Tullamore train station bidding for age friendly status

TULLAMORE train station is one of 10 chosen by Iarnrod Eireann for the first phase of its Age Friendly initiative.

Irish Rail hopes that by implementing age friendly principals, more people will be able to access rail transport than ever before.

Confirmation of Tullamore's place in the initial rollout of the work came as a station in Laois, Ballybrophy, was awarded Age Friendly status by Age Friendly Ireland.

Age Friendly Ireland recognised Iarnrod Eireann's commitment to making public transport more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities.

The process is aligned with the principles of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

Age Friendly Ireland is the national organisation delivering the Government’s vision of an Age Friendly Ireland, and the Ballybrophy project was in collaboration with the Laois Age Friendly Programme, Laois County Council and Iarnród Éireann.

Overall, Iarnrod Eireann is aiming to have all 146 of its stations achieve Age Friendly status and Tullamore is currently one of 10 going through an audit and recognition process.

Kilkenny's MacDonagh Train Station was the first to gain the status and it had undergone a 'walkability' audit, had two age friendly car spaces installed, along with tactile paving.

Accessible routes into and out of the building and accessible facilities including ticketing, information points, toilets, seating areas and luggage store are key points.

At Ballybrophy station, Minister for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell TD, unveiled an Age Friendly plaque and said: “My priority is ensuring that as people get older, they are supported to live in their own homes and communities with the correct wraparound supports. Making public transport more accessible and age friendly is part of the toolkit to ensure older people can age well and remain connected and integrated in their communities.”

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Jim Meade, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann said:  “Today, with the recognition of Ballybrophy as an Age Friendly Station, we’re delighted to launch of the first phase of our Age Friendly Stations Initiative – an initiative which ultimately intends for each of our 146 stations to attain Age Friendly Status. Our vision for rail in Ireland is to be the backbone of an integrated, sustainable, and accessible public transport network, connecting and serving all of Ireland’s communities. We’re investing in infrastructure upgrades across the network to enhance accessibility and facilitate safe, independent access for more of our customers, while also providing our staff with Accessibility and Disability Awareness training. Initiatives like these are helping us to provide a better, more inclusive service to customers.”

Anna May McHugh, Age Friendly Laois ambassador and managing director of the National Ploughing Association, said: “It is a privilege to see our local communities come together with a shared goal of ensuring everyone is included and no one is left behind when we are creating public services in Ireland. With a high number of older people living in rural communities such as Ballybrophy, it is important that they have equal access to public transport, and that the work is done to ensure they can have a high quality of life. I want to empower older people in rural communities to avail of these services, and continue to live a long and social life. I look forward to taking more trips via Ballybrophy, knowing it now carries the Age Friendly mark.”

Along with Tullamore and Ballybrophy, phase one of Iarnród Éireann’s Age Friendly Stations Initiative includes Dublin Heuston, Kildare, Limerick Colbert, Carrick on Shannon, Dalkey, Wicklow, Carlow and Killarney.