The history of rail transport in Ireland began only a decade later than that of Great Britain. By its peak in 1920, Ireland had 3,500 route miles (5,630 km). The current status is less than half that amount, with a large unserviced area around the border area between Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.
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.
Claremorris is a town in County Mayo in the west of Ireland, at the junction of the N17 and the N60 national routes. As of the 2017, it was the fastest growing town in the county, having seen a 31% increase in population between 2006 and 2011 and a 23% increase between 2002 and 2006. Between the 2016 census and the 2022 census, the population of Claremorris grew further, from 3,687 to 3,857 inhabitants.
The Western Railway Corridor is a term, used since c. 2003, for a partly disused railway line running through the west of Ireland. Currently two sections of the line, from Limerick via Ennis to Athenry and from Collooney to Sligo, see regular services, with other sections either closed or only technically classed as open.
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.
The N17 road is a national primary road in Ireland, and is part of the Atlantic Corridor route. It begins in County Galway and ends in County Sligo. On 27 September 2017 the southern, Tuam–Galway, section was upgraded to motorway status and designated M17.
Charlestown is a town in County Mayo, Ireland, on the N17 road near its junction with the N5.
Collooney or Coloony is a town in County Sligo, Ireland.
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railways in 1924. At its peak the MGWR had a network of 538 miles (866 km), making it Ireland's third largest network after the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) and the Great Northern Railway of Ireland.
Transport 21 was an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. Its aims were to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time.
Collooney railway station serves the town of Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland and is on the Dublin-Sligo railway line. It was the first of three stations to be built in Collooney and remains the only one still in service.
InterCity is the brand name given to rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann that run between Dublin and other major cities in Ireland. InterCity branding is also used in other European countries by unaffiliated organizations.
The N60 road is a national secondary road in Ireland, linking Castlebar, County Mayo to Roscommon town via Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Castlerea. The busiest section of the N60 is between Castlebar and Claremorris, as this is one of the main links from County Mayo to the Irish motorway network at Tuam. This section of the route carries more than 7,000 vehicles daily.
Tuam railway station is a largely disused railway station in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland.
Milltown railway station is a disused railway station close to the village of Milltown in County Galway. The station was originally opened by the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway on 30 April 1894 on the route between Limerick and Claremorris. The station was closed completely on 17 June 1963.
Ballindine railway station is a disused railway station close to the village of Ballindine in County Mayo, Ireland. The station was originally opened by the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway in 1894 on the route between Limerick and Claremorris. The station was completely closed in 1963.
Kiltimagh railway station is a disused railway station close to the town of Kiltimagh in County Mayo, Ireland. The station was originally opened in 1895 as part of the route between Claremorris to the junction at Collooney railway station and onwards to the main Sligo line. The line was initially operated by the Great Southern and Western Railway and was sometimes referred to as the Burma Road.
Swinford railway station is a disused railway station associated with the town of Swinford in County Mayo, Ireland. Originally the station was opened in 1895 as part of the route between Claremorris and Sligo. It was closed to passenger traffic in 1963, with goods traffic ending in 1975.
Tubbercurry railway station is a disused railway station associated with the town of Tubbercurry in County Sligo, Ireland. The station was originally opened in 1895, as part of the route between Claremorris and Sligo. It was closed to passenger traffic in 1963, with goods traffic ending in 1975.
Ballysodare railway station, currently with only the goods shed remaining, was located on the Dublin-Sligo railway line in Ballysadare, County Sligo. The station opened on 3 December 1862. It was closed to passengers on 17 June 1963 and finally closing to goods on 3 November 1975.
