News
A bridge too far as bus and rail Stations remain disconnected
A renewed call has been made for a pedestrian footbridge linking Killarney’s bus and rail stations, as local representatives once again questioned why two major transport hubs sitting side by side remain unconnected.
At last week’s Killarney Municipal District meeting, Cllr John O’Donoghue requested that Kerry County Council write to Iarnród Éireann to demand the provision of the link.
He also sought an update on potential discussions between the Council, Iarnród Éireann, and the Killarney Outlet Centre regarding a low-cost compromise: opening pedestrian access at the end of the platform to allow passengers to transition between hubs without walking out onto the public road.
The project has faced significant hurdles in recent years.
In May 2025, the National Transport Authority (NTA) labelled the bridge a "non-runner," citing a staggering price tag of €5 million.
This estimate is double the initial €2.5 million figure drawn up in 2019.
The NTA stated in May last year that due to these costs, limited funding, and competing projects elsewhere, the bridge would not proceed at present.
Despite the setback, Cllr O’Donoghue remains defiant. "This is an annual feature on the agenda from me, and I will continue to pursue the issue for as long as I am in this chamber," he said. "Having a train station and a bus station as next-door neighbours but not having any means of linking the two is nothing short of a Kerryman joke."
He described the current situation as a scene from a "hidden camera show," where tourists arriving at one station are baffled to learn there is no direct path to the other.
O’Donoghue argued that the lack of infrastructure flies in the face of government ‘Active Travel’ policies and criticised previous responses from Irish Rail as being "borderline discriminatory" toward those with disabilities or limited mobility.
A potential solution lies with the Killarney Outlet Centre, which has previously indicated a willingness to engage with stakeholders about opening a walkway at the end of the rail platform.
This would provide a cost-effective alternative to a multimillion-euro bridge.
"Franz Kafka once famously said 'paths are made by walking,'" O’Donoghue added. "I will continue to walk until we have a suitable link between the two stations."
OPINION: If Rathmore can have a bridge, why not Killarney?
Last August, a major milestone was reached in Rathmore with the official opening of a brand-new, fully accessible footbridge.
Featuring two lifts, the project took 13 months to complete and has been a brilliant result for the local community.
However, its completion raises a glaring question: what is the excuse for Killarney?
Iarnród Éireann claims a Killarney bridge is unaffordable at €5 million, yet we see significant infrastructure investment just down the road.
No one begrudges Rathmore its progress, but Killarney deals with vastly higher footfall.
Every day, locals, families with luggage, and elderly tourists are forced to trek 400 metres in the rain, often circumnavigating the Outlet Centre; just to change from a train to a bus.
If a full-scale accessible bridge can be delivered in
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