New Irish Rail timetable with late Athlone to Westport train coming into effect

A post-9pm train service from Athlone to Westport has been added in the new Irish Rail timetable which is coming into effect later this weekend.

The timetable will become operational from this Sunday, December 10.

It features some changes to services in the wider Athlone area, including the addition of the 21:08 hours Athlone to Westport (Monday-Saturday) service.

Irish Rail said this train would "take a connection from the 19:35 hours Dublin Heuston to Galway service at Athlone, thus providing a new later last service from Dublin to all stations from Athlone to Westport and Ballina".

A new 16:20 Westport to Athlone (Monday-Saturday) service is also about to commence, arriving in Athlone at 18:09.

On the Galway-Dublin line, the 06:25 hours Galway to Heuston (Monday-Saturday) service will include an additional stop in Ballinasloe.

Meanwhile the last train from Dublin Heuston, at 19:35 hours on Monday to Saturday, will include an additional stop in Clara - as will the 18:45 hours Dublin to Galway service on Sundays.

Minor time changes are taking effect in respect of some other services, including the deferral by five minutes of the latest weekday departure from Galway to Athlone - which is to leave Galway at 22:20 hours as opposed to the current 22:15.

Full details of the new timetable are available on the Irish Rail website here.