Fianna Fáil TD Albert Dolan has demanded immediate action to address overcrowding on the Galway to Athenry rail line, warning that the current situation is both unsafe and unfair to daily commuters.
Speaking in the Dáil on May 8, Deputy Dolan said the morning train service into Galway city has become “a complete disaster,” with only two carriages serving large numbers of passengers.
“One of our greatest assets in the town of Athenry is now becoming one of our greatest pain points. Train services into Galway city are wholly inadequate. We need to see significant investment in additional carriages arriving at Athenry,” he said.
The TD raised concerns about passenger safety, citing incidents where commuters have fainted or passed out due to overcrowding. He also criticised delays in rail infrastructure upgrades, including a three-year gap between the awarding of Urban Regeneration and Development Fund support for the Oranmore passing loop and Irish Rail submitting a planning application.
Demand for ‘adequate access’ to public transport
“I want to see increased capacity and increased frequency in Athenry to ensure the people of Athenry who are using public transport and trying to do their bit have a good service they can depend on… It is genuinely that dangerous,” he added.
Athenry, with a population of over 5,000 and no direct bus to Galway city, is seeing rapid growth. Deputy Dolan pointed to the arrival of major employers like Dexcom as further reason to invest long-term in the town’s transport links.
“We need to see a double track line all the way into Galway city… I seriously think we need to be looking at Athenry as the main connection point to Galway city and ensuring that people have adequate access to that public transport,” he said.
His comments come as figures show a significant increase in demand on the Limerick to Galway rail line. Limerick TD Joe Cooney revealed that passenger journeys on the route rose by over 17 per cent this year, according to Iarnród Éireann.
The number of trips between Limerick and Ennis rose by 20 per cent, from 86,030 to 102,832. Ennis to Athenry saw a 2 per cent rise, while journeys from Athenry to Galway jumped by 27 per cent, from 229,067 to 290,436. The Oranmore to Galway leg saw a 26 per cent increase. Overall, 735,166 journeys were made along the route in 2024, up from 626,824 in 2023.
Trains are safe, but upgrades needed, says Iarnród Éireann
In response, Barry Kenny, head of corporate communications at Iarnród Éireann, acknowledged the overcrowding but said trains remain safe, even when fully loaded.
“While full loading of trains can be uncomfortable, our trains are designed to safely accommodate this, and many commuter journeys around our cities — and internationally — do see seating and extensive standing at busiest times,” he told the Galway Advertiser.
Kenny noted that all available trains are currently in use. He highlighted a new weekday morning service from Dublin Heuston to Galway, introduced on August 26, which arrives in Athenry at 8.24am and adds capacity for Galway-bound commuters.
“This has increased the pre-9:00 am arrivals at Galway, serving Athenry and other key commuter locations, from two services to three,” he said, listing services from Limerick, Dublin and Tullamore.
Looking ahead, Kenny said several infrastructure projects are in motion to expand capacity further.
“Planning permission has been secured for a second platform and passing track at Oranmore, with works starting later this year. This is the first step towards fully double-tracking the Athenry to Galway section,” he said.
He also noted that when the new DART+ fleet begins service from 2026, it will free up Intercity and Commuter carriages for use elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, Irish Rail is assessing ways to lengthen platforms on the Limerick to Galway line to allow for longer trains.
“Nonetheless, we do want to increase capacity on this route, clearly, more people will use the service as we expand it, and we look forward to delivering the improvements outlined above.”
