The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has announced plans to spend nearly €360m on new railway stations and tracks on Iarnród Éireann's Kildare route.
Mr Cullen said the project would include three new stations and would double the number of commuter and other train services along the Kildare to Heuston section.
According to Iarnród Éireann, passenger numbers on the route will increase from 11,000 per day to over 36,000 per day in each direction.
The Kildare route project will involve increasing the rail tracks from two to four between Cherry Orchard and Hazelhatch in Kildare.
However, rail user groups in Kildare have criticised the plan.
They say the increased tracks will end at Hazelhatch and will have no benefit to commuters further down the line in Kildare.
Work on the project is due to be completed in 2010.
