How to travel around Ireland by train

Train travel in Ireland is one of the country's great, if under-appreciated, pleasures. The Irish rail network is small, and distances are short, so no journey is especially long, but riding the rails across the country is one of the loveliest ways to enjoy the green, rolling countryside.

Compared to their sleek European counterparts, trains in Ireland might seem unflashy, but this is a country that doesn’t need high-speed or sleeper trains. You can roll along at a maximum of 160km/h and before you know it, you’ll be on the other side of the island.

The particular nature of Irish demographics has shaped train travel in Ireland. With around a quarter of the population clustered in the greater Dublin region, it makes sense that most train journeys begin or end in the capital. In Northern Ireland, the same is true of Belfast.

Irish trains might not be especially speedy or super luxurious, but they’re an efficient and eco-friendly way of exploring the major cities and towns, and you'll get to enjoy splendid views of the countryside you roll through on the way. 

See more of the country by rail with our essential guide to train travel in Ireland.

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Where do trains go in Ireland?

Irish train services are efficient, relatively frequent and usually on time. In the Republic of Ireland, Irish Rail/Iarnród Éireann operates the entire network, from InterCity trains linking major urban centers to the busy commuter network that services the greater Dublin region.

There are two main lines in the west and three in the south and southwest. Spurs off these main lines connect to a host of smaller towns throughout the country. There’s also a line running north to Belfast, where the Translink network connects the Northern Irish capital to the Antrim Coast and Derry (Londonderry).

Within the greater Dublin region, a network of commuter services connects the capital with a host of suburbs and dormitory towns in the surrounding counties. Stops on the Dublin coastline between the northside suburbs of Howth and Malahide and Greystones in County Wicklow are served by DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) trains, part of the Irish Rail network.

Is there anywhere I can't travel to by train in Ireland?

There are some notable gaps in the country’s rail network, with no services in the counties of Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, and no trains running into West Cork. And, frustratingly, some towns – like Buttevant in Cork and Annacotty in Limerick – sit on railway lines but are bypassed by trains as they have no functioning station.

If you want to reach more remote corners of the island, you may be better off taking the train to a nearby hub and then renting a car for more flexibility. However, be aware that car rental and fuel can be expensive, and parking is pricey in all urban centers, especially Dublin.

If you prefer to explore Ireland without a car, traveling by bus is an inexpensive way to get to more remote places, but it can be a slow business as most buses make lots of stops along the way. There are some direct express services, but they are at the mercy of traffic, which can add considerable time to a journey compared to traveling by train. Plus, buses don’t have bathrooms, with long-distance services relying entirely on rest stops.

Is train travel expensive in Ireland?

The good news about traveling by train in Ireland is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to train travel in some places, such as the neighboring UK. If you buy your ticket online, a standard one-way adult fare between Dublin Heuston and Kent Station in Cork can cost less than 30 euros (€), or less than €50 in first class. 

For the best prices, buy your tickets online for train travel in the Irish Republic. Not only do you get the best fares (with savings of up to 50% compared to buying the ticket at the station), but you can purchase your ticket up to 90 days in advance and reserve a seat when you book.

With an online booking, you can collect your ticket from a machine at the station as you’re boarding, or download a QR code at the point of purchase. If you wait to buy your ticket at the station, you’ll pay significantly more and you'll have to get there early to queue up at the ticket kiosk.

For travel in Northern Ireland, you’re better off buying the ticket at the station as only a limited number of tickets are available online. Show up half an hour or so before your intended departure time and buy your ticket at the ticket desk.

Note that tickets and passes are not interchangeable between the Republic and Northern Ireland and the networks are not integrated, so if you move from an Irish Rail train to a Translink service, you'll need a separate ticket. 

Is it worth taking first-class trains in Ireland?

Only a handful of services offer first class, but upgrading is relatively inexpensive. On average, expect to pay around €20 to €25 more than for a standard ticket. In fact, there are three kinds of first-class service on Irish trains, with different facilities for different routes. The Man in Seat 61 has a useful online guide to train classes and routes in Ireland.

On direct Dublin to Cork services, CityGold class includes an onboard host and a complimentary newspaper on selected early morning services. The popular Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast offers the same deal, plus a fine breakfast. Premier Class is similar, but is only available on direct services between Dublin and Tralee in County Kerry and some Dublin to Cork trains.

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Are there any discounts and special offers for Irish trains?

There are discounted fares for children aged 5 to 18 years; under-5s and passengers aged 66 and over travel for free. Discounts are also available to young adults aged between 19 and 25 who carry a TFI Young Adult Leap Card, but this is aimed at residents rather than visitors.

The popular rechargeable Leap Card is the easy way to pay for train travel in the Greater Dublin area, and there's a daily fare cap for travel between the capital and a host of towns in the surrounding counties. The card can be used for Dart and commuter trains, as well as bus travel and trips on Luas trams. 

There are a couple of useful rail passes aimed at visitors in the Republic. Irish Rail's Trekker Four Day pass (€88) covers unlimited travel for adults on all Irish Rail services on four consecutive days from the date of issue. The Explorer pass (adult/child €128/64) covers five days of travel on all services in a 15-day window. There's also the Leap Visitor Card – offered as part of the Leap Card system, covering 1, 3 or 7 days of travel in and around Dublin. Prices start from €8 for a day and go up to €24 for a week. 

However, before investing in these passes, check that you are going to be making enough rail journeys to make the pass worth it. With the limited rail network, connections between lines are spaced out, and traveling between some destinations can involve backtracking.

For example, Cork and Waterford are both on the south coast, but getting from one to the other by train means traveling to Limerick. Similarly, Sligo and Westport are only 140km apart along the west coast, but to go between them by train, you’ll have to travel through Dublin on the other side of the country.

In Northern Ireland, Translink's Sunday Fun Day Tracker ticket gives passengers unlimited train travel on a Sunday for 10 pounds (£); the fare is half price for children. Tickets are available from all ticket offices, via the mLink ticketing app and from the conductor on the train.

When is the busiest time to travel by train in Ireland?

Unsurprisingly, the peak times for train travel coincide with busy rush hour periods. Early morning services to Dublin from cities including Cork, Galway and Limerick can get very busy, especially if the train is due to arrive at the start of the working day.

The same applies in the opposite direction at the end of the work day, and Friday evening trains departing Dublin can also be quite busy as people head out of town for the weekend. However, as online bookings for InterCity trains also include the option of booking a seat, you won't have to stand.

Dublin's commuter train network is busiest on weekdays from 7am to 9am and from 4:30pm to 6:30pm as thousands of people travel into and out of the city for work. You can’t prebook seats on these services, so plenty of people do end up standing. Keep an eye out for changes to the schedule, especially for weekend and holiday travel, when trains run less frequently.

Can I catch a train directly from the airport or ferry port in Ireland?

There are no direct rail links from any Irish airport, which means you’ll have to rely on taxis, private cars or buses for onward travel once you arrive in the country by air. But on the plus side, there are bus links to and from major airports such as Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport, so it's not too difficult to reach a nearby train station.

In Northern Ireland, Translink-operated buses link Belfast International Airport to major cities that are on the rail network. Ireland's ferry ports are better connected to rail lines; you can catch trains from close to the ferry ports in Rosslare, Dublin and Larne, but there is no direct rail link to Belfast Port.

Are there any international trains in Ireland?

While the Republic of Ireland’s flagship service is the train between Dublin and Cork, the fanciest train is the Enterprise service between Dublin Connolly station and Belfast Lanyon Place station, which is a joint venture between Irish Rail and Translink.

This train is on a par with most services you’ll find in mainland Europe and first class is the most luxurious way to travel by train in the country. Services run up to 15 times a day, or 8 times on Sundays, and the adult-child fare can be as low as €13.99/8 if you buy a ticket online. 

What facilities will you find on trains in Ireland?

Facilities vary depending on the train, but services in the Republic can be divided into InterCity and commuter trains. InterCity trains are all the same – relatively modern with comfortable seats in standard class and fancier reclining seats in first class – and they travel at speeds of up to 160km/h. At this speed, no journey in Ireland takes longer than 3 hours. Commuter trains are slightly older and slower, with less comfortable seats; even older trains are used on some small-distance spur lines in rural areas and are very basic.

All InterCity trains have three-pin sockets at every row where you can plug in a charger or a laptop. Most commuter trains in the greater Dublin area also have electrical sockets. All trains have toilets, and there is a cross-network wi-fi service operated by Irish Rail, but it is patchy and inconsistent, as is the case for train wi-fi everywhere in the British Isles. Translink has its own wi-fi network, which is accessible on all bus and rail services in the north, but again, you’re at the mercy of the signal. 

Baggage space is limited on Irish trains. There are typically overhead racks for small bags, and a space for larger bags at the end of the carriage. Avoid putting bags on empty seats or leaving bags in the aisles – there'll usually be space for a small bag by your feet.  

Some trains on the Dublin to Cork route have a “quiet carriage” (usually Carriage G, marked in purple when booking) where the use of phones is prohibited and passengers are encouraged to keep noise levels down.

Can you buy food onboard?

Food options are pretty limited on trains in Ireland. There is a trolley service on the Dublin to Cork service, while the Enterprise train between Dublin and Belfast offers a full service menu in a dedicated dining car. First-class passengers also get a pretty good breakfast as part of their ticket.

Ireland’s bigger train stations – including Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Belfast and the two stations in Dublin – are all pretty well stocked with shops and food vendors where you can pick up snacks and other assorted sundries for your journey. Some rural stations will have a small shop nearby.

Can I take my bike on the train in Ireland?

You can bring a bike on any Irish Rail train for free, although there are some restrictions during busy periods (such as sporting fixtures and concerts). The Dublin to Cork line is the only route where trains have a dedicated bike storage area; all other InterCity trains have (very) limited bicycle spaces within the passenger compartment.

It’s not unusual for only two bikes to be allowed into the compartment, so be sure to book in advance. Bikes are not allowed on commuter and DART services during peak hours – before 10am and from 3:30pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.

Book in advance for wheelchair access to trains

All InterCity services are wheelchair accessible, but if you do need assistance, you will need to book it in advance so that suitable arrangements can be made. This usually means that the conductor will have a ramp ready for wheelchair access.

Contact the train operator several days ahead to communicate your requirements before you travel, as assistance is not guaranteed otherwise. Irish Rail has an online form for assistance; Translink has more information on its website.

For passengers with hidden disabilities or where communication is a challenge, Irish Rail staff are trained to recognize visual cue cards such as the JAM card. JAM cards are available online or at mainline train stations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Sligo.

The most scenic train journeys in Ireland

No matter where you are in Ireland, you’re going to find a beautiful landscape or two, but some journeys by train are worth keeping your eyes wide open for. You'll have to plan around daylight hours, though, as it gets dark early in winter. Here are the best rail journeys in Ireland for admiring the view. 

1. Dublin to Sligo

Once you’ve gone past the huge suburban sprawl of the greater Dublin area, the landscapes become open and uplifting. Beyond Mullingar, the train skirts alongside the edge of beautiful Lough Owel; for the best views, sit on the left-hand side of the train.

2. Dublin to Belfast

The Enterprise train between Dublin and Belfast is the best in the country, with the most comfortable seats and the best food options – especially in first class. The train skirts alongside the Irish Sea between Malahide and Balbriggan, so be sure to sit on that side as you travel (on the right-hand side if you’re traveling to Belfast).

3. Derry (Londonderry) to Coleraine

The Translink service between Northern Ireland’s second city and Coleraine is a stunner. This 40-minute journey tracks the Causeway Coast, passing beautiful beaches, huge cliffs and unimpeded views out over the moody North Sea.

4. Downpatrick to Inch Abbey

It’s only a 10-minute journey, but the trip from Downpatrick in County Down to the monastic ruins of Inch Abbey involves a ride on a vintage steam train (or a 1960s diesel train) that chugs its way along the line, over the River Quoile and past a landscape speckled with drumlins (glacial hills).

5. Cork to Cobh

One of Ireland’s most scenic trips is the 25-minute trip from Cork City to the seaside town of Cobh, which takes you along the river (sit on the right for the best views), past marshy Harper’s Island and over the bridges on Lough Mahon and the Slatty Water. If you need an excuse for taking the trip, you can always stop off at Fota and visit the wildlife park there.