Historic Waterford train station set for revival as plans for commercial premises revealed

A historic train station in County Waterford looks set to be revived as plans for a commercial premises have been revealed.

Waterford City and County Council’s Economic Development Report for January was distributed to councillors ahead of the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan District.

It revealed plans to invite a commercial business to occupy the former Tramore Railway Station building.

The council says it intends to invite submissions of Expressions of Interest (EOI) from ‘commercially oriented parties’.

It added that it is looking for businesses who would be interested in working with the council to occupy and run their business at the former Tramore Railway Station.

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The building is expected to be available for commercial use from April 2026.

The Waterford to Tramore railway line opened in 1853 and for over a century, it provided an important link for those looking to travel to and from the seaside resort.

It was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other, with its terminus in Waterford located on Manor Street.

Despite strong local opposition, CIE closed the line in 1960 and replaced it with a bus service. The tracks were all lifted the following year.

Whilst the Manor Street terminus was demolished, the Tramore Railway Station building remained standing.

It has lay derelict for several decades since and has fallen into disrepair. It was damaged by a fire in 2002.

In 2015, it was acquired by Waterford City and County Council, who announced plans to bring it back into use.

A number of works were carried out on the roof and structure of the building in the years that followed.

In 2021, further conservation works were carried out after the council received €77,500 in government funding. However, the building has remained unoccupied in the years since.

The news of the building’s potential revival has come amid recent controversy over the absence of a board commemorating the railway line.

At the December meeting of the Metropolitan District, Cllr Donal Barry claimed the erection of the commemoration board has taken longer than the construction of the line itself.