Amalgamation

Tramore Station - door feature

Tramore Station - door feature, 2003.

© Waterford City Library

Tramore Station - door feature
© Waterford City Library

Tramore Station - door feature

Tramore Station - door feature, 2003.

© Waterford City Library

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The Waterford to Tramore Railway reluctantly amalgamated in 1925, when the newly formed Irish Free State ordered all the 26 railways to amalgamate under the title of the Great Southern Railways (G.S.R) following an Act passed on 28th July 1924. So on the 30th January 1925 the Waterford and Tramore Railway ceased to be a separate entity.

The Waterford to Tramore Line had been very successful – the privately owned railway making a substantial profit for its shareholders each year between 1853 and 1925. In 1924, the annual report issued by the company's directors show receipts for tickets totalling £12, 564, the company owned 21 carriages (capable of seating 905 passengers in a single journey) as well as four steam locomotives, three covered wagons and nine open wagons.

After the amalgamation there were signs of discontent among passengers recorded in The Waterford News; the presence of officials with 'Great Southern Railways' on their lapels was a new sight, expressive of a new regime. In June of 1925 it was noted that the pre-amalgamation custom of running tri-weekly excursions for the children to Tramore for the summer was not happening. The paper noted; "the effects of the amalgamation scheme are being felt in the city as well as Tramore".

By August 1925 the Great Southern Railway had to abandon the planned bicycle and parcel tax for season ticket holders as well as scrapping plans to impose an extra charge for carrying prams because of numerous protests.