On Trains & Buses

Iarnród Éireann has announced plans to extend DART services to Kilcock Station in County Kildare, alongside a proposed relocation of the DART+ Depot to a site west of the town, following a public consultation process. The extension will increase train frequency to every 10 minutes during peak times, introduce upgraded station infrastructure including a second track, new platforms and accessible pedestrian bridges and fully electrify the rail network to support sustainable travel.

The depot will house up to 750 new DART carriages, create over 100 maintenance roles and include facilities such as a test track, maintenance sheds and improved staff amenities. The project, part of the broader DART+ Programme aiming to expand this rail network to over 150 km, is targeted for completion by 2031, pending approvals and seeks public input until late April to refine its design and ensure alignment with community needs.

A new bus service has been introduced to improve connectivity between Macclesfield, Alderley Park, Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, with funding from the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. The 150 service now links Macclesfield and Wilmslow railway stations via Alderley Park, while the 130 service now stops at Wilmslow railway station with an enhanced Saturday schedule. Together, these routes offer more frequent travel, with buses running up to every 30 minutes between Macclesfield and Alderley Park on weekdays and reduced journey times from both railway stations to Alderley Park. The 130 continues to serve Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport, providing onward connections. Local officials highlighted the benefits of these changes, including improved access to employment, healthcare and transport hubs, as well as supporting integrated public transport by enabling seamless transfers between trains and buses. The services are now operational, with details available through relevant transport providers.

Transport for Ireland has introduced two new bus routes, MU1 and MU2, in Mullingar, operating seven days a week with services every 30 minutes until late evening, connecting key locations such as Mullingar Station, the Regional Hospital and the Mullingar Business Park. Some stops, including Farranshock Park and Presentation Convent, are temporarily out of service. Fares are available for cash or via a TFI Leap Card, offering discounts for adults, young adults, students and children. Additional information on timetables, route details and events is provided, along with access to apps and other resources for passengers.

A significant investment in Welsh train services was announced, which includes the creation of seven new stations. The plans, worth almost £500 million, are part of a larger scheme to upgrade and electrify rail lines in Wales. Six of the new stations will be located in South Wales, while one will be situated on the Wrexham to Liverpool line. Work on the projects is expected to start this year, with the first station due to open later in 2026. The Welsh Government has already committed substantial funds to upgrading rail services and investing in new trains.

Work is due to start on electrifying parts of the Borders Railway in Scotland over three weekends in March. The scheme, which forms part of a £342 million investment in electrification and electric trains, will see overhead 25kV lines installed between Newcraighall and Shawfair and between Bowshank Tunnel and Tweedbank. This will allow diesel units on the line to be replaced by hybrid battery electrics. Engineers will carry out piling work over the three weekends, with further overnight work planned. The project manager has stated that the infrastructure is already suitable for electrification, allowing for less intrusive engineering than would be required on older parts of the network.

A freeze on rail fares in Scotland has been announced by First Minister John Swinney, as part of his government’s efforts to address the cost of living crisis. The 12-month freeze will apply to season tickets and ordinary tickets, which follows the abolition of peak fares on ScotRail routes in September 2025. This decision is seen as a way for the government to keep people’s costs down and maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail travel in Scotland. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop stated that this move follows the removal of peak fares, which brought fares down by up to 48 per cent.

Over the St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday weekend from Friday 30^th January to Monday 2^nd February 2026, public transport services across Ireland will operate on modified schedules. Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Luas services will follow Sunday timetables on the bank holiday Monday, with Nitelink services running on Friday and Saturday nights only. Iarnród Éireann will implement significant engineering works throughout the weekend, affecting multiple routes including services between Connolly and Belfast Grand Central, Cork, Limerick and Tralee lines, DART services between Connolly and Howth or Drogheda, northern commuter routes and Galway and Westport services, with bus transfers replacing trains on affected sections. The weekend coincides with several events in Dublin including rugby matches at Aviva Stadium and Tallaght Stadium, as well as the St Brigid’s Dublin City Celebrating Women Parade and Festival featuring over 80 events across the city.

A range of new and returning rail services is set to expand long distance travel options from through to 2027, spanning luxury sleepers, scenic daylight trains and faster cross border links. Plans include a West Coast overnight service between the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, a nine-day sleeper based trip from Bangkok through northern Thailand, a five-star train in Saudi Arabia running multi day journeys north from Riyadh and seasonal services in Hokkaido timed for drift ice and spring wilderness or summer lavender. North America sees a new Jasper to Banff or Lake Louise route in the Canadian Rockies and a replacement for the Colorado to Utah service, while the United Kingdom’s revived vintage style offering is expected to add another route in 2026. In Europe, new connections aim to make international rail more practical, including a Prague Berlin Copenhagen service, a summer only sleeper linking Poland to Croatia via several countries and a much faster Budapest to Belgrade run, while an operator is also restarting China to Central Asia journeys with new rolling stock and a renewed focus on classic onboard comfort.

Further funding has been approved for 100 new energy efficient DART carriages, fully replacing the original trains that have operated since 1984 and bringing total public investment in new electric DART rolling stock to about 670 million euro. The 173.9 million euro order raises the total on order to 285 carriages, formed into 57 five carriage trains, with earlier batches due to enter service from 2027 and 2028 and this latest order expected from 2029.

The new fleet is intended to add capacity across the Greater Dublin Area under the DART+ Programme in response to record demand, and will include features such as improved accessibility, more bicycle space, device charging and onboard CCTV, with five carriage sets designed with wide gangways and the option to operate ten carriage formations carrying at least 1,100 passengers. The procurement is being delivered by Iarnród Éireann with the National Transport Authority, with the wider DART+ programme aiming to double regional rail capacity.

The UK government announced in its 2025 Budget that regulated National Rail fares in England will be frozen until March 2027, marking the first such freeze in 30 years. The freeze applies to season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities, benefitting over a billion passenger journeys.