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

Rail travel between Waterford and Dublin has reached a new peak, with 1.92 million journeys recorded on the intercity route last year – a significant increase from the 1.74 million journeys made the previous year, according to Iarnród Éireann.

National Rail Usage Soars

This surge in popularity on the Waterford-Dublin line mirrors a broader trend of increased rail usage across Ireland. Iarnród Éireann reported a record 55.04 million journeys across its Intercity, Commuter, and DART network in 2025, up from 50.7 million in 2024. These figures demonstrate a growing appetite for high-quality and high-capacity public transport options, according to Iarnród Éireann CEO Mary Considine.

Investment in Infrastructure and Future Growth

Considine emphasized the importance of continued investment in the rail network to accommodate rising passenger numbers. “Our ongoing and planned investment programmes – in our network, in new trains and in our stations – are crucial to enabling that switch, right across the country,” she stated. This investment is also intended to support sustainable development by enabling more housing along rail lines.

Waterford Station Redevelopment

The redevelopment of Plunkett Station in Waterford is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in 2027. The project is part of Waterford City and County Council’s North Quays development and includes flood relief works, addressing previous disruptions caused by tidal flooding, such as the service suspensions experienced during Storm Bram in December (RTÉ).

Broader Trends in Public Transport

The increase in rail travel aligns with a 6% rise in passenger journeys across the entire Transport for Ireland network in 2025, reaching a total of 363.5 million journeys. This growth, encompassing services like Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland, and TFI Local Link, signals a continuing shift towards sustainable travel and increased confidence in public transport options (RTÉ).

Booking Information

Passengers planning to travel between Waterford and Dublin can discover train times and book tickets through Iarnród Éireann or Rome2Rio. Trains operate approximately every four hours (Rome2Rio).