Hybrid Working Drives Irish Rail Services To Capacity In The Midlands

Friday, 16 October 2026 15:35

All routes through Tullamore are at full capacity.

Hybrid work creating greater demand on Irish Rail services in the Midlands.

Just two years after expanding its transport services in Offaly, Irish Rail is experiencing high demand, with all routes through Tullamore at full capacity.

This is an issue many local people have felt, and at the most recent Tullamore Municipal District meeting, councillors raised the challenges with representatives of Irish Rail who were in attendance, asking if there was a possibility of adding extra services and fleets for passengers.

Deputy Corporate Communications Manager of Irish Rail explained that the transport service had added two additional services in 2024 and are at capacity again on that route.

Ms Cregan highlighted the growing use of trains by people in Tullamore and the wider area saying, for towns like Tullamore now with hybrid working, it's very doable for people to travel to Dublin or Galway a couple times a week and live in Tullamore.

As a result of residents commuting to work a few days every week, Irish Rail is now a heavily relied upon service, with Ms Cregan describing it as a very busy route.

Ms Cregan welcomed the feedback, saying she would bring the discussion back to the appropriate people within Irish Rail.

However, she highlighted how Irish Rail is not self-funded, and that ultimately, decisions come from the National Transport Authority, which is its funding authority.