Upcoming Line Improvement Works

Upcoming Line Improvements

Major works preview 2026

With record investment in our rail network under the National Development Plan, Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a range of projects, as well as essential maintenance, right across our lines.

Major projects which will be progressed this year include:

  • Cork Area Commuter Rail projects, including twin-tracking of the Midleton line and resignalling works which - together with the completed new platform at Kent Station - will treble the capacity for Cork commuter rail services
  • Works on the new Ceannt Station, Galway, and relocated Plunkett Station, Waterford
  • Works on second platform at Oranmore and associated track works
  • DART+ works for recharging facilities for new trains at Drogheda
  • DART+ West enabling works on Maynooth and M3 Parkway lines
  • Limerick to Foynes line
  • Continuing overhead line renewal works on the DART network
  • Systems testing for the new National Train Control Centre
  • Track renewal work, bridge replacemement, points and crossing renewals and other essential infrastructure maintenance and renewal works in a range of locations

While the vast majority of works take place overnight, or in a way that sees little or no disruption to services, in some instances disruption is unavoidable. In particular, this will happen if we’re replacing or improving essential infrastructure like tracks, bridges, signalling, overhead lines, or helping third parties with major plans.

So we need to plan these works to deliver improvements to our customers, but there can be unavoidable disruption too. We work to ensure that any such disruption is minimised, and that the number of customers affected is minimised too.

We do this in a number of ways:

  • We try to ensure that our busiest lines are unaffected at the busiest times, so weekday works, and particularly at peak, are avoided
  • We work to plan the works which must happen, and look at events which take place around the country too. Major sports, music, cultural and other entertainment is always considered. This poses challenges – we’re busier with works than ever before, but there are more events than ever before too
  • We choose selected Bank Holiday weekends to undertake projects of significant scale – the extra weekend day allows us to achieve more progress more efficiently, while avoiding impacting those crucial weekday customers. We don’t schedule works at St Patrick’s weekend, which is particularly important for tourism. However, the February, Easter, May, June, August and October Bank Holidays are often used for works

So, while we will have other works which may affect individual services, or late evening / early morning services in some instances, this is the current schedule (as of 12th Febuary 2026) of major disruptive works for the remainder of 2026.  This is subject to further change (for example, works programmes revisions or confirmations, new events or additional investment funding can result in revisions).  

(bold = weekday services affected; italics = Translink works)

DateSectionWorksServices affected
5th Jan to 28th March (Mon to Thurs, 08:00hrs-14:30hrs only)Waterford StationFlood defence worksWaterford to Kilkenny, Waterford to Carrick-on-Suir
5th Jan to 29th July (Mon to Weds, 22:45hrs onwards only)Glounthaune to Midleton / CobhCACR Twin-tracking and signalling projectsCork to Midleton / Cobh
9th (14:00hrs) to 19th FebruaryBallymotePlatform worksBallymote Station only (trains will operate and will not serve Ballymote)
21st to 22nd FebruaryConnolly to Drogheda / HowthTrack renewal, platform works, cutting and embankment worksNorthside DART, Drogheda Commuter, Belfast Enterprise
7th (13:00hrs) to 8th (08:00hrs) MarchTullamore to Ballinasloe / RoscommonBridge renewal worksDublin to Galway, Dublin to Westport / Ballina
3rd (20:00hrs) to 6th (10:00hrs) April (Easter)Portarlington to GalwayTrack renewal, bridge renewal, Oranmore and Ceannt Station worksDublin to Galway, Dublin to Westport/Ballina
4th to 6th April (Easter)Connolly to Dun LaoghaireOverhead line renewal, retaining wall renewal, platform worksSouthside DART, Connolly to Rosslare
4th to 5th April (Easter)Charleville to Cork /Tralee, Glounthaune to CobhCACR signalling works, track worksDublin to Cork / Kerry, Mallow to Cork, Tralee to Cork, Cork to Cobh
4th (20:00hrs) to 5th April (Easter)Cork to MidletonTwin-track worksCork to Midleton
5th April (to 13:00hrs only)Limerick to Limerick JunctionBallast cleaningLimerick to Limerick Junction
7th to 10th April (09:00hrs to 17:00hrs only)Limerick to EnnisBallast cleaningLimerick to Ennis, Limerick to Galway
18th to 19th (to 08:00hrs only) AprilCastlerea to ClaremorrisBridge maintenanceDublin to Westport
24th (22:00hrs) to 26th (10:00hrs) AprilLimerick Junction to MallowCulvert renewalDublin to Cork / Kerry
2nd to 4th May (May Bank Holiday)Connolly to Drogheda / HowthTrack renewal, overhead line renewal, platform worksNorthside DART, Northern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise
2nd to 4th May (May Bank Holiday)Cork to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow (Mallow 2nd to 3rd only)CACR signalling works, track worksCork to Cobh / Midleton / Mallow, Cork to Dublin, Cork to Tralee
2nd (18:00hrs) to 3rd (08:00hrs) May (Bank Holiday)Claremorris to Westport / BallinaBallast cleaningDublin to Westport / Ballina
9th to 10th (17:00hrs) MayLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)Bridge maintenanceLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)
16th to 17th (10:00hrs) MayLimerick to EnnisBridge renewalLimerick to Ennis, Limerick to Galway
23rd to 24th (16:00hrs) MayLimerick to Limerick JunctionCulvert installationLimerick to Limerick Junction
23rd (17:00hrs) to 24th (10:00hrs) MayThurles to PortlaoiseTrack renewalDublin to Cork / Kerry
23rd to 24th (10:00hrs) MayClaremorris to Westport / BallinaExcavation worksDublin to Westport / Ballina
23rd (18:00hrs) to 24th (08:00hrs) MayPortarlington to Athlone Athenry to GalwayBallast cleaning, Oranmore and Ceannt Station worksDublin to Galway, Dublin to Westport / Ballina
30th to 31st May (June Bank Holiday)Connolly to BrayTrack renewal, retaining wall worksSouthside DART, Connolly to Rosslare
30th to 31st May (June Bank Holiday)Drogheda to DundalkTrack renewal, cutting and embankment worksDublin to Dundalk, Dublin to Belfast Enterprise
6th (18:00hrs) to 7th (08:00hrs) JunePortlarlington to Athlone Ballast cleaningDublin to Galway, Dublin to Westport
6th to 7th (17:00hrs) JuneLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)Bridge maintenanceLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)
6th (13:00hrs) to 7th (08:00hrs) JuneMaynooth to DromodTrack renewal, culvert renewalDublin to Sligo
13th to 14th JuneCork to Cobh / MidletonCACR signallingCork to Cobh / Midleton
13th (18:00hrs) to 14th (08:00hrs) JuneAthenry to GalwayCeannt Station worksDublin to Galway
20th (18:00hrs) to 21st (08:00hrs) JunePortarlington to AthloneBallast CleaningDublin to Galway, Dublin to Westport
27th (13:00hrs) to 28th (08:00hrs) JuneWoodlawn to Athenry, Gort to AthenryPoints and crossings renewalDublin to Galway, Limerick to Galway
4th to 5th (09:00hrs) JulyBoyle to SligoCulvert renewalDublin to Sligo
4th and 11th (18:00hrs) to 5th and 12th (08:00hrs) JulyAthlone to BallinasloeBallast cleaningDublin to Galway
18th to 19th (10:00hrs) JulyManulla to BallinaBridge renewalManulla to Ballina
1st to 3rd August (August Bank Holiday)Hazelhatch to Newbridge, PortlaoiseTrack renewal, points and crossings renewalAll routes to/from Dublin Heuston
8th to 9th AugustDublin to MaynoothDART+ West enabling worksDublin to Maynooth, Dublin to Sligo
8th to 9th (17:00hrs) and 29th to 30th (17:00hrs) AugustLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)Culvert renewalLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)
29th (19:00hrs) to 30th (09:00hrs) AugustDromod to SligoBridge maintenanceDublin to Sligo
5th SeptemberHeuston to HazelhatchTrack renewalAll routes to/from Dublin Heuston
5th (14:00hrs) to 6th (08:00hrs) SeptemberLimerick to Limerick JunctionBallast cleaningLimerick to Limerick Junction
12th to 13th SeptemberDun Laoghaire to GreystonesOverhead line renewal, coastal defence worksSouthside DART, Dublin to Rosslare
12th to 13th SeptemberClonsilla to MaynoothDART+ West enabling worksDublin to Maynooth, Dublin to Sligo
18th (23:00hrs) to 20th (07:00hrs) SeptemberKildare to ThurlesPoints renewal, track renewal, culvert renewalDublin to Portlaoise Commuter, Dublin to Cork / Kerry / Limerick / Galway / Westport
19th & 26th (14:00hrs) to 20th & 27th (08:00hrs) SeptemberLimerick to Limerick JunctionBallast cleaningLimerick to Limerick Junction
26th to 27th (09:00hrs) SeptemberPortlaoise to Limerick JunctionBridge maintenanceDublin to Cork / Kerry / Limerick
26th to 27th (10:00hrs) SeptemberManulla to BallinaBridge renewalManulla to Ballina
3rd to 4th OctoberDun Laoghaire to GreystonesOverhead line renewal, coastal defence worksSouthside DART, Dublin to Rosslare
3rd to 4th OctoberCharleville to Cork / TraleeCACR signalling worksDublin to Cork / Tralee
10th to 11th OctoberClonsilla to MaynoothDART+ West enabling worksDublin to Maynooth, Dublin to Sligo
10th to 11th (17:00hrs) OctoberLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)Culvert renewalLimerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)
10th (19:00hrs) to 11th (09:00hrs) OctoberLongford to DromodBallast cleaningDublin to Sligo
17th to 18th OctoberConnolly to Malahide / HowthTrack and overhead line worksNorthside DART, Northern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise
17th to 18th OctoberCork to Cobh / MidletonCACR signalling worksCork to Cobh / Midleton
17th to 18th and 24th to 26th (Bank Holiday) OctoberLimerick Station area, Limerick to Limerick Jctn / KillonanWorks associated with completion and commissioning of Limerick to Foynes lineLimerick to Limerick Junction, Limerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh), Limerick to Ennis
24th to 26th October (October Bank Holiday)Grand Canal Dock to BrayBridge renewal, track renewal, retaining wall works, platform worksSouthside DART, Dublin to Rosslare
24th to 26th October (October Bank Holiday)Howth to Howth JunctionOverhead line renewalHowth to Howth Junction
24th to 26th October (October Bank Holiday)Malahide to DundalkTrack renewal, vegetation worksNorthern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise
23rd (23:00hrs) to 25th (08:00hrs) OctoberPortlaoise to ThurlesTrack renewalDublin to Cork / Kerry / Limerick
31st October to 1st NovemberClonsilla to M3 ParkwayDART+ West enabling worksClonsilla to M3 Parkway
31st October to 1st November, 14th to 15th and 21st to 22nd NovemberCork to Cobh / MidletonCACR signalling worksCork to Cobh / Midleton
28th to 29th NovemberGrand Canal Dock to BrayTrack renewal, points and crossing renewal, level crossing resurfacingSouthside DART, Dublin to Rosslare
28th to 29th NovemberClonsilla to M3 ParkwayDART+ West enabling worksClonsilla to M3 Parkway

Check out our video below to learn more about the work being carried out to maintain our railway network during 2026.

Accessibility on Iarnród Éireann Services

We are better able to assist you if you contact us as far in advance as possible, but try to give at least 24-hours' notice of your journey. You can contact us by emailing access@irishrail.ie or call 0818 294 015 (Monday to Friday 07:00hrs - 19:00hrs, 08:00hrs - 18:00hrs Saturday and 10:00hrs - 18:00hrs Sunday and Bank Holidays). 

For further information please visit our Accessibility section

For DART Accessibility information, please see our new DART Accessibility section

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Bus Transfer Arrangements

Bus transfers are operated by Third Party Companies as a result Iarnród Éireann cannot guarantee there will be toilet facilities on-board. Passengers are advised to use the toilet facilities in the station before travelling. Please note Guide / Assistance dogs and small lap dogs can be facilitated on board bus transfers in line with our Travelling with Animals policy.

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Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail apologise for any inconvenience caused.

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