Iarnród Éireann has thanked passengers and staff after a baby girl was safely delivered on a train yesterday afternoon.

A woman went into labour on the Galway to Dublin train yesterday as it was arriving into Kildare just after 5pm.

An off-duty doctor was on board and assisted the woman as ambulance crews made their way to the station.

The baby was delivered safely within about half-an-hour.

Iarnród Éireann spokesperson Barry Kenny it was a team effort.

“It was a very serious situation and we are just pleased with the public spiritedness of our own employees, the medical personnel and the non-medical personnel who assisted as well,” he said.

“It was a real team effort with a lot of people who probably didn’t expect to be caught up with such an exciting development.”

Mother and baby are said to be doing well and Mr Kenny said the train service wishes them all the best for the future.

“We are really grateful to everybody who came to their assistance,” he said.

The train was delayed at Kildare for just over an hour before continuing its way to Heuston Station.