12% increase in rail passenger numbers recorded in Annual Rail Census

Bodan

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today published its annual
Rail Census Report, which shows a 12% increase in passenger numbers
recorded on the day of the census.

The Rail Census Report

The Rail Census Report is key for understanding passenger trends for
future planning for the Irish rail network, highlighting the extensive
reach of the rail network in Ireland, the different types of services
available to passengers, and the key routes connecting major cities. ​

The Census, which captures the number of passengers boarding and
alighting at each station across the country, provides insights into
travel patterns on a single day.

While the report is subject to variation due to factors such as
operating conditions, weather and service delays, the report provides
insights into the efficiency and frequency of train services, the trends
and changes in passenger numbers, and the recovery of rail travel
demand from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The total number of journeys taken on the rail network on the day of
the Census was up 15% compared to 2022, and apart from the Cork Commuter
service, all service categories saw an increase in patronage.

The Rail Census, which covers approximately 2400km of railway track
and 150 stations (including 5 stations in Northern Ireland) looks to
analyse travel patterns across three service types:

Intercity Rail Services

Intercity Rail Services and Commuter Services in Ireland have seen a
significant increase in daily patronage in 2023, showcasing the strong
demand for rail travel in the country.

Heuston Intercity experienced a commendable 12% increase in daily passengers, totalling 26,798 journeys.

Commuter Services

Connolly Commuter West also saw a remarkable 18% increase, with
28,015 journeys made in 2023. Despite Cork Commuter Rail and regional
services having a 6% decrease in patronage, the service still boasted a
29% rise when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

DART Services

The DART services proved to be a major player in rail travel in the
Greater Dublin Area, accounting for 50% of all rail journeys across the
country and showcasing an 11% increase in daily patronage.

Overall, rail services in Ireland have displayed a positive trend in
patronage, indicating a strong desire for sustainable and efficient
transportation options among the public.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/12-increase-in-rail-passenger-numbers-recorded-in-annual-rail-census/

L1011

Cork Commuter figure seems like a blip in data collection, particularly as its only down in one direction.

The Mathematician

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122329546#Comment_122329546

The blip was actually from 2022, to quote from the previous report:

'A major sporting event took place in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, Cork City on
the evening of the census day, 10th November. This also would have
contributed to a considerable increase in passenger numbers in the
late afternoon / evening.'

The Mathematician

Just a small point in case it catches anyone out. They have not changed the metadata from last year, so depending on your pdf reader, the title will show as 2022 rather than 2023. I downloaded the file 3 times before I realised what was going on.

bikeman1

That’s great to see the official data from something we could all see from being out on the network. With a further uptick in services planned soon, I would expect these numbers to grow again this year.