]] adjoining [[Limerick railway station|Limerick Colbert railway station]]. These include hourly services to [[Dublin]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Ennis]] and [[Galway]]. Bus Éireann has also commenced a Limerick to Galway Express service traveling on the [[M18 motorway (Ireland)|M18]] in addition to the regular service. Buses run every 2 hours to [[Tralee]] and [[Killarney]]. There are also regular daily services to [[Waterford]] and [[Athlone]], and a daily service to London via the ferry from [[Rosslare Europort]].

There are some private bus companies in operation providing city and intercity services. Dublin Coach provides the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] express service which operates every hour from Arthur's Quay which goes to Dublin or Ennis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dublincoach.ie/timetables/M7-bus-ennis-limerick-to-dublin-city.php|title=M7 Express Bus Service from Ennis to Dublin City via Limerick and Kildare – Dublin Coach|work=dublincoach.ie|access-date=16 February 2014|archive-date=20 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220034807/http://dublincoach.ie/timetables/M7-bus-ennis-limerick-to-dublin-city.php|url-status=live}}</ref> JJ Kavanagh also provide Dublin to Limerick services from Arthur's Quay. Citylink runs a number of services from Limerick to Galway, Cork and Cork Airport and operate from Henry Street.

===Rail===
[[File:Limerick-0103.jpg|thumb|Colbert station, Parnell Street]]
[[Iarnród Éireann]]'s [[Limerick railway station|Limerick Colbert station]] is the railway hub for the city and the Mid-West Region with a number of intercity and commuter rail services. [[Limerick railway station]] opened on 28 August 1858, replacing an earlier temporary station a short distance away, which had operated from 9 May 1848.<ref>{{cite book| first=R.V.J.| last=Butt| title=The Directory of Railway Stations| publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd| year=1995| isbn=1-85260-508-1|pages =143}}</ref>

The following [[InterCity (Iarnród Éireann)|inter city]] routes are available from [[Limerick railway station|Limerick Colbert station]] :
* '''Limerick to Dublin Heuston''': 16 services daily including 4 direct services. All remaining Dublin – Limerick services require passengers to change to the [[Dublin-Cork railway line|Dublin to Cork]] train at either [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]] or at [[Ballybrophy railway station]].
* '''[[Limerick-Rosslare railway line|Limerick to Waterford]]''': 2 services daily (but none on Sundays). Passengers must change train at [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]] to continue to Waterford with stations at [[Tipperary railway station|Tipperary]], [[Cahir railway station|Cahir]], [[Clonmel railway station|Clonmel]] and [[Carrick-on-Suir]].
* '''[[Western Railway Corridor|Limerick to Galway]]''': 5 services daily. This service reopened on 29 March 2010.<ref>[http://www.westontrack.com/news143.htm Galway to Limerick Railway on track for 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314080228/http://www.westontrack.com/news143.htm |date=14 March 2007 }} westontrack.com</ref>
* '''Limerick to Cork''': Passengers can travel between Limerick and [[Cork Kent railway station|Cork]] via [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]]. There is no direct service.
* '''Limerick to Killarney, Farranfore and Tralee''': Passengers can travel between Limerick and [[Killarney railway station|Killarney]], [[Farranfore railway station|Farranfore]] and [[Tralee railway station|Tralee]] via [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]] where trains run via [[Mallow railway station|Mallow]] to reach County Kerry.

There are 3 suburban/commuter services in the [[Limerick Suburban Rail]] network:
* '''Limerick – Ennis''' calling at [[Sixmilebridge]]
* '''Limerick – Nenagh''' calling at [[Castleconnell]] and [[Birdhill]] (with some services continuing to [[Cloughjordan]] & [[Roscrea]] & connecting to the [[Dublin-Cork railway line]] at [[Ballybrophy railway station|Ballybrophy]].) Due to speed restrictions, this alternative Dublin – Limerick route can take 60 minutes longer (with a change at [[Ballybrophy railway station|Ballybrophy]]) than by [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]] albeit a more direct service.
* '''Limerick – [[Limerick Junction railway station|Limerick Junction]] and [[Thurles railway station|Thurles]]'''

There are also some disused railway lines including the [[Limerick–Foynes railway line|Limerick to Foynes line]] which closed to freight in the early 2000s, having lost passenger services in the early 1960s, although the track is still in situ. This is the last remaining part of the North Kerry Line which closed to passenger traffic in the early 1960s and to freight traffic (other than Limerick – Foynes) in the mid-1970s.{{fact|date=June 2024}} In 2022, [[Iarnród Éireann]] commenced works to reopen the former Limerick–Foynes line for freight traffic.<ref>{{Cite web | website = rte.ie |last=Halloran |first=Cathy |date=2022-11-14 |title=Work to begin on reopening Foynes-Limerick rail line |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2022/1114/1335959-foynes-limerick-rail-line/ |language=en}}</ref> As of 2024, these works were projected to be completed by 2025, with freight operations due to commence from early 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Sandra |date=2024-05-23 |title=Freight services on Foynes line by early 2026 |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/1507954/freight-services-on-foynes-line-by-early-2026.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=www.limerickleader.ie |language=en}}</ref>

===Road===
[[File:Limerick - Thomond Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 331738.jpg|thumb|Thomond Bridge over the River Shannon]]
Limerick's central location in the midwest of Ireland means many national primary routes converge on the city.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.galwaytransport.info/2017/03/main-national-roads-in-ireland-metro-map-style.html | title=National roads in Ireland - simplified map | access-date=6 April 2017 | archive-date=7 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407054503/http://www.galwaytransport.info/2017/03/main-national-roads-in-ireland-metro-map-style.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] (Dublin), [[N18 road (Ireland)|N/M18]] (Galway, Ennis, Shannon), [[N20 road (Ireland)|N/M20]] (Cork), [[N21 road (Ireland)|N21]] (Tralee) and [[N24 road (Ireland)|N24]] (Waterford) routes all start/terminate in or near the city. Road infrastructure is further supplemented by the southern ring road and [[Limerick Tunnel]] bypass of the city and the M20 bypass of Dooradoyle and Raheen to the south of the city. Connections to the other cities were improved with the completion of the [[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7 motorway]] in December 2010, and continuing upgrades ongoing to the N/M18 to Shannon, Ennis, Galway, and Tuam – the final section opened in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0927/907774-galway-motorway/|title=M17/M18 Motorway|website=rte.ie|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=27 September 2017|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004220027/https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0927/907774-galway-motorway/|url-status=live}}</ref> A motorway is also planned between Cork and Limerick, with a proposed completion date in the mid-2020s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2017/1013/912137-m20-limerick-cork/|title=M20 Motorway|website=rte.ie|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=13 October 2017|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014233921/https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2017/1013/912137-m20-limerick-cork/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Waterway transport===
Historically, waterway transport has been key to Limerick's development. Vikings established the city as a maritime trading port. The city's position on a major Irish river system, the [[River Shannon|Shannon]], enabled transport to the midlands of Ireland and further north and west. By the 18th century with the opening of canal systems throughout Ireland, Limerick Port established itself as Ireland's premier commercial port on the western side of the country. This was enabled by the ease of access facilitated by the opening of canals but most importantly to the River Shannon. The opening of the [[Grand Canal (Ireland)|Grand Canal]] in the 18th century provided further access to Dublin and the east of the country. There are also a number of disused canals in the vicinity of the city including the Park Canal & the Passey – Errina Canal on the old Limerick navigation. Waterway transport on the Shannon was regularly used to transport goods from Limerick to Dublin and vice versa however this mode of transport fell into decline in the 20th century. Originally Limerick port was located near the confluence of the Abbey and Shannon rivers at [[King's Island, Limerick|King's Island]]. Today the [[Shannon Foynes Port]] is located further downstream on the Shannon alongside the Dock Road. This general-purpose facility port is operated by the Shannon Foynes Port Company which operates all marine activities in the Shannon estuary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ireland's principal deep-water bulk products port {{!}} Shannon Foynes Port Company|url=https://www.sfpc.ie/about-us/|access-date=10 August 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601173627/https://www.sfpc.ie/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref>