Proposal to add sixth daily train service from Westport to Dublin

Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, has announced plans to introduce a new daily train service in each direction between Westport and Athlone, connecting at Athlone to trains to/from Dublin Heuston and Galway, from December 2023.

The new services – part of a draft timetable now open for public consultation feedback - will operate at 16:20hrs from Westport to Athlone, and 21:08hrs from Athlone to Westport (Monday to Saturday) from December 10 under the draft schedule.

The 21:08hrs service from Athlone to Westport will also have a connection at Manulla Junction to/from Ballina, and represents a new later last departure from Dublin Heuston for Mayo-bound rail customers, transferring from the 19:35hrs Heuston to Galway at Athlone.

The extra service will mean there will now be five services available from Dublin Heuston to Westport daily, and six from Westport to Heuston.

The company has published details of the proposed schedule and has invited the public to submit feedback in advance of the finalisation of the new timetable.

Highlights of the proposed new timetables for Mayo and Galway line rail customers are:

- Additional 16:20hrs Westport to Athlone and 21:08hrs Athlone to Westport service daily (Monday to Saturday), providing connections to/from Dublin Heuston at Athlone.
- Connection from/to Ballina to the new 21:08hrs Athlone to Westport above.
- 19:35hrs Dublin Heuston to Galway (Mon to Sat) and 18:45hrs Heuston to Galway (Sunday) will additionally serve Clara, providing a later final service to Clara.
- 06:25hrs Galway to Dublin Heuston (Mon to Sat) will additionally serve Ballinasloe
- A number of other minor schedule alterations to improve punctuality.
The consultation survey is open until Wednesday, September 27.

Full draft timetables are available here: Iarnród Éireann Rail Timetables (https//www.irishrail.ie)

Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority will review all suggestions received, for all routes on the network, whether or not changes are proposed on those routes in this draft timetable. Suggested alterations which cannot be implemented at this timetable change will be retained in a database for consideration at future timetable reviews.

Full details of proposed changes for Westport line customers are as follows:

Dublin – Westport/Ballina – Dublin:

- New 16:20 hrs Westport/Athlone (Mon-Sat) service. This arrives in Athlone at 18:09 hrs and provides a connection into the 18:30 hrs Athlone/Heuston service (17:20hrs from Galway). Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to provide a connection to/from Foxford or Ballina for this new service.
- New 21:08 hrs Athlone/Westport (Mon-Sat) service. This takes a connection from the 19:35 hrs Heuston/Galway service at Athlone, thus providing a new later last service from Dublin to all stations from Athlone to Westport and Ballina.
New connecting services to/from Ballina as follows:
22:00 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Mon-Sat).
22:33 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Mon-Sat).
09:08 hrs Athlone/Westport (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 09:10hrs.
17:00 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 17:10hrs.
18:10 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 18:16hrs.
20:32 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 20:43hrs.
17:35 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 17:42hrs.
18:42 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 18:48hrs.
21:05 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Mon-Sat) is deferred to 21:16hrs.
09:40 hrs Athlone/Westport (Sundays) is deferred to 09:42hrs.
13:20 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Sundays) is advanced to 13:10hrs.
15:40 hrs Ballina/Manulla Jctn. (Mon-Sat) is advanced to 15:35hrs.
11:07 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Sundays) is deferred to 11:09hrs.
13:52 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Sundays) is advanced to 13:42hrs.
16:47 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Sundays) is advanced to 16:38hrs.
18:45 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Sundays) is advanced to 18:42hrs.
21:27 hrs Manulla Jctn./Ballina (Sundays) is deferred to 21:28hrs.

Some other small timing changes across the week to better reflect actual performance, please consult the draft timetables for full details.

 
An Iarnród Éireann spokesperson said: “Following expansion of services in December 2022, Iarnród Éireann with the National Transport Authority have identified opportunities for further service improvements in the context of post-Covid travel patterns, as demand approaches, and on some routes exceeds, pre-pandemic levels. We are particularly pleased to be able to propose a later connection for both Westport and Ballina, which will expand options for travel to/from Counties Roscommon and Mayo. We encourage all current customers and all considering rail for their sustainable travel options to review the proposed changes, and give us their feedback, as we finalise the new schedule.”