Oranmore Station
Iarnród Éireann has received planning permission from Galway County Council & Galway City Council for works at Oranmore to allow more trains to operate between Galway and Athenry.
The project will see a one kilometre section of double track at Oranmore Station, and a new second 185-metre long platform constructed also. As the Athenry to Galway line is currently a single line with no opportunities for trains to pass each other in opposite directions, the works will allow a doubling of train services calling at the station, to every 30 minutes in each direction.
The project is part funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Urban Development and Regeneration Fund (URDF) and part funded by the National Transport Authority.
The new platform, to the north of the current platform, will be accessed via a new underpass under the railway which will also provide a dedicated cycle route to the lands to the north. A stairs, lift and access ramp will ensure that both platforms are accessible to all. Associated infrastructure such as passenger shelters, passenger help points, customer information signs, lighting, CCTV and seating will also be provided.
The benefits of the project include:
- As well as improving services to the existing community, the improvements will facilitate the proposed 1,000 unit residential development set out in the Garraun Urban framework Plan, allowing the development to be both compact and sustainable, with high quality public transport at its doorstep.
- The scheme will provide the opportunity for creation of a transport hub serving both the station and the Garraun residential development.
- The scheme supports a variety of national and local policies, including the Climate Action Plan, NIFTI, National Development Plan, Galway County Development Plan, and the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
- Modal switch to rail facilitated by the scheme will help to improve the environment through reductions in noise and emissions, and improvements in local air quality
It is planned to undertake advanced enabling works and building of the underpass in Autumn 2025. Construction of the main works will start early in 2026 and the project is expected to be completed in early 2027.