Dundalk Chamber has strongly welcomed the government’s landmark commitment of €35 million from the Shared Island Fund to secure the future of the hourly Dublin-Belfast rail service through 2030.
The €35 million funding allocation which is part of a €337 Million package for Shared Island projects, will be matched by the Department of Transport, guarantees the continuation of the hourly-frequency service from 2027 to 2030.
Since its introduction in October 2024, the hourly service has effectively doubled rail connectivity between the island’s two largest cities, driving a massive 40% surge in passenger numbers in its first year alone.
Speaking on the announcement, John McGahon, CEO of Dundalk Chamber, said: For Dundalk, having an enhanced, high-frequency connectivity between Dublin, Dundalk, Newry, and Belfast is vital.
It directly supports local business growth, boosts tourism, attracts foreign investment, strengthens educational links, and vastly improves workforce mobility right across the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor.
The impressive 40% increase in passenger numbers during the hourly service’s first year proves that the demand is there. Securing this funding out to 2030, alongside the signing for a state-of-the-art Enterprise fleet, ensures we can sustain this momentum and build a highly integrated and modern economy between Dublin and Belfast.
The announcement coincides with the recent contract signing in Belfast for eight new, purpose-designed inter-city Enterprise trains. Slated to enter service in late 2028, each train will provide approximately 400 seats, offering a faster, more efficient service and supporting the long-term ambition to expand the schedule to 16 trains per direction daily.
At the recent contract signing, the Chamber emphasised the vital importance of continued cross-border collaboration and infrastructure investment.
We advocated for the strategic necessity of maintaining and expanding the hourly services with Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Minister for Transport and Climate Action Darragh O’Brien TD, and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA.
Dundalk Chamber will continue to work closely with government ministers and regional stakeholders to ensure these infrastructure improvements are delivered seamlessly for local businesses. Ultimately, this sustained investment secures Dundalk’s position as a vital, highly connected hub at the very heart of the thriving Dublin-Belfast economic corridor.
