Athy railway station


Athy railway station serves the town of Athy in County Kildare.
It is a station on the Dublin to Waterford intercity route.

Description

The single track north and south of the station splits to provide two platforms. Platform 1, next to the station building, car park and pedestrian entrance, is used where possible for passenger services. only when two trains are in the station simultaneously is Platform 2 used. At the southern end of the station is a branch to the Tegral factory begins, but this is no longer used.
Due to the rapid growth of Athy itself, this station has seen considerable growth in passenger numbers. In 2004 the mechanical signalling system was replaced. In 2007 the platforms were extended to accommodate longer trains, a development which included the demolition of the signal box. In July 2008, planning permission was granted for the refurbishment of the partially derelict station building itself.

History

The station opened on 4 August 1846. Opened by the Great Southern and Western Railway, the station was amalgamated into the Great Southern Railways.
The line was nationalised, passing to the Córas Iompair Éireann with the Transport Act 1944 which took effect from 1 January 1945 and closed for goods traffic on 6 September 1976.
It passed on to Iarnród Éireann in 1986.