New later train from Dublin to Tullamore will begin running on Monday evening

THE new later train service from Dublin to Tullamore will run for the first time on Monday evening (August 26).

The train will leave Heuston station at 8.30pm and its introduction answers a long-voiced call from commuters seeking an option after the existing 7.35pm departure.

Under a series of improvements being introduced by Iarnrod Eireann, there will also be a later service from Tullamore to Dublin on the Galway line.

The weekday timetable will have a 10.33pm departure from Tullamore to the capital, bringing the total number of trains daily to 17, with the first leaving the Offaly county town at 5.45am.

And where previously there were 12 trains daily Monday to Friday from Heuston to Tullamore, from Monday there will be 14, including five for commuters from 5.10pm onwards.

For weekend passengers, one train has been added each way on Sundays.

The changes follow a review by Irish Rail which was in part informed by consultation with the public.

There were eight submissions seeking a later last service to Tullamore.

The company said while the later service is now on the timetable, due to limited track maintenance time it is not currently possible to extend that further.

At the same time, the company said that along with the National Transport Authority (NTA) it will continue to investigate possibilities of operating later evening services on all Inter City routes.

The extra trains on Saturdays and Sundays will begin running on August 31 and September 1.

Passengers travelling from Tullamore to Dublin can also look forward to extra seats because 41 new carriages are being added to the fleet on the Galway to Heuston and Westport to Heuston lines o a phased basis from now until October.

Iarnrod Eireann said the lack of a catering service on the Galway/Dublin service is currently under review.

The changes affecting Tullamore are - new 5.45am Heuston/Galway service; new 7.27am Tullamore/Galway service (Monday to Friday); new 8.30pm Heuston/Galway service; new 9.05am Galway/Heuston service (Monday-Friday); new 8.50pm Galway/Heuston service (Monday to Saturday); Sunday - new 10.30am Heuston/Galway service; new 1.40pm Galway/Heuston service.

The improvements have been welcomed by Offaly-based Green Party Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett (pictured below).

“There are additional weekday and Sunday services; I think the one that stands out for most people is the new, later service each way, leaving Dublin at 20:30 hrs and Galway at 20.50 hrs, (Monday-Saturday). There is an earlier first service from Heuston to Galway, and an additional Sunday service each way. We can also look forward to capacity increases,” said Minister Hackett.

“We know people will use the train when the service meets the need. These timetable changes are a positive step in the right direction, and part of a longer-term package of improvements. Earlier this summer nearly 2,000 people participated in the public consultation on the draft new timetable, showing the level of interest there is in rail travel.

“I can see from this consultation, and from speaking with people directly, there is a demand for even later services to and from Tullamore: I am encouraged to see that Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with the NTA, commits to investigating possibilities of operating later evening services on all InterCity routes. And for those of us who hop on board hungry – I’m happy to see that a review of catering services on the Galway/Dublin line is also underway.”