The WRC project has been widely criticised as passenger numbers have been extremely low, with critics saying it would be cheaper for Irish Rail to put each passenger in a taxi than running the train. Rhetoric aside the line has seen massive growth as reported in the Irish Times: "Of particular note was the growth in passenger numbers on the western rail corridor, which saw a 72.5 per cent increase from 29,000 to 50,000 journeys through the Ennis- Athenry section of the line." Almost 100,000 people used the service between Ennis and Galway in 2017. 390,000 travelled on the line between Limerick and Galway in 2018. Passenger numbers are up 22.9% in the first quarter of 2019, and the line is expected to carry 420,000 people this year.