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Ireland
IE SIC H49.000IE | Industry Report

Rail Transport in Ireland Industry Data and Analysis

CH
Cormac Hayes
Analyst London, United Kingdom January 2026

Ireland’s Rail Transport industry is dominated by Irish Rail, which holds a long-term contract with the National Transport Authority to deliver passenger rail services. This includes the InterCity, Commuter and DART passenger networks as well as freight services. The vast majority of industry revenue is derived from passenger rail services, although freight services also generate some revenue. However, the bulk of freight services in Ireland is dominated by road haulage, with the CSO estimating that rail accounts for just 0.1% of freight transport in Ireland.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Rail Transport industry in Ireland includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Rail Transport industry in Ireland operates under the SIC industry code H49.000IE. Rail Transport in Ireland includes passenger and freight transport by rail between counties. The passenger rail transport industry transports passengers by rail between urban areas. The industry also provides some support services, including managing railway stations and the transportation of freight and post. Related terms covered in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland include freight charge, infrastructure manager multi-annual contract, project ireland 2040, public service obligation, rolling stock and track access charge.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Rail Transport industry in Ireland include Passenger fares and Freight charges .

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland include Irish Rail.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland in 2026?

The market size of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland is €355.2m in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland in 2026?

There are 21 businesses in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.6 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Rail Transport industry in Ireland?

The Rail Transport industry in Ireland is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Rail Transport industry in Ireland?

The Rail Transport industry in Ireland is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Rail Transport industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 15.7 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Rail Transport industry in Ireland is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland?

The biggest company operating in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland is Irish Rail

What does the Rail Transport industry in Ireland include?

Passenger fares and Freight charges are part of the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland?

The company holding the most market share in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland is Irish Rail.

How competitive is the Rail Transport industry in Ireland?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Rail Transport industry in Ireland.

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