Mott MacDonald leads construction-focused overhaul of Ireland’s intercity rail network

Ireland’s national rail operator Iarnród Éireann has appointed Mott MacDonald to lead its Connect intercity rail improvement programme aimed at upgrading core rail infrastructure between Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

The EU- and National Development Plan-funded programme is structured to modernise key railway assets, cut carbon emissions and enable faster, more frequent services across major intercity corridors.

Mott MacDonald will deliver a full implementation strategy, a detailed decarbonisation roadmap and an extensive suite of technical studies to support long-term infrastructure planning and delivery.

The consultancy’s work will also include leading stakeholder engagement and outlining the policy, service and construction interventions required to build a high-capacity, low-carbon rail network.

Early technical assessments indicate that journey times could be reduced by up to 30 minutes through targeted infrastructure upgrades, improved route alignments and increased line speeds of up to 200km/h.

These planned improvements are expected to operate in tandem with the introduction of a new electric fleet that will replace existing diesel-powered rolling stock across intercity routes.

Iarnród Éireann’s wider objective is to double annual intercity passenger numbers by 2050, shifting more long-distance trips from road to rail on key national routes.

Chief executive Mary Considine said the ambition was to make rail “the backbone of a sustainable transport system for Ireland’s citizens”.

Tony O’Toole, Mott MacDonald’s managing director for rail in UK and Europe, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Irish transport and we are proud to help deliver a faster, greener and more connected future.”

Access the full report for a comprehensive breakdown of the Connect programme and its infrastructure priorities.