Ireland by train

Quick facts

• Capital: Dublin (Republic of Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland)

• Population: 4.6 million, 1.9 million

• Language: English, Irish

• Currency: Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP)

• Dialing code: +353, +44
   

Spelling of city names

On Irish train timetables and at train stations in Ireland, you'll usually find the local spelling of Irish cities and stations. Here is the local spelling of some popular Irish cities:

• Cork = Corcaigh

• Galway = Gaillimh

• Kilkenny = Cill Chainnigh

• Killarney = Cill Airne

• Limerick = Luimneach

• Mallow = Mala

Rail network

The national railway company of Ireland is called Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). Irish Rail provides a modern, comfortable and frequent rail service to most parts of Ireland. Visit the website of the Irish railway company: Irish Rail.

Please note that on most Irish trains there is no class distinction.
 

Most trains in Ireland operate to and from Dublin. There are two main stations in Dublin: Connolly Station and Heuston Station. There are no trains from Dublin Connolly to Dublin Heuston, so you have to take a tram or bus to connect between these stations.

Important long-distance trains from Dublin are:

• Dublin Heuston – Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Galway, Westport, Ballina and Waterford

• Dublin Connolly – Sligo, Wexford, Rosslare Europort and Belfast

The high-speed enterprise train is jointly operated by Iarnród Éireann and NI Railways. It runs 8 times a day between Dublin Connolly and Belfast (Northern Ireland) in just over 2 hours.

Other InterCity routes in Ireland, that also stop at smaller stations:

• Cork – Tralee

• Cork – Limerick

Smaller towns are connected by local railcar trains, that only have 2^nd class compartments. Routes where these trains run are: Mallow – Tralee, Cork – Cobh and Limerick Junction – Limerick – Ennis Dublin – Dundalk – Dublin - Rosslare.

Your Eurail pass is also valid on the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport), a suburban railway network in the Dublin area operated by Irish Rail. You have to show your pass at the ticket office to get access through the entrance gates.

Northern Ireland

NIR / Northern Ireland Railways is the national railway company of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Railways operates trains on these main routes:

• Bangor Line: Bangor – Belfast – Lisburn – Portadown – Newry

• Derry Line: Londonderry – Coleraine – Ballymena – Antrim – Belfast

• Larne Line: Larne – Carrickfergus – Belfast

• Portrush Line: Coleraine – Portrush

• Cross Border Line: Belfast Central – Portadown – Newry – Dundalk – Dublin *

* the high-speed enterprise train runs 8 times a day between Belfast and Dublin Connolly (Republic of Ireland) in just over 2 hours. It is jointly operated by NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann.

Reservations

For domestic trains in (Northern) Ireland reservations are not required, so you can just hop on any train with your Eurail Pass.

It is possible to make reservations for IC trains. They can be made locally or online.

Itineraries for Ireland by train

Scenic routes

• Londonderry – Coleraine

• Rosslare – Waterford / Rosslare – Rosslare – Wexford – Enniscorthy

• Wicklow – Greystones – Dun Laoghaire

Extra info for Ireland train travel

Airport - station links

From Dublin airport Airlink buses go to Heuston and Connolly railway station (bus 748). Eurail Passes are not valid on the bus.

Sydenham railway station is next to Belfast airport.

Eurail aid offices in Ireland

• Rail Travel Centre
  Connoly Station, Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  Mon-Sat: 7.00 - 22.20
  Sun: 8.30 - 21.30

• NIR Travel
  Great Victoria Street Station, Belfast, BT2 7UB
  Mon-Fri: 9.00 - 17.00
  Sat: 9.00 - 12.30

Ferry connections

Your Eurail Pass entitles you to discounted ferry crossings from Irish Ferries, Norfolkline, and Stena Line to France and the UK. See the pass benefits Ireland.