Despite high initial expectations, the line didn't sustain anticipated traffic levels. With the rise of road traffic in the 1930s, the railway's relevance diminished, leading to the last train running in the autumn of 1937, only 42 years after the line's inauguration.
Today, the former railway route between Westport and Achill has been repurposed into an off-road cycling trail, encapsulating a fine array of engineering structures, gentle gradients, and breath-taking scenery—a fitting testament to the railway's glorious era.
The railways brought prosperity to local towns. When railway companies ventured into the hotel business, the luxury Mulranny Hotel was established in 1897, offering combined rail and hotel tickets from 1898. We've revived this tradition, now offering combined cycling and hotel tickets, inclusive of bicycle hire, packed lunch, and hotel accommodation with full access to the hotel's leisure facilities. For more details, visit www.mulrannyparkhotel.ie.
