Several new Athlone train services planned from August

The train schedule serving Athlone and Ballinasloe is set to be given a significant shake-up in August, with a number of new services being added, along with timetable changes for several of the existing trains.

Irish Rail announced today (Thursday) that it's planning to implement the new timetable on the Dublin Heuston to Galway line from August 25.

The changes include the addition of four new services during the week, two new services on Sundays, and a new early morning train from Dublin to Galway, which is to replace an existing morning service from Tullamore to Galway.

Of particular note is the addition of new late-evening trains in both directions on the Dublin to Galway line, from Monday to Saturday. The new later service from Dublin will leave at 8.30pm, which is 55 minutes later than the last train currently running from the capital towards Galway during the week.

The new late evening Galway to Dublin train will depart from the City of the Tribes at 8.50pm. A later train from Galway as far as Athlone, which currently departs at 10.20pm, is being pushed back slightly, to leave at 10.25pm.

Other new services being added include a 7.27am (Monday to Friday) train from Tullamore which will stop at every station from there to Galway.

A new 9.05am service from Galway to Dublin is being introduced, while the existing 9.30am service from Galway is being deferred to have a 10.05am departure.

On Sundays, a new 10.30am Dublin to Galway service is planned, while the introduction of a 1.40pm Galway to Dublin service on Sundays is also on the cards.

No additional services are being proposed on the Dublin to Westport line.

Irish Rail has published full details of the proposed new timetable on its website and has invited the public to submit feedback in advance of the schedule being finalised.

The additional services on the Dublin to Galway line were welcomed by Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett.

The Green Party representative argued that her party was "fulfilling promises to improve public transport".

"The proposed new rail timetable on the Heuston - Galway route delivers up to seven fantastic additional services for people in the Midlands," she commented.

"The proposed changes are long called for, and it’s great to see that the investment is now being delivered,"

The public's feedback on the proposed new timetables can be submitted on irishrail.ie until June 13 next.