Rail transport in Caldia

Spálgleann's Central Station, the nation's main terminus.

Rail transport in Caldia uses a network of 11,000 km of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) track. The first railway line in Caldia was constructed in 1858. Today, the main operator for passenger services is Iarnród Ríoga (IR, Royal Rail), which is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Glítteann (CIG, Transport System Caldia) the main provider of railway services.

The country's railway infrastructure network is managed by the Ministry of Transport and Communication. However, since the 1990s maintenance services have been contracted out to Iarnród na Ghlítteann (IG, Rail Caldia. It has been responsible for the construction of and maintenance of all railway tracks. Other companies operate on them, the largest of which is CIG. Other companies include Iarthuaisceart Iarnróid (II, Northwestern Railway), Líonra Lastais (LL, Freight Network), skyTrain, in addition to services operated by some county governments. Previously, all rail services had been operated by Caldish State Railways (ISG, Iarnróid Stáit na Ghlítteann). The company was privatized in the 1980s by the government of Taoiseach Patricia Flowers. In 2019, the government of Stiofán Mac Suibhne passed legislation that would re-nationalize all rail services.

Caldia is a member of the Global Federation of Railways.

History

A steam tribune locomotive in Garrafrauns.

The first railways were constructed by the Caldish government. In 1857, the Comhthionól Náisiúnta voted in favor of all mainline railways being constructed by the government. Many smaller lines were built by city governments or private industry. The first railway companies in Caldia where privately owned while the rails themselves were owned by the state.

The first freight service began operations in 1859, bringing iron ore from the northwestern counties to the port city of Shanbally. The main line railways built by the government were important for the development of Caldish industry. The first urban passenger railway, Southern, was opened in 1866, connecting Spálgleann to Shanbally. An additional railway, Western, was built in 1871 and connected Invertwinc to Garrafrauns, which services to Spálgleann. Additional rail lines were built throughout the country during the remainder of the nineteenth century.

In, 1901, all passenger and freight services were consolidated into the nationally owned Caldish State Railways. The government also merged management of rail lines with the new state venture. This resulted in a new period of investment in the Caldish railway network. The first major railway line was electrified in 1916 after work began on the stretch between Spálgleann and Garrafrauns. Caldia imported coal from other Euclean nations. The government pursued alternative means of powering its rail services. Additional lines underwent electrification but ISG also began to operate steam turbine locomotives as a way to reduce coal consumption.

During the Occupation by the Grand Alliance powers, control over Caldia's rail network was temporarily transferred to occupying forces. The iron ore lines to Shanbally were expanded during the occupation in order to increase iron ore exports to Estmere and Werania. In the decades after the war, rail lines were regularly upgraded and modernized by the government. Rising costs, declining use, and government policy resulted in the privatization of ISG in 1985. A number of branch lines were abandoned as rail services were transferred to private sector train operators. In 2019, the Caldish government announced it would re-nationalize the largest of the private sector operators, Córas Iompair Glítteann.

Operators

The main railway services in Caldia are provided by Córas Iompair Glítteann. The majority of domestic passenger services are operated by Iarnród Ríoga. High-speed rail is operated by IR between Shanbally, Spálgleann, Garrafrauns, and Invertwinc. IR operates long-haul trains, including night trains while its parent company, CIG, provides regional services. Examples of regional services are the Greater Spálgleann Commuter Rail, the Oileán Iarnród, and the Highland Line.

The Iarthuaisceart Iarnróid, which operates independently of CIG, provides passenger services from Shanbally to towns and cities along the country's northwestern coast. The privately operated skyTrain, a high-speed service, is operated between Spálgleann and Garrafrauns and links both cities to Spálgleann Airport in County Aerach.

National freight services are provided by II and Líonra Lastais while there are some smaller, regional operators.