New trains, new stations, and more services

The transformation of the rail network is underway. Climate action brings with it not only environmental benefit, but also transformative change to our country’s public transport services, and these are not the only changes taking place in Iarnród Éireann.

Its vision of being the backbone of Ireland’s sustainable transport network is clear, and now with the support of government and the National Transport Authority for the capital investment to achieve this, Iarnród Éireann is firmly in delivery mode.

The decade of delivery also encompasses a transformed customer experience, to deliver a great journey, every journey for its customers, and become a leader in customer experience amongst European railways.

It is also building a workplace to firmly establish Iarnród Éireann as an employer of choice. Ensuring the railway has the talent and skills across all roles needed to deliver on its ambitions is critical, and the company offers not just employment but full career opportunities to its team of over 4,500 colleagues. In 2023, for the third year in a row, Iarnród Eireann was ranked as one of Ireland’s five leading employers in the Sunday Independent Statista Best Employers research – third overall, and the leading Irish employer in this year’s study.

Additionally, it was awarded Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, with a commitment not only to excellent apprenticeships, but continued career opportunities.

Across all aspects of its business – for passenger and freight services on our rail network, and as port authority for Rosslare Europort – the decade of delivery is underway.

DART+ Programme

Already, 185 carriages of the new DART+ fleet are on order from Alstom – arriving from 2024, and entering service from 2025, the order could potentially increase to 750 carriages over the decade. The fleet order is an integral part of DART+, an investment will allow more trains to operate on all routes on the rail network, provide greater standards of accessibility, and allow for the decarbonisation of all Greater Dublin Area rail services.

More trains, less carbon, more accessibility, less congestion, more frequency, capacity and sustainability – these will be features of a transport network with rail at its core, all leading to a doubling of the carrying capacity of the Greater Dublin Area network.

National network

Investment in infrastructure in the Dublin area will also grow Iarnród Éireann’s ability to operate services right around the country. Targeted line speed improvement works are also taking place. Construction of the new National Train Control Centre at Heuston Station has been completed, with train control systems being developed for full commissioning by 2025, to deliver more efficient train management across the network, to cater for the expanded network and services.

Regional cities

€185 million is to be invested in the Cork commuter rail network, under the EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Plan, allowing Iarnród Éireann to increase the Cork commuter rail network’s capacity through:

• double-tracking Glounthaune to Midleton;
• developing a new through platform at Kent Station for through running for Mallow to Midleton/Cobh; and
• resignalling the Cork commuter network.

In Galway, funding under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) includes:

• investment of €9.3 million for a passing railway loop at the existing Oranmore Train Station, which will allow the busy commuter link between Athenry and Galway to grow; and
• Ceannt Station will be regenerated as part of a major €40.3 million Galway City Council Transport Connectivity project.

In Limerick, the completion of the city’s own transportation hub centred on Colbert Station will also boost services, and the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy has detailed the opportunities provided by the network of rail lines around Limerick City.

Waterford’s Plunkett Station will be relocated to be part of an integrated transport hub under plans to develop the city’s North Quays.

Rail Freight and Rosslare Europort

Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy aims to achieve:

• a five-fold increase in the number of rail freight services;
• a resulting reduction of 25,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually; and
• avoiding the requirement for 140,000 HGV journeys on our roads annually.
  Works to reinstate the Limerick to Foynes rail line for freight services are underway following funding from the Department of Transport, a clear commitment to the goals of Rail Freight 2040, with a 2025 opening date planned.

Iarnród Éireann is also port authority for Rosslare Europort, and its status as Ireland’s Gateway to Europe has been confirmed with 36 services operating directly between the Port and Europe each week. As well as investment in the Port Masterplan, the OPW’s Project T7 for a permanent Border Control Post, and the new TII N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road, an ambitious €200 million plan to become Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy Hub, with the port uniquely placed to support the development of the industry in the Celtic and Irish Seas.

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