CIÉ – An Soláthraí Iompair Poiblí is mó in Éirinn

Our History

Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), was founded on 1st January 1945 under the Transport Act 1944.  It united the Great Southern Railways (GSR) and the Dublin United Tramway Company (DUTC). The GSR operated rail, bus and lorry services.  It had come into existence in 1925 when all the railway companies lying wholly within the Free State were amalgamated into one concern.  Under the Transport Acts of 1932 and 1933 the GSR was given the right to compulsorily acquire its road competition. It’s most notable acquisition was the Irish Omnibus Company - the ancestor of Bus Éireann.

The Transport Act 1950 transformed CIÉ into a semi state body.  In 1958 CIÉ absorbed the road and rail services of the Great Northern Railway, which lay within the republic.  This company had previously operated as a cross border body jointly managed by the two governments.

From 2nd February 1987, under the Transport (Re Organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act, 1986, three CIÉ subsidiaries were established:

• Bus Átha Cliath (Dublin Bus) which operates Dublin City bus services.
• Bus Éireann which operates provincial bus services, Expressway and city bus services in Cork, Limerick and Galway.
• Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) which operates rail services, including the cross-border Enterprise services operated jointly with Northern Ireland Railways.  It also operates Rosslare Harbour.

In additional to the core operations within its subsidiaries, the CIÉ Holding Company operates CIE Tours, extensive shared series across the Group and manages a large property portfolio.

The CIÉ Group today

The CIÉ Group remains Ireland’s largest public transport provider.  With over 12,000 staff, the Group carried 350 million passengers in 2023.  The Group works closely with the Department of Transport, the National Transport Authority and other key stakeholders.  Unprecedented capital investment will see significant growth in services over the coming years.  The Group’s Sustainability Strategy is transforming our services and operations into a low carbon, fully circular business.