No bypass of Leitrim train station to speed up services, Irish Rail confirms

There was good news for Leitrim in relation to train services this week.

Dromod Train Station will not be bypassed in a bid to speed up travel times to Dublin, as had been feared.

There is also renewed hope for an early morning service to Sligo.

Both updates came in a letter to Leitrim County Council from the Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive, Mary Considine.

The letter was read out at this week's Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District meeting by Kieran Brett, meeting administrator.

“Regarding an early morning to Sligo, while we have corresponded on this topic on a number of occasions, we recognise the interest and demand in such a service operating, and it is a topic we have examined in the context of our overall timetable engagements with the National Transport Authority,” the Chief Executive wrote.

“While PSO funding has not facilitated any changes at this time, we will continue to keep this under review and as soon as funding and other resources allow, we hope to implement such a service at the earliest opportunity, subject to NTA approval,” the letter added.

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Responding to the letter, Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte said that, “it is good news that Iarnród Éireann are not bypassing smaller stations, including Dromod.”

Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte has asked a letter to be written to Iarnród Éireann at the Jnuary meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, in relation to both issues.

In her motion, she had also called for an investment in extra carriages and on the railway infrastructure.

The letter from the Chief Executive stated that, “Regarding investment in extra carriages, in 2024, we added 41 new Intercity railcar carriages to the fleet and these have helped to address some of this increased demand, with approximately 50% of Sligo services seeing additional capacity as a result.”

Dromod based Cllr Sean McGowan told the meeting that, “Dromod is a busy station. In relation to an early morning service, this would be a well used service if it was introduced. I am bombarded with emails about the need for this service,” he commented.

“The early morning service to Sligo would benefit people such as students and those with hospital appointments. Cars would be taken off the road as a result. However, it is a positive change that

Iarnród Éireann have committed to an early morning service,” Cllr McGowan added.

At a plenary meeting of Leitrim County Council in January, Cllr McGowan had submitted a motion calling for the early morning serivce.

“That we again call on Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to look at the possibility of providing of an early morning commuter train service, Monday to Friday, between Longford and Sligo to cater for the large number of people who work, attend college, or hospital appointments etc. on a daily basis. There is a demand for such a service, and it would be extensively used and would be welcomed by the communities who live along or close to the Sligo -Dublin Line,” his motion had stated.