08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Commuters in Wicklow get summer heatwave respite as free water filling station installed
The water filling station has been provided by Ecofil, and Bray's railway station is one of the first locations under the new agreement which will see the rollout of the provider's 'Iconic-V Outdoor Bottle Filling Station' across Irish Rail locations nationwide.
The initiative, launched in collaboration with Irish Rail, aims to promote environmental responsibility and reduce single-use plastic among rail passengers. In the coming weeks, four additional stations will benefit, as Malahide, Drogheda, Mallow and Limerick will have the Iconic-V Filling Station installed, significantly expanding access to free and clean drinking water for rail users across the country.
The installation reflects the busy and diverse footfall the station sees daily from commuters and tourists exploring the area. It offers a convenient and sustainable amenity that supports reduced plastic waste and promotes refilling over single-use bottles, aligning with wider environmental goals across the Irish Rail network.
Commenting on the initiative, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien said: 'Providing free, premium filtered water at our train stations is a simple but effective way to encourage more sustainable behaviours. Initiatives like this, delivered through collaboration with forward-thinking companies like Ecofil, are key to delivering a greener, cleaner public transport system for everyone.'
Jimmy Guerin, director of Ecofil, added: 'This partnership with Irish Rail represents a major step forward in our mission to make sustainable hydration accessible and convenient. Having one of our first units live at Bray Station demonstrates just how impactful our water filling stations can be. We are proud to be supporting both public health and the environment at such a visible level.'
This initiative reflects Irish Rail's ongoing commitment to environmental innovation and complements broader efforts across the transport sector to reduce the environmental footprint of daily travel. The rollout aligns with government sustainability goals and efforts to reduce plastic waste across the public transport network.
Ecofil designs and manufactures innovative water dispensing solutions that support sustainability goals and reduce environmental impact. As part of the ERG Group, based in Finglas and employing 38 people, Ecofil is helping communities across Ireland eliminate single-use plastics and embrace a greener future.
