Rail transport in Ireland is provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann, or Irish Rail, is the operator of the national railway network of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). It operates all internal InterCity, Commuter, DART and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast. In 2019, IÉ carried a record peak of 50 million passengers, up from 48 million in 2018.
National Development Plan is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on (mainly) national infrastructure. The first five-year plan ran from 1988 to 1993, the second was a six-year plan from 1994 to 1999 and the third ran as a seven-year plan from 2000 to 2006. A fourth National Development Plan ran from 2007 to 2011. The main elements of the third plan were the development of a national motorway network between the major cities in Ireland. The upgrading of the rail network was a secondary scheme.
Limerick Junction is the interchange railway station for trains originating in Limerick, Dublin Heuston, Cork, Waterford, Tralee and Ennis stations. The station opened on 3 July 1848.
Connolly station or Dublin Connolly is one of the busiest railway stations in Dublin and Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. On the North side of the River Liffey, it provides InterCity, Enterprise and commuter services to the north, north-west, south-east and south-west. The north–south Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Luas red line light rail services also pass through the station. The station offices are the headquarters of Irish Rail, Iarnród Éireann. Opened in 1844 as Dublin Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre.
Heuston Station, also known as Dublin Heuston, is one of Dublin's largest railway stations and links the capital with the south, southwest and west of Ireland. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ), the national railway operator. It also houses the head office of its parent company, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The station is named in honour of Seán Heuston, an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, who had worked in the station's offices.
The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland from 1844 until 1924. The GS&WR grew by building lines and making a series of takeovers, until in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was the largest of Ireland's "Big Four" railway networks. At its peak the GS&WR had an 1,100-mile (1,800 km) network, of which 240 miles (390 km) were double track.
Thurles railway station serves the town of Thurles in County Tipperary in Ireland. The station is on the Dublin–Cork Main line, and is situated 86.5 miles (139.2 km) from Dublin Heuston. It has two through platforms and one terminating platform.
Kildare railway station is a railway station on the Dublin to Cork Railway line and Dublin commuter service.
Arklow railway station is a railway station in Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Waterford railway station is a railway station which serves the city of Waterford in County Waterford, Ireland. The station is located across Rice Bridge on the north side of the city.
Clonmel railway station serves the town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Thomastown Railway Station serves the town of Thomastown in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
Kilkenny railway station serves the city of Kilkenny in County Kilkenny.
Muine Bheag halt serves the town of Bagenalstown, in County Carlow, Ireland. Nearby is Leighlinbridge in the same county.
Athy railway station serves the town of Athy in County Kildare, Ireland.
Hazelhatch and Celbridge railway station serves the area around Hazelhatch in South Dublin and the large town of Celbridge in neighbouring County Kildare, Ireland. Because of its distance from Celbridge town, a feeder bus is provided to transport people to and from the station. The county boundary between Dublin and Kildare runs directly through the station.
The 22000 Class "InterCity Railcar" is a diesel multiple unit in service with Iarnród Éireann in Ireland.
The Dublin–Cork Main Line is the main InterCity railway route in Ireland between Dublin Heuston and Cork Kent. In 2018, 3.46 million passengers travelled on the line, a 10% increase from 2017 figures.
The Dublin-Waterford line is a railway line in Ireland connecting Dublin with the major port of Waterford City in County Waterford. The line is part of the significant network of InterCity routes connected to the Dublin-Cork Main Line from Dublin Heuston. The line was constructed by the Great Southern and Western Railway. At Cherryville Junction, County Kildare the line splits from the Cork line. Both passenger and freight services run on the line. InterCity passenger services are operated by the 22000 Class DMUs. Kilkenny is located on a short spur off the line; freight trains use the Lavistown loop line to avoid reversal there.
