12. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the ongoing issues affecting the rail service between Athenry and Galway city, including persistent capacity constraints, service delays, and overcrowding during peak times; and the specific measures being considered to improve reliability, increase service frequency, and add additional carriages to better accommodate growing passenger demand on this route. [22564/25]

Sentiment score: 0.27

One of our greatest assets in the town of Athenry is now becoming one of our greatest pain points. Train services into Galway city are wholly inadequate. We need to see significant investment in additional carriages arriving at Athenry. As mentioned previously, there are only two carriages going in on the first train in the morning. To put it bluntly, people are packed in like sardines. It is a complete disaster and it is very unfair on the people who are using this service.

Sentiment score: 0.02

I agree that the passing loop is welcome but it points out a huge issue with how we manage infrastructure in this country. Galway County Council was granted urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, funding in March 2021 for that passing loop. It was March 2024 before Irish Rail submitted a planning application for the passing loop. I welcome that it is to commence construction this September. If it has taken three years for Irish Rail to go for a planning application, what does that say about how urgent and how big this issue is in the minds of the country and the State? I want to see increased capacity and increased frequency in Athenry to ensure the people of Athenry who are using public transport and trying to do their bit have a good service they can depend on. I have had reports of people fainting and passing out on the train in the morning. It is genuinely that dangerous.

Sentiment score: 0.25

Absolutely there can be no doubt that the economies of public transport have completely flipped the script over the last few years. We have seen fares come down and the cost of using a car has gone up. It makes more sense for people to use public transport. As the Minister of State well knows, Athenry is a booming town with huge growth potential over the coming years. We need to see a double track line all the way into Galway city. I do not know if this will come through the national development process or the all-island rail review but I seriously think we need to be looking at Athenry as the main connection point to Galway city and ensuring that people have adequate access to that public transport. Recently we saw the announcement and now construction, with potentially thousands of jobs, of the Dexcom facility in Athenry. Athenry will be a hub and a connection point for the west. It is so important that there are adequate rail and bus services. I must also raise the point that there is currently no bus serving Athenry into Galway city. Athenry is a town of 5,000 people and I hope the Minister of State would tackle that as well.

Sentiment score: 0.13