Upcoming Line Improvement Works
17 May 2024
Here you will find a complete list of planned engineering works and changes to Iarnród Éireann rail services.
- Upcoming Line Improvement Works
- Preview of Upcoming Major works
- Night-time Track Works
- Accessibility on Iarnród Éireann Services
- Catering on Rail Iarnród Éireann Services
- Bus Transfer Arrangements
- How can I reserve a seat on an Iarnród Éireann Service?
Upcoming Line Improvement Works
Upcoming Line Improvements
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Ballybrophy Services
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Belfast Services
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Cobh and Midleton Commuters
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Cork, Limerick and Tralee Services
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DART Services
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Northern Commuters
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Portlaoise Commuters
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Rosslare Services
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Waterford Services
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Galway and Westport Services
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Maynooth, Longford and Sligo Services
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Western Rail Corridor (Limerick to Galway)
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Waterford to Limerick
Major works preview 2024
With record investment in our rail network under the National Development Plan, Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a range of projects, as well as essential maintenance, right across our lines.
While the vast majority of works take place overnight, or in a way that sees little or no disruption to services, in some instances disruption is unavoidable. In particular, this will happen if we’re replacing or improving essential infrastructure like tracks, bridges, signalling, overhead lines, or helping third parties with major plans.
So we need to plan these works to deliver improvements to our customers, but there can be unavoidable disruption too. We work to ensure that any such disruption is minimised, and that the number of customers affected is minimised too.
We do this in a number of ways:
- We try to ensure that our busiest lines are unaffected at the busiest times, so weekday works, and particularly at peak, are avoided
- We work to plan the works which must happen, and look at events which take place around the country too. Major sports, music, cultural and other entertainment is always considered. This poses challenges – we’re busier with works than ever before, but there are more events than ever before too
- We choose selected Bank Holiday weekends to undertake projects of significant scale – the extra weekend day allows us to achieve more progress more efficiently, while avoiding impacting those crucial weekday customers. We don’t schedule works at St Patrick’s weekend, which is particularly important for tourism. However, the new February (St Brigid’s Bank Holiday), Easter, and the May, June and October Bank Holidays, and occasionally the August Bank Holiday, are often used for works
So, while we will have other works which may affect individual services, or late evening / early morning services in some instances, this is the current schedule (as of 21st March 2024) of major disruptive works until the end of November 2024. Further 2024 works will be confirmed shortly. This is subject to further change (for example, new events or additional investment funding can result in revisions).
Bold indicates extended works, including weekday impacts; italic indicates Translink works.
Dates | Line Closed | Works | Services Affected |
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Saturday 27th April (evenings) |
Portarlington to Athlone |
Ballast cleaning |
Heuston to Galway/Westport |
Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May (May Bank Holiday) |
Grand Canal Dock to Bray |
Track renewal, overhead line renewal, train protection system works |
Southside DART, Connolly to Rosslare |
Saturday 18th May |
Grand Canal Dock to Greystones |
Track renewal, overhead line renewal, train protection system works |
Southside DART, Connolly to Rosslare |
Saturday 25th May |
Limerick Junction to Mallow |
Ballast cleaning, bridge renewal works |
Heuston to Cork / Kerry |
Saturday 1st to Monday 3rd June (June Bank Holiday) |
Drogheda Station |
Track and overhead line works for battery-electric trains |
Drogheda Commuter, Belfast Enterprise |
Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th June |
Athlone to Ballinasloe |
Bridge renewal works |
Heuston to Galway |
Saturdays 8th & 15th June (evenings) |
Mallow to Tralee |
Bridge maintenance works |
Mallow to Tralee |
Sunday 9th June |
Dun Laoghaire to Greystones |
Track renewal, train protection system works |
Southside DART, Connolly to Rosslare |
Saturdays 15th & 22nd June (evenings) |
Ballinasloe to Athenry |
Track renewal works |
Heuston to Galway |
Sunday 23rd June |
Sutton |
Level crossing renewal works |
Howth to Howth Junction |
Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th June |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
Culvert repair works |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
July to December (Mondays to Wednesdays - 20:00hrs onwards) |
Glounthaune to Midleton |
Track works for new second track |
Glounthaune to Midleton |
Saturdays and Sundays 13th & 14th, 27th & 28th July |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
Culvert repair works |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
Saturday 3rd to Monday 5th August (August Bank Holiday) |
Malahide to Drogheda |
Track renewal |
Drogheda Commuter, Belfast Enterprise |
Saturday 10th to Sunday 11th August |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
Culvert repair works |
Ballybrophy to Limerick (via Nenagh) |
Saturday 24th August (evening) |
Ballina to Manulla |
Bridge renewal works |
Ballina to Manulla |
September to October , Mondays to Thursdays (affecting 21:00hrs Heuston to Cork only) |
Mallow to Cork |
Cork area commuter rail works |
Mallow to Cork |
Saturday 14th to Sunday 15th September |
Dun Laoghaire to Greystones |
Track works, overhead line renewal, Woodbrook Station works |
Southside DART, Connolly to Rosslare |
Saturday 21st September (evening) |
Portarlington to Tullamore |
Ballast cleaning |
Heuston to Galway/Westport |
Saturday 21st September (evening) |
Limerick to Ennis |
Bridge renewal |
Limerick to Ennis, Limerick to Galway |
Saturday 28th to Sunday 29th September |
Grand Canal Dock to Greystones |
Track works, overhead line renewal, Woodbrook Station works |
Southside DART, Connolly to Rosslare |
Saturday 12th October (evening) |
Athlone to Ballinasloe |
Ballast cleaning |
Heuston to Galway |
Saturday 26th to Monday 28th October (October Bank Holiday) |
Clontarf Road to Dundalk |
Track works, ballast cleaning, overhead line renewal, |
Northside DART, Drogheda Commuter, Belfast Enterprise |
Saturday 26th to Monday 28th October (October Bank Holiday) |
Clonsilla to M3 Parkway |
Track and drainage works |
Clonsilla to M3 Parkway |
Saturday 2nd November (evening) |
Portlaoise to Thurles |
Track renewal |
Heuston to Cork / Limerick / Kerry |
Saturdays 2nd & 9th November (evenings) |
Limerick to Limerick Junction |
Ballast cleaning |
Limerick to Limerick Junction |
Saturday 16th November (evening) |
Claremorris to Westport/Ballina |
Ballast cleaning |
Claremorris to Westport/Ballina |
Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th November |
Ceannt Station, Galway |
New points and crossings installation |
Athenry to Galway |
Check out our video below to learn more about the work being carried out to maintain our railway network.
Accessibility on Iarnród Éireann Services
We are better able to assist you if you contact us as far in advance as possible, but try to give at least 24-hours' notice of your journey. You can contact us by emailing access@irishrail.ie or call (01) 836 6222 (Monday to Friday 07:00hrs - 19:00hrs and 08:00hrs - 18:00hrs Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays).
For further information please visit our Accessibility section.
For DART Accessibility information, please see our new DART Accessibility section.
Catering on Rail Iarnród Éireann Services
For more information on our Catering services please see our Catering Page.
Bus Transfer Arrangements
Bus transfers are operated by Third Party Companies as a result Iarnród Éireann cannot guarantee there will be toilet facilities on-board. Passengers are advised to use the toilet facilities in the station before travelling. Please note Guide / Assistance dogs and small lap dogs can be facilitated on board bus transfers in line with our Travelling with Animals policy.
How can I reserve a seat on an Iarnród Éireann Service?
For information on how to buy a Free Travel Pass or Valid Ticket please see our 'Guide to buying online'.
Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail apologise for any inconvenience caused.