The map of Ireland above shows the country’s Railways System in two different years, in 1920 and 2020.
As you can see, in the 100-year difference, Ireland’s train system had a significant decline. How did this come about, and what factors contributed to the Irish railway system’s present state?
The 1920s to 1940s
First, some history. In 1920, Ireland was one country. A year later, the partition of Ireland came into effect, forming both the Irish Free State (later becoming the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (later becoming a constituent country of the United Kingdom).
The country’s partition resulted in the disruption of some cross-border rail services, and the difficulty of operating those routes made them redundant.
The 1920s decade saw a transportation revolution of sorts in Ireland. Cars and buses are now easily affordable and seen everywhere. In addition, significant road developments and political will in road transport meant that traveling by road (e.g. through buses, cars, and lorries/trucks) became more convenient. This all came at the expense of rail travel, as it made rail routes unprofitable due to the dwindling rail passenger demand.
Ireland struggled economically during the early 20th century, as it did not have much industrialization compared to its neighbor, Great Britain. Combined with the lack of rail infrastructure, some Irish rail lines soon became unusable, preferring to be closed rather than repaired.
In 1924, the government of Ireland enacted the Great Southern Railways Act, where in an attempt to downsize rail operations, it merged most rail companies into a single one, the Great Southern Railways (GSR). This move, however, did little to help the nation’s fledgling rail system, as continuing financial problems resulted in further cuts to Irish train line services.
Fast forward to the 1940s, during the Second World War. Even though fuel shortages at the time would’ve sparked a heavy reliance on trains, the lack of resources meant that Ireland’s trains weren’t maintained well. Post-war, the Irish government still had its focus on road transport as opposed to its rail lines.
The 1950s to 1960s and Beyond
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, rail lines were being closed left and right, by virtue of the 1958 Transport Act, as they were considered unprofitable and outdated. However, this left some rural towns with no rail access available.
The shift in freight transport also contributed to the decline of the Irish rail industry. Trains were once used in transporting heavy freight, such as industrial and agricultural goods. With the efficiency of trucks and container shipping to carry these goods, however, rail services became unviable, and such services were cut.
With people eventually moving into more developed urban areas, and with these urban areas and cities solely focused on road transport, rail lines were only left to serve rural areas. In fact, the closure of the Western Great Corridor (also known as the Western Railway Corridor), a popular line running from Limerick to Sligo, only further affected the already struggling Irish train system.
Present Day
At present, Ireland hasn’t heavily invested in modernized train systems or improving its long-distance rail lines. With the nation’s government lacking support for such ventures, Ireland’s railway system remains stationary.
All hope is not lost, though. Developments are being seen regarding Ireland’s trains, including interest in the improvement of the Dublin Suburban Rail, the proposals to reopen certain parts of the closed Western Great Corridor, and climate change concerns that will make rail services viable again.
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