Carlow Railway Station

Carlow Railway Station is an important station on the Dublin to Waterford line. It was designed by the great railway engineer John Benjamin MacNeill in the Jacobean Revival style. It opened in 1846 and was actually completed ahead of Kingsbridge (Heuston) Station, Dublin.

It comprises a two–storey central block with a single–storey wing on either side. The station is built of yellow brick with granite trim. It has a gabled roof with four tall chimneys. The sash windows feature hood mouldings. The right hand block of the central section has an oriel window. On the platform side there are pairs of tall sash windows. The platform side also has a shelter for passengers. There are two platforms in the station. There is a small passenger shelter on the far platform. The signal house features a glazed cabin over a basement. It is no longer in use since 2004. In former times it had 32 levers for control of train traffic.

Carlow railway station has waiting rooms and cloak rooms for male and female passengers, a goods office, administrative and ticket offices. It also had an early Victorian railway warehouse.Carlow Railway Station also has a recessed passenger waiting area on the main platform.

The Station also features a cast iron footbridge across the railway line. It dates from the 1870's. It is now approached by stone steps on either side. Originally however the steps must have been of metal. A notice in the Carlow Sentinel of November 1st, 1873 refers to the inconvenience caused to lady passengers in wet weather when the steps retained water.

Carlow Railway Station has become increasingly important in recent times as a mainline commuter station to Dublin.