Overcrowding
November 5 2026
Record passengers numbers, an aging fleet and increasingly unreliable infrastructure combined with no additional resources has led to trains full to overflowing. Stressed passengers and no end in sight. Promised investment is hyped up by politicians but actual action on the ground is rare with projects being dragged out and delayed.
Ultimately it comes down to a lack of priority at a Government level. The NTA has engaged in micro management, so making changes or getting approval takes too long.
So where are the problems? All routes are suffering from capacity issues to some degree. The issue is not specific to Dublin, there is daily overcrowding issues in Cork and Galway as well. Root cause is lack of investment and what investment is made is very limited.
Current Government policies and approval flows favours small low value investments over major projects. So we are stuck with a patchwork approach. Major projects spend more time in approval and review than in planning and development. DART+ SouthWest has held planning approval since November 2024, its still not approved at a Government level to start, neither is DART+ West, DART+ Coastal North.
The best and only solution is the immediate approval and funding of DART+ West, DART+ SoutWest and DART+ Coastal North. Urgent infrastructure investment is the long term fix, sooner we start the cheaper it will be and sooner we benefit. This benefits intercity services, frees up trains to use elsewhere and allows for the next phase of investment.
Platforms are a key issue, we can't run more trains but running longer trains will be possible, but many routes have short platforms, leading to a situation in the future of trains available but they can't be used.
Outside Dublin, double track Athenry Galway is critical to allow for more local services. Double track Portarlington Athlone is also important to increase service frequency and reduce journey times.
Country Summary
Cork
Only 16 carriages available to support commuter services, these are 32 years old. Generally reliable but basic. Passenger growth on Mallow, Midleton and Cobh lines has left morning capacity tight, Irish Rail is unable to consistently make 4 coach trains available resulting in overcrowding. Overcrowding at Cobh is common when cruise ships visit as insufficient fleet is available to strengthen services.
Short Term Solutions
Additional carriages are urgently needed. Best option is it transfer 8 sets of 29000 units from Dublin once DART+ fleet enter service. Early 2028 best case.
Galway
0749 Athenry Galway service is one if not the most overcrowded services on the network. This train leaves Limerick at 0555 with 4 coaches and splits at Ennis to save time and staff costs. Even if 2 more coaches were available the train could not be extended due to platform at Sixmilebridge is too short. Other options hit staffing issues as the line is only staffed 0600-2200.
Passenger growth from Athenry and Oranmore has been driven by chronic traffic congestion in Galway city. There is a massive latent demand, adding more carriages won't necessarily fix the issue as we expect them to be full again within weeks.
Short Term Solutions
Additional carriages are urgently needed. Aquire the current 2600 series sets from Cork to lengthen trains. These are compatible with the 2800 fleet based in Limerick. Need to either automate the staffed level crossings in the Limerick Ennis (XE002, XE006, XE010, XE015, XE024) section or extend platform at Sixmilebridge to take longer trains.
DART service
Poor fleet availability and reliability has led to daily breakdowns, short trains and cancellations. The 1984 DART fleet is now 12 years beyond its original life expectancy of 30 years. Breakdowns are a daily occurrence with door and electrical faults common. The Japanese fleet of 2000-2003 is starting to suffer from issues, with some sets out of service for months at a time awaiting parts.
Short Term Solutions
Bulk buy ahead at least 2 years stock of parts. Some parts have to come all the way from Japan so lead times are months not weeks. To get grounded sets back in service consider air freight to get parts here in days not months. Replace the door rails on the 1984 fleet with new stainless steel units to address ongoing issues. There is an order in to replace the fleet but that will be late 2029 at best, likely early 2030.
Kildare and Phoenix Park Tunnel service
Passenger numbers up almost 70% in 10 years, services through Phoenix Park Tunnel which Irish Rail claimed many years ago no one would use are now leaving passengers behind. Relibability of service poor cancellations and trains stoping short of destination are common.
Short Term Solutions
Deploy extra fleet when available, possibly replace current internet trains with commuter trains, fewer seats but much greater overall capacity. Late 2027 best case.
Maynooth and M3 service
Maynooth line services heavily impacted by delayed Sligo services. M3 trains limited to 4 coaches and most and are the first to be cancelled when things go wrong. Signalling system between Clonsilla and Broombridge is the oldest in the country at 1976, prone to failures.
Short Term Solutions
Urgent need to get DART+ West approved and underway. Additional carriages are urgently needed, not just to extend trains but to replace intercity trains used on peak hours service. Late 2027 best case.
Drogheda and Dundalk service
Very busy services which have become increasingly unreliable, impacted by delayed Belfast trains and DART services.
Short Term Solutions
Roll out of the DART+ fleet in June 2027 should provide a capacity uplift, with potential journey time reductions to follow.
Waterford Line
Platforms at Kilkenny limit trains to 6 coaches length, all other platforms on the route can take 7 coaches. So at peak times if 7 coaches are available (3 coaches + 4 coaches), Waterford passengers only get a 4 coach train.
Short Term Solutions
No solution until platforms at Kilkenny are extended, there is no way to increase capacity. The alternative is to not stop at Kilkenny which isn't acceptable.
Galway Line
Generally a good service, but again limited by insufficient fleet, punctuality is poor due the single track nature of the route. The lack of a second platform at Woodlawn and Clara results in gaps in the timetable and adds to delays when two trains due to stop at Woodlwan or Clara show up at the same time .
Short Term Solutions
Second platforms at Clara and Woodlawn would help with timetabling and recovery from delays.
Sligo Line
Delays and punctuality are the key complaints, many peak trains run with 6 coaches while platforms allow for 7. The lack of a second platform at Enfield results in gaps in the timetable and adds to delays when two trains due to stop at Enfield are at Enfield at the same time
Short Term Solutions
Additional carriages are needed. Once DART+ fleet enter service some additional fleet will be available. Late 2027 best case.
Rosslare Line
Overcrowding on morning services towards Dublin is common place. Platforms south of Greystones limit trains to 4 coaches length, this heavily impacts capacity at peak hours.
Short Term Solutions
No solution until platforms are extended there is no way to increase capacity. Use of a 4 car 22K intercity train increases seating capacity but reduces standing room, resulting overall less capacity. DART+ to Wicklow is 2029 at best now, will help but long term platform length remains the key issue.