Ireland and Northern Ireland publish all-island rail strategy

Early actions (new passing loops and platforms) start in Ireland in 2027 and are to be finished by 2030, funded from the transport sectoral plan of the 2026–2030 National Development Plan; longer-term plans include FourNorth, electrification of Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Belfast, new lines such as Portadown–Derry and the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris.

The Irish Department of Transport and the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure, backed by the EIB, have published a joint strategy setting out how the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review are to be implemented and prioritised. In the short term, new passing loops and platforms are planned (including Limerick Junction, Woodlawn, Clara, Sligo and Enfield, plus passing loops on Limerick–Waterford, the Sligo line, Westport/Ballina and Dublin–Belfast); construction in Ireland is due to begin in 2027 and finish by 2030, paid for from the transport sectoral plan of the 2026–2030 National Development Plan. Over the longer term the strategy envisages FourNorth north of Connolly, electrification of Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Belfast, new or reinstated lines such as Portadown–Derry and Letterkenny, and the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris, where initial clearance works have started. The date is a placeholder: the article gives no decision date, so the date of the report is used. (LOK Report, 16 Jan 2026)