Busy Offaly railway station secures second platform as a 'priority project'

THE delivery of a second platform at Clara Train Station has been designated a priority rail project, scheduled for delivery during the 2026–2030 period under the Government’s National Development Plan.

The project forms part of national rail investment measures aimed at increasing capacity and enabling more frequent and reliable rail services on the Dublin–Galway line, directly benefiting Clara, Tullamore and Portarlington.

The news was outlined in the recently published Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy for the island of Ireland.

The Strategy was launched by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, and Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins.

The news has been welcomed as long overdue by local TDs, Fianna Fail's Tony McCormack and Independent Deputy Carol Nolan.

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“This is a significant and positive development for Offaly,” Deputy McCormack said.

“This infrastructure is essential if we are to achieve the increased train frequency and service reliability that commuters, students and families across Offaly need.”

Deputy Nolan had advocated consistently for the second platform, having also raised the matter in June during a debate on Public Transport in the Dáil.

At that point the Independent TD had called on Government to give serious consideration to providing capital funding to allow for the expansion of services at Clara:

Deputy McCormack acknowledged the strong advocacy of Cllr Frank Moran and Barry Cowen MEP, who have consistently highlighted the importance of improved rail connectivity for the county.

“I want to recognise the work of Cllr Frank Moran and Barry Cowen MEP in pushing for better rail services for Offaly. This announcement shows what can be achieved when we work together to ensure our county is properly provided for in national planning.”

The second platform will allow greater operational flexibility at Clara, removing a current bottleneck and supporting timetable improvements across the wider route.

“I will continue to engage with the Minister for Transport, Irish Rail and all relevant stakeholders to ensure this priority project proceeds on schedule and that Offaly sees real, tangible improvements to its rail services,” Deputy McCormack concluded.

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Deputy Carol Nolan commented: “This is excellent news and something that I really pushed hard for with Government and Minister Canney in particular. Clara was once the location of two railway stations and two railway junctions, one branching off the mainline to Mullingar, and the other branching off the main line to Banagher.”

“It is currently the case however that only the train using the main track can allow passengers to board or alight. This makes no sense.”

“It also means that many people from the Clara railway station catchment area (which includes Clara, Moate, Rahan, Ballycumber, Kilbeggan, Tubber and Ferbane) who would like to use a specific service, cannot do so.”

“Hopefully that obvious oversight can now be rectified, and the people of Clara and the surrounding areas can have access to a station that fully utilises it potential,” concluded Deputy Nolan.