Over 3,500 Irish Rail services cancelled last year
Michael Bolton
There were over 3,500 services cancelled by Irish Rail last year.
Figures from Irish Rail show that out of their 277,337 services in 2025, 3,504 were cancelled.
2352 were partially cancelled, while 1152 were fully cancelled.
The majority of reasons were down to mechanical issues, with 1,371 partially cancelled and 271 fully cancelled.
Mechanical Issues included issues with trains that affect performance – door, toilet, and systems issues.
1,161 were cancelled due to operational issues, with 415 services fully cancelled and 746 partially cancelled.
Operational issues include issues such as resourcing issues, signalling and points failures, ESB faults, and trespassers or animals on the line.
Adverse weather conditions led to 631 trains being cancelled, 466 cancelled completely, and 165 partially.
Low rail adhesion led to 70 services being partially cancelled.
Low rail adhesion is a dangerous condition where damp fallen leaves, moisture, and debris on the track are compressed by passing wheels.
This forms a slippery, Teflon-like mulch—often compared to "black ice"—that drastically reduces the grip between steel train wheels and tracks.
On July 2nd, 11 services were cancelled to and from Cork due to operational issues, including three trains to Cobh and six trains to and from Midleton.
On July 31st, 13 trains to and from Connolly Station in Dublin were cancelled.
This included three services to and from Belfast and seven trains to and from Drogheda, all of which were cancelled due to operational reasons.
On December 18th, between Cork and Mallow, there were 42 services cancelled.
The rail operator also said more than 7,500 trains were delayed by miscellaneous, unusual, or external obstruction incidents in 2024 and 2025.
Some of the reasons for the delays included Bomb scares, kids throwing stones, sun glare and animals wandering on the tracks, leading to nearly 2000 hours worth of delays.
Last year also saw a sharp rise in the number of reportable crime or anti-social behaviour incidents at Irish Rail stations or on board trains, with 771 incidents were logged between January and June 2025.
