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

Rail journeys between Waterford and Dublin have reached a new high, with 1.92 million trips recorded in the past year, an increase from 1.74 million the previous year, according to Iarnród Éireann. This surge in passenger numbers is part of a broader trend of increased public transport usage across Ireland.

National Transport Figures Show Significant Growth

The record figures on the Waterford-Dublin route coincide with a record year for Iarnród Éireann overall. In 2025, the company recorded a total of 55.04 million journeys across its Intercity, Commuter and DART network, up from 50.7 million in 2024. This represents a 6% increase across the entire Transport for Ireland network, reaching a combined 363.5 million passenger journeys .

Investment in Infrastructure Driving Demand

Mary Considine, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, attributes the growth to an “appetite” among commuters for “high quality and high capacity” public transport. She emphasized the importance of ongoing investment programs in the network, new trains, and stations to meet increasing demand and encourage a shift towards public transport.

Waterford Station Redevelopment Underway

The redevelopment of Plunkett Station in Waterford is currently in progress and is scheduled for completion in 2027. The project includes flood relief works, as the station is susceptible to flooding during severe weather events, such as the tidal flooding experienced during Storm Bram in December.

Sustainable Transport Vision

Considine highlighted that investment in rail infrastructure will also support sustainable housing development along the rail network and contribute to realizing the vision of rail as the backbone of Ireland’s sustainable transport network, as outlined in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

Booking Information

Passengers can book train tickets, reserve seats, and check train times on the Iarnród Éireann website. The Waterford to Dublin route is served by Enterprise trains, offering frequent departures and a travel time of approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes. The journey begins at Plunkett Station and arrives at Heuston Station.