Record Rail Ridership on Dublin-Waterford Line Signals Growing Demand for Irish Public Transport

Rail travel between Dublin and Waterford has reached a new high, with 1.92 million journeys recorded on the intercity route last year, according to Iarnród Éireann. This represents a significant increase from the 1.74 million journeys made the previous year, signaling a growing appetite for public transport in Ireland.

Record Year for Irish Rail Overall

The surge in Waterford-Dublin rail travel is part of a broader trend of increased ridership across the Iarnród Éireann network. 2025 saw a total of 55.04 million journeys across Intercity, Commuter, and DART services, surpassing the previous record of 50.7 million in 2024 [RTE].

Investment in Infrastructure and Services

Iarnród Éireann CEO Mary Considine attributed the record numbers to a demand for “high quality and high capacity” public transport. She emphasized the importance of ongoing and planned investment programs in the network, new trains, and stations to accommodate growing passenger volumes [RTE].

Considine also highlighted how investment will facilitate sustainable housing development along rail lines and contribute to realizing the vision of rail as the backbone of Ireland’s sustainable transport network [RTE].

Plunkett Station Redevelopment

The redevelopment of Plunkett Station in Waterford is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in 2027. This project is part of Waterford City and County Council’s North Quays development and includes flood relief works to address the station’s vulnerability to tidal flooding, which caused service suspensions in December 2025 during Storm Bram [RTE].

National Transport Authority Reports Increased Ridership

The positive trend extends beyond Iarnród Éireann, with the National Transport Authority (NTA) reporting a 6% increase in passenger journeys across the Transport for Ireland network in 2025, reaching a combined total of 363.5 million journeys [RTE]. This increase of almost 20 million journeys compared to 2024 underscores a growing shift towards sustainable travel and increased confidence in public transport options.

Looking Ahead

The record ridership figures demonstrate a clear demand for improved public transport infrastructure and services in Ireland. Continued investment and strategic planning, such as the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, will be crucial to meeting this demand and fostering a more sustainable transport future.

For train timetables and route information, visit the Iarnród Éireann website.