The train station in the tourist town of Killarney, Co Kerry, has been voted the best train station in Ireland by rail customers.
Iarnród Éireann today announced the results of its 15th annual best station awards at its engineering works in Inchicore, Dublin.
Killarney station, which the rail company said plays a “key role” in the life of the tourist town, was the first overall winner to be chosen directly by customers. Nearly 2,000 customers participated in the ballot by text and on the website.
Each of the country’s 140 stations was rated.
Noel Meaney, station manager for Killarney and Tralee, collected the award along with colleagues Padraig O’Donoghue and Maurice Moynihan.
The company said the award for Killarney was also “a fitting tribute to the career of recently retired station manager Michael Leahy, who also attended. Mr Leahy was in charge at the station during the public voting period.
The company said the station scored highly in the categories of customer information, staff helpfulness, station appearance and staff appearance.
A crystal locomotive trophy presented to the winning team will be displayed at Killarney station throughout this year. Killarney was also voted best Munster station, with Cork and Charleville highly commended in the category.
Claremorris was voted best Connacht station, with Athenry and Sligo highly commended.
In Leinster, Kilkenny was voted best station, and Arklow and Connolly were highly commended. Sutton station in north Dublin was voted best Dart station. Killester and Killiney were highly commended in that category.
Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, was voted the best commuter station, ending a 12-year stint at the top by Skerries. Hazelhatch also recently won a UK and Ireland heritage award for the incorporation of the historic station building into customer service facilities at the new expanded station.
Docklands station and Skerries were highly commended in the commuter category.
Mallow station took the crystal locomotive trophy for best customer service, while Birdhill won in the community involvement category.
Iarnród Éireann chief executive Dick Fearn said: “Winning the title of best station in Ireland has always been a major achievement for our stations.
“However, to gain that endorsement from our customers, who rightly expect ever-improving standards of customer care and station appearance, is an even higher honour, and we congratulate Killarney for winning this year.”
The company said it hoped to expand the voting for future awards. “By encouraging keen competition between stations, we can raise the standards of customer care at all stations for the benefit of everyone who travels with us,” a spokesman said.