New train services on track for Laois via Portlaoise Station
Irish Rail consulting the public on changes to timetables that includes extra Laois trains
Laois commuters and train users look set to get extra services on the busy Dublin Cork line under changes proposed by Iarnród Éireann, which says it cannot make increases at busy times because all available fleet and infrastructure capacity is in use.
Irish Rail, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, is inviting public views on timetable alterations from December 13, 2026, in advance of finalising changes which will impact Laois .
Explaining why it his making the changes, the rail company says it is operating more services and carrying more passengers than ever before.
It says the changes proposed now are predominantly minor in nature and designed to assist with “performance and punctuality” across the network. Irish Rail also adds that they represent further progress in delivering consistent, repeating departure times on DART and Commuter routes.
Commuters in Laois can expect extra service and some changes to train times.
The main difference will be on the Dublin / Cork route with additional stops and three new services at Portlaoise daily. The company says the aim of this measure is to provide better connections between Portlaoise and Dublin / Cork / Limerick.
Two of the three new proposed services stopping in Portlaoise will be in the direction of Cork. They are as follows:
- 06:00 Heuston/Cork will call additionally at Portlaoise at 06.42 with intermediate timing changes at Thurles, Limerick Junction, Charleville and Mallow, arriving in Cork at 08.35, 3 minutes later than at present.
- 10:25 Cork/Heuston will call additionally at Thurles and Portlaoise, with an intermediate timing change at Templemore, arriving in Heuston 7 minutes later than present. (Monday to Saturday)
- 14:25 Cork/Heuston will now call additionally at Portlaoise, arriving in Heuston 5 minutes later than present. (Monday to Saturday)
The train company says minor time changes / intermediate time changes are proposed, with several routes seeing time changes or intermediate stop changes of a minor nature, predominantly a change of 1 to 2 minutes from current times on some services, but in limited cases up to 5 minutes.
The proposed changes on the Heuston / Portlaoise commuter line are as follows: MORE BELOW PHOTO.
- 10:20 Heuston/Portlaoise will arrive in Portlaoise 1 minute earlier than at present. (Monday to Saturday)
- 17:20 Heuston/Portlaoise will have intermediate timing changes at ParkWest, Monasterevin and Portarlington. (Monday to Saturday)
- 11:40 Newbridge/Heuston is advanced to 11:35. (Monday to Friday)
- 12:25 Newbridge/Heuston is deferred to 12:26. (Monday to Friday)
- 18:29 Portlaoise/Heuston is advanced to 18:25. (Monday to Saturday)
Laois TD Sean Fleming welcomed the thre new train services but wants more.
“I am not satisfied that a late-night train service after 11pm leaving Dublin for Portlaoise has not been approved at this stage.
“I will continue to fight for this service as it is vitally important for people who use the train station in Portlaoise. While there is some movement in relation to improving this service in Portlaoise this late-night train service leaving Dublin is the most critical improvement we need at this point in time.
“I want to ensure people that I have been in contact with the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann on this matter and I will continue my work to achieve this in due course,” he said.
Iarnród Éireann and the NTA say they will review all suggestions received for all routes on the network, whether or not changes are proposed in the draft timetable. It adds that suggested alterations which cannot be implemented at this timetable change will be retained in a database for consideration at future timetable reviews.
It adds that extra service and peak times are not possible.
“Peak frequency cannot currently be increased, as all available fleet and infrastructure capacity is in use”.
Full details of all changes, including draft timetable PDFs, are available at https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/timetable-consultation-2026 and consultation is open until Monday, September 14.