Cork’s Kent Station had highest number of  clampings in railway car parks

Cork’s Kent Station has had the highest number of clampings of any train station car park in Ireland this year — with 333 vehicles clamped so far in 2025, likely earning the station €41,625.

The train station car park with the second-highest number of clampings in the country so far this year was Limerick’s Colbert Station, which had 210 vehicles clamped.

Ennis Station had 133 clampings in 2025, while Dublin’s Connolly Station had 121, and Heuston 114.

The figures were included a reply to a parliamentary question from Labour Party TD Alan Kelly to transport minister Darragh O’Brien.

All of the train station car parks covered in the reply are managed by APCOA on behalf of Iaranród Éireann.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said that under its public service obligation contract with the National Transport Authority (NTA), revenue from ticketing, car parking, and clamping charges goes directly to the NTA.

To get a car unclamped in Ireland, the release fee is capped at €125 for private car parks and for local authority clamping.

So far in 2025, 1,455 vehicles have been clamped at train station car parks,meaning drivers likely paid €181,875 to retrieve their cars.

This means the amount paid at Cork Kent would amount to 23%, or close to a quarter, of all unclamping fees paid so far at train station car parks around the country.

Iarnród Éireann’s spokesperson said car parking was an additional facility for those driving to train stations, and “the modest charges applied are an important source of revenue”.

“There needs to be an effective deterrent to non-payment of parking charges or illegal parking, and clamping is the most effective deterrent there is, which is in place across the station network,” they said.

“For the overwhelming majority who park and pay correctly, there is no issue.”

Cork-based Labour Party senator Laura Harmon said there was a need to change the current clamping process, adding that the need for immediate payments should be removed.

“The fact that Cork Kent also has the highest number of cars clamped so far in 2025 also signals the need for more reliable and timely public transport to and from the train station which would reduce the need for cars,” Ms Harmon said.

“As a matter of public safety, clamping can also endanger commuters who arrive to their vehicle late at night to find it clamped.’’ Eoghan Kenny, Labour Party TD for Cork North Central, claimed the clamping figures amounted to “effectively a tax on commuters trying to do the right thing”.

He said that “parking at stations ultimately should be free” and added that there was a need for clearer parking instructions and signage, and a need for a review of what he called “archaic” parking machines at train stations.