Rise in passengers for Irish Rail

Cash-strapped Irish Rail has put the brakes on falling passenger numbers for the first time in years, latest figures reveal.

There were half a million more train journeys taken in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same time last year.

The turnaround follows years of dropping customers and comes despite long-running industrial disputes at the state-owned operator only resolved earlier this month.

Preliminary figures show 28.6 million journeys were made on Iarnrod Eireann from the start of the year up to October 5 – an increase of 1.6% on last year.

There were bigger increases on Intercity services, up 3.3% to 6.3 million, and commuter trains, up 2.8% to 9.9 million.

The number of passengers taking the DART remains stable at 12.3 million over the nine months.

A marketing drive, rising student travel and increasing employment, as well as high-profile events such as the National Ploughing Championships and the All-Ireland Hurling final replay, are credited with the increase.

Irish Rail chief executive David Franks said he was encouraged by the increase in passenger numbers after years of decline.

“Business growth will be the one of our key areas of focus in addressing the very difficult financial situation facing the company,” he added.

Irish Rail is losing millions of euro every year after a recession-led plunge in revenues and subsidies were slashed, which had been keeping it on track.

A two-year row over pay cuts at the transport company ended earlier this month when trade unions Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) backed proposals to resolve the fall-out.

Last year, the company recorded losses of €16.4m.

During the industrial dispute, Mr Franks warned about the threat of financial collapse if the company’s situation worsened.