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.

Project Status and Programme
An extensive programme of advance enabling works commenced in 2024, including trackside signalling works to prepare for both the underpass installation and the wider Main Works at Oranmore Station. This included the relocation and modification of telecoms and signalling cables. These works were completed in time to facilitate the construction of the underpass.
The first major construction phase was successfully completed in October 2025. This comprised of the installation of the new pedestrian and cycle underpass. These works were carried out during a planned rail possession weekend (11th–12th October 2025) by contractor P & D Lydon and marked a major milestone in the delivery of the overall scheme.
The next phase of the project will deliver the remainder of the scheme including the new platform, the 1km passing loop, associated station infrastructure (lift, ramp, stairs) and a bridge deck replacement.
This contract was tendered in late 2025. It is planned for works to commence in the first half of 2026, with the overall project planned to be completed by the end of 2027.