Page 370 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

368  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Train

The Republic of Ireland’s rail network is run by Irish Rail (Iarnród
Éireann) and is state-controlled. The rail network is far from
comprehensive and quite expensive, but the trains are generally
reliable and comfortable and can be a good way of covering long
distances. The service provided by Northern Ireland Railways
(NIR) is more limited but fares are slightly cheaper. There is an
excellent train service between Dublin and Belfast, with a journey
time of approximately two hours. Fares can be as little as €36
round trip, with substantial discounts for online bookings.
The DART at Bray railway station,
County Wicklow
Train Services in the Ireland using public transport, of Ireland have standard and
Republic of Ireland you will have to continue west­ super­standard (first­class) com­
Although the more rural areas ward from towns such as Sligo, partments. Bicycles can be taken
in the Republic of Ireland are Westport, Galway and Limerick on inter­city trains for a small fee.
not served by train, Irish Rail using the local bus services.
operates a satisfactory service to The two main train stations in
most of the large cities and Dublin are Connolly Station, for Outer Dublin Rail Services
towns. Taking the train is trains to the north, northwest and The handy electric rail service
probably the fastest and most Rosslare, and Heuston Station, known as DART (Dublin Area
convenient way of going from which serves the west, midlands Rapid Transit) serves 30 stations
Dublin to places like Cork, and southwest. These two between Malahide and
Limerick, Galway, Waterford and stations are connected to the Greystones with several stops
Sligo. However, there are glaring city centre by the No. 90 bus in Dublin city centre. A Rail/Bus
gaps in the network; for example, service and the Luas which run ticket allows three consecutive
Donegal is totally devoid of train every 10 to 15 minutes and take days’ travel on DART trains as
services, so if you are planning a quarter of an hour – traffic per­ well as Dublin Bus services.
to explore the west coast of mitting. All trains in the Republic Tickets can be purchased at
any of the DART stations. The
Luas light rail service connects
Outer Dublin Dundalk central Dublin with the suburbs.
Transport The first lines were completed
Dublin
Network Airport Portmarnock in 2004, and interconnect with
the DART (see also p372).
Howth Junction
& Donaghmede Bayside
Sutton
Mullingar Ashtown Kilbarrack Train Services in
Broombridge Raheny Howth
Navan Road Harmonstown Northern Ireland
Parkway Drumcondra Killester
Clontarf Road The rail network in Northern
Connolly The Point
Heuston Ireland is sparse, with only
Kildare two main routes out of Belfast.
Grand Canal Dock
Blackhorse Rialto Lansdowne Road One line travels west to
Sandymount
Red Ranelagh Londonderry via Coleraine (for
Cow Sydney Booterstown the Giant’s Causeway) and the
Parade Seapoint
Milltown Blackrock Salthill & Monkstown other provides Ireland’s only
Belgard cross­border service, operating
Dundrum Dun Laoghaire Sandycove
Saggart Tallaght & Glasthule a high­speed link between
Glenageary Belfast and Dublin eight times
Sandyford
Dalkey a day. There is also an express
Key Carrickmines ser vice out to Larne Harbour
Killiney
Suburban rail Brides Glen and a commuter line to Bangor.
Shankill All trains leave from Central
DART rail service Station, which is not in fact
Luas light rail in the centre, but has regular
Dublin Airport links to Great Victoria Street
Bray Daly
Ferry terminal station in the heart of the
city’s business and shop ping
Greystones
district. There are no baggage
Arklow rooms at any of Northern
Ireland’s train or bus stations.
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