Key Market Indicators
Ireland's rail infrastructure expenditure is projected to rise to approximately €322 million by 2028, up from around €303 million in 2023. This marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1%. Since the turn of the millennium, the demand for Irish rail infrastructure has surged by 47.4% year-on-year. Conversely, the length of Ireland's rail network is expected to decrease slightly. The network is set to shrink to 1,790 route-kilometers by 2028 from 1,810 route-kilometers in 2023, reflecting an average annual decline of 0.2%. Since 2000, the supply of rail routes in the country has diminished at an average rate of 0.9% per year. As of 2023, Ireland ranked 47th globally in rail network length, with Israel surpassing it with 1,810 route-kilometers. The top three countries in this ranking were China, Russia, and India, occupying the second, third, and fourth spots, respectively.
