Early morning Galway train service to be cut from schedule due to lack of funding
Athenry transportation to Galway is getting slimmer as an early morning direct train service is close to its expiration date.
Communication between Iarnród Éireann and Galway East TD Louis O’Hara show the 6.50am service from Athenry to Galway, the earliest train available, will be cut from the schedule after August.
The 6.50am service gets commuters into Galway Ceannt station by 7.08am. The next available service, and what will become the first available service after August, will get commuters into Galway one hour later, at 8.09am.
The temporary service, which began operation in October 2025, “was facilitated by operational arrangements associated with the ongoing renewal works at Cent Station, and funded by the capital project during this time,” Iarnród Éireann said.
However, the service will cease due to a lack of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding available.
Deputy O’Hara understands this service supports over 50 weekday commuters and is “critical for people who have work, education and other commitments early in the morning in the city.”
A recent decision to keep the original route of the 425A bus, rather than reroute through Athenry, has also lead to a squeeze on Athenry commuters.
The service links Mountbellew and Galway city but sought changes to route through Athenry along the Athenry-Monivea Road, passing through Balydavid and Caheroyan, before continuing out the Tuam Road.
After significant public backlash over traffic and capacity concerns, the NTA decided to keep the original route operating as normal.
In a statement to Deputy O’Hara, the NTA said there ultimately wasn’t enough support after public consultation.
“We are now exploring alternative options to meet the NTA PSO requirement to provide a minimum of three return trips between Athenry and Galway (Monday to Friday). Any alternative proposal will likely require funding for a new service, at a higher cost than the original 425a proposal.”
“We are not currently in a position to implement any new bus service on the alignment between Athenry and Galway. We have no implementation date for any new service.”
The NTA gave a commitment to engage further with Local Link and Bus Éireann to seek alternative options.
However, Deputy O’Hara said the NTA promised a new bus service 18-months ago with funding in mind.
A petition calling for the continuation of the train service and the addition of a bus service in Athenry has also been created by Deputy O’Hara.