New boss of Irish rail urged to engage with council over need for more services to Dublin

Waterford City and County Council is set to engage with Irish Rail over the need for more train services to Dublin.

The issue was raised by Independent councillor Donal Barry at the council’s October plenary meeting, which was held at City Hall on Thursday, October 9.

Cllr Barry said: “I’m requesting that the Chief Executive and his staff engage with Iarnród Éireann regarding co-operating on the Waterford to Dublin rail line, with a view of needing an increase in frequency on this important inter-city route.”

Cllr Barry requested that Council CEO Sean McKeown arrange a meeting with Iarnród Éireann “at the earliest opportunity”.

In response to Cllr Barry, Director of Services Michael Quinn said that the council are in frequent contact with Irish Rail.

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Mr Quinn said: “We have an ongoing engagement with Irish Rail obviously in relation to the development of the Transport Hub and the new train station.”

Mr Quinn pointed out that an extra service was added each way last summer and highlighted the 20:20 service from Waterford as “greatly beneficial for people going home to Dublin”.

“I think when we’re a little bit further on with the train station, we will certainly start advocating for an upgrade on the service and we will receive feedback from them in terms of what their plans are,” he added.

Irish Rail are set to move their Waterford services from Plunkett Station to the new Transport Hub on the North Quays in the coming years.

The Transport Hub’s building works are expected to be substantially completed by Quarter 2 of 2026, with final commissioning and opening by Irish Rail in early 2027.