Fresh setback for campaign to reopen Killucan railway station
Campaigners seeking the reopening of Killucan railway station have suffered a fresh setback after the government confirmed there are no current plans to proceed with the project.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Ciarán Ahern, Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney said a recent review by Iarnród Éireann found there had been no significant changes to justify reopening the Westmeath station.
The station has been the subject of a long-running campaign by local residents and Cllr Denis Leonard, who argue that population growth in Killucan, Kinnegad and the surrounding areas has strengthened the case for restoring rail services.
The minister said that in 2024 engineering consultancy AECOM was appointed by Iarnród Éireann, with funding from the Dept of Transport, to examine public transport demand in the Killucan, Kinnegad and Hill of Down areas. The assessment considered several options, including reopening Killucan railway station. However, the preferred recommendation was to enhance existing bus services by introducing three additional daily return trips on the 115C route between Mullingar and Kilcock.
According to the report, while there is demand for a railway station in Killucan, adding an extra stop on the Dublin-Sligo rail line would increase journey times for existing passengers, reducing the overall benefits compared with improved bus services.
In December 2025, the department asked Iarnród Éireann to review whether any new developments had emerged that might alter the findings of the report. The rail operator concluded that no material changes had taken place and that the recommendation in favour of enhanced bus services remained valid.
The minister noted that the planned extension of the DART+ West project from Maynooth to Kilcock, subject to planning approval, is expected to improve connections for passengers travelling from the midlands via the 115C bus service.
He also pointed out that the 2024 All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which sets out a long-term vision for the rail network, did not recommend reopening Killucan station. However, he said the review is expected to be updated approximately every decade, allowing the proposal to be reconsidered in light of future population growth and travel demand.