Surge in Mayo train passenger numbers

COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (APRIL 7 EDITION)

The number of passengers using Ballyhaunis train station has increased to pre-Covid levels, data from an Irish Rail survey shows. 238 train passengers used the station according to the National Rail Census Report which was undertaken on a Thursday in November 2025.

122 passengers boarded trains that day while 116 alighted at Ballyhaunis, according to data from the census released to this column under a freedom of information request. Curiously, the number boarding in 2025 is the same as the figure for 2019, despite extra services being added in 2023 and 2024.

Commenting on the data for Ballyhaunis station, a spokesperson for Irish Rail explained: “The census is a snapshot of a single day each day, so while it is helpful in determining trends over time, there might be a specific year where numbers at a specific station are a little out of line - either higher or lower - from the general trend. You’re correct that we would have seen growth across the route in the intervening years with the additional services, and this is indicated by the total journeys on the Westport/Dublin route in 2019 of 603,000 increasing to a record 773,000 journeys in 2025.”

Overall passenger numbers for Ballyhaunis have recovered after dropping significantly during the pandemic. According to the National Rail Census Report 2022, 57 people boarded in Ballyhaunis on the day of the census – higher than the number (42) in the 2021 survey but well below the 122 passengers boarding at the station on the day of the survey in 2019 and in 2018 (69 passengers) and 2017 (106 passengers).

Rail passenger numbers appear to be on a long-term growth trend in line with growth in the country’s population. Nationally the period 2014-18 saw a 43 percent growth in passenger rail numbers on Irish Rail’s services.

Ballyhaunis passenger numbers have been increased by a new Westport bound morning service and a 7.35pm service from Dublin Heuston which gets into Ballyhaunis just before 10pm.

Growth in passenger numbers at Ballyhaunis due to increased services has caused significant issues with parking at the station with cars parked on footpaths on the approach road to the station now a source of annoyance to local residents.

A long-awaited review of its car park at Ballyhaunis by Irish Rail has yet to be published though the company told this column in November the review was being finalised for publication before the end of the year.

Government has sought to get more people onto trains in order to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector which remain among the highest in Europe on a per capita basis.

A service every two hours on the Dublin-Westport line is one of the recommendations in the Draft All Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) published in 2024. Significant work will be required to track networks in order to increase scheduling.