A bomb alert which closed the Belfast to Dublin railway line on the border ended last night when a 35kg bomb was defused.
Army bomb disposal experts made safe the improvised device, which has been placed under the track south of the Killeen Bridge near the border town of Newry, Co Down.
The Police Service said a number of other items were also taken away for examination.
The line was closed on Thursday following a telephone bomb warning. The main cross border road was also shut for two days before the security forces gave the all clear.
Dissident republicans were believed to be responsible.
The disruption began as politicians from Northern Ireland's devolved government were travelling to Dublin for meetings with their Irish counterparts and representatives of other administrations in Britain and the surrounding islands.
PA