Irish Rail’s station at Manulla Junction exists to serve as a remote transfer point for passengers to/from the Ballina Branch.
Passengers are afforded a cross-platform connection between Dublin-Westport trains and the Ballina Branch local. There is no sanctioned public access from nearby roads.
In 2006, Dublin-Westport services were typically provided by Class-201 hauled Mark III sets,; while the branch saw antique GM diesels hauling steam heated Cravens carriages.
In 2008, Irish Rail completed the re-signaling of its Mayo lines, which eliminated the Manulla Junction cabin and resulted in a re-alignment of trackage and the connection with the Ballina Branch.
Today, Hyundai-Rotem built ICRs work through trains to Westport, while pairs of 2800-series railcars provide the connection with Ballina.
At left: Irish Rail’s Dublin-Westport train consisting of Mark 3 carriages; at right, an 071 leads a steam heated Cravens set for Ballina. Exposed on Fujichrome on 2 May 2006. At this time the junction with the Ballina Branch was via a switch locate east of the platform.A Dublin bound ICR approaches Manulla Junction on 15 March 2024, as the Ballina Branch train idles at the opposite platform. These views show the tracks following the 2008 re-configuration. The railcar serves a dead-end siding, while the connection between Ballina Branch and the Westport Line is via the switch immediately west of the station platform.
A Dublin bound ICR approaches Manulla Junction on 15 March 2024, as the Ballina Branch train idles at the opposite platform. These views show the tracks following the 2008 re-configuration. The railcar serves a dead-end siding, while the connection between Ballina Branch and the Westport Line is via the switch immediately west of the station platform.
A Dublin bound ICR approaches Manulla Junction on 15 March 2024, as the Ballina Branch train idles at the opposite platform. These views show the tracks following the 2008 re-configuration. The railcar serves a dead-end siding, while the connection between Ballina Branch and the Westport Line is via the switch immediately west of the station platform.
The Dublin bound train accelerates away from its brief stop at Manulla Junction. Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm Z-series Nikkor zoom.
The Dublin bound train accelerates away from its brief stop at Manulla Junction. Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm Z-series Nikkor zoom.
The Dublin bound train accelerates away from its brief stop at Manulla Junction. Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm Z-series Nikkor zoom.
