Train journeys from Donegal to Cork could become a reality.
It comes as the government looks at new plans to revamp the country's rail network.
While trains previously ran between Derry and Letterkenny, the cross-border line was closed decades ago after Ireland achieved independence.
But this could change as the governments in Northern Ireland and the Republic launch a joint of the island's rail network.
With transport minister Eamon Ryan saying reopening the line may be on the cards.
"There was a previous rail connection from Derry to Letterkenny and what would be the benefit to that?" - the Minister said it's a solution that at the very least is worth examining.
While there are concerns reopening the route would cost too much money, Minister Ryan says it could work.
"We've a National Planning Framework which says we need to start thinking about how we get better balanced regional development, compact development and low carbon developement. Rail ticks all three boxes."
Despite the optimism, Northern Ireland transport minister Nichola Mallon has cautioned that Irish Rail already looked at reopening the line 10 years ago.
And in that case, they decided the move wasn’t economically viable.
