Irish Rail urged to extend services as late-night trains to Mayo remain limited over Christmas period
Limited late-night rail services to Mayo this Christmas are causing growing frustration among passengers, as Irish Rail's extended festive timetable offers extra trains for commuter routes, but has left western travellers with early last departures.
While DART and commuter lines from Dublin to Maynooth, Dundalk and Kildare will run as late as 2am on nights leading up to Christmas, people travelling home to Mayo face far tighter time restrictions.
In the lead up to Christmas, the final train from Dublin Heuston to Castlebar and Westport departs at 7.35pm.
For those travelling to Ballina and Foxford, the last service on Saturdays before Christmas leaves at 6.15pm, while on Sundays it departs at 6.30pm. This schedule applies on December 13, 14, 20 and 21.
On weekdays, the final train to Ballina and Foxford leaves at 7.35pm but requires two changes instead of the usual one, with passengers having to switch at both Manulla and Athlone.
Many lower-priced tickets for these services have already sold out, with limited availability remaining on the later trains, highlighting the annual surge in demand from passengers travelling to the capital for Christmas shopping, events, and family visits.
Mayo Senator Mark Duffy, Fine Gael's Seanad spokesperson for transport, has called on Irish Rail to extend its festive timetable beyond commuter routes and introduce later trains for intercity passengers.
"People right across the country depend on public transport at Christmas, and many have to change or cancel plans to fit around public transport options," he said.
The Fine Gael representative welcomed the extra late-night services, but noted that trains heading west are limited in comparison.
"It's great to see Irish Rail extend train times for commuter services for weekends in the lead up to Christmas, but we need to see even more services included in this.
"For Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights leading up to Christmas, trains are running until 2am to Maynooth and Kildare, and 1.40am to Dundalk.
"Right now, the last train on a Saturday before Christmas from Dublin to Castlebar is 7.35pm, to Cork or Limerick it's 9pm, and to Galway the latest train is 8.30pm," he said.
He added that the time pressures faced by passengers increases during the festive season.
"We all have events that require us to travel to Dublin over the Christmas period, from Christmas shopping, to parties, to seeing family and friends. These events don't always fit in with the normal train schedule," he highlighted.
Senator Duffy added that even one extra late-night service could significantly improve people's ability to travel freely and without rushing.
"Adding just one additional train at night for intercity services would ease the concerns of those travelling,
"People shouldn't have to cut plans short for fear of missing their only way home. We need to see a public transport system that can adapt to fit people's needs, and Christmas is a time where people need more options to get home."
He said expanding evening services would not only support families and festive gatherings but also promote safer travel, and said that Irish Rail should now extend the same late-night travel options to the rest of the country.
"Extending train times would help people spend time with their loved ones, attend Christmas events, and help keep our roads safe by encouraging people to take public transport,
"We need to see Irish Rail expand what they've done for commuter services and extend their hours right across the country."
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.