Call for 'sleeper train' to Laois to stop in Portlaoise

A late-night commuter train out of Dublin that sleeps in Portlaoise should stop in the Laois County town, Irish Rail management has been told.

The appeal was made in the Dáil by Laois TD Willie Aird at the Joint Committee on Transport, which was attended by Mary Considine, Iarnród Éireann CEO, and other senior executives of the State-owned train company.

He outlined his own experience of why he and other Laois Dublin commuters need to be able to avail of the service which he claims bypasses Portlaoise.

“I am a frequent user - and I mean frequent - of the train from Portlaoise to Dublin. The 10.10 pm service is the last one that leaves Heuston Station for Portlaoise in the evening. When we have late voting in the Dáil, we get caught by that, but there is a train at 11.10 pm that goes as far as Kildare and I am told it sleeps in Portlaoise,” said the Fine Gael TD.

He asked: “If it is running the whole way to Portlaoise, why does it just stop there?”

“It would be of great benefit to a whole lot of people, including me when I am late here in the Dáil, but not just me. There are loads of people who come up for concerts, matches and so on and who could use that late train going down the track,” he said.

The TD asked Irish Rail management to respond with an answer following the meeting which took place on October 31.

Irish Rail, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, began consulting the public in September 2026 on timetable alterations to commence from December 13, 2026. The proposals did not include a new late-night service to Portlaoise as requested by Portlaoise.

Many trains end their daily services at the Portlaoise Train Care Depot, which is located on the outskirts of the Laois county town. Opened in 2008 near the main station, it serves as a maintenance and servicing centre for the rail fleet. Operations include routine running maintenance, defect repairs, modifications, and heavy maintenance overhauls for high-tech systems.