Train
travel is the fastest way to get around
Ireland. A network is provided by Iarnród
Éireann (www.irishrail.ie/home/,
tel. +353 01 836 6222) which connects most
major towns and cities with intercity services.
Most of the network is routed through Dublin
but there are a few services that run north-south.
The only limitation to the network is the
West coast. There are travel passes available
for trains and some also combine bus travel.
In Dublin the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit)
electrified service operates from the East
Coast Howth in the North to Bray in the
South. The trains are frequent in rush hour
and connect with bus services.
RAILWAY STATIONS Dublin
Connolly Station, Amiens Street, Dublin
1, Tel. +353 1 703 2358
Connelly station serves the north and northwest
of the country:
Sligo, Belfast, Rosslare Europort, Arklow,
Maynooth - Longford
D.A.R.T. Railway Malahide/Howth - Greystones
Heuston Station
Dublin 8
Tel: +353 1 703 3299
Fax: +353 1 703 3290
Heuston serves towns to the south and the
west of the country:
Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Waterford, Ballina/Westport,
Galway, Kildare, Clonmel
Kerry
Killarney
3 minutes from the town centre next to the
Great Southern Hotel. Tel. +353 64 31 067,
Fax. +353 64 31 909
Routes served: Dublin Heuston - Tralee,
Tralee - Limerick - Ennis, Tralee - Cork
TICKETS
One-way tickets are expensive and can cost
more than day and weekend return tickets.
Always consider buying a return as you have
up to one month to use it. If you have an
ISIC student card you can get a discount
on return travel.
RAIL PASSES
TravelSave and Faresave Stamps
If you have an ISIC card you can pay €10
for a TravelSave stamp which gives you a
50% discount on trains in Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland and 15% off
Bus Éirean services. Purchase stamps
in USIT Travel offices.
Emerald Card
This is a good pass if you are spending
considerable time in Ireland and gives unlimited
travel on bus and train services operated
by Ianród Éireann, Northern
Ireland Railways, Bus Éireann, Dublinbus,
Ulsterbus and Citybus. It costs €198
for eight travel days in a 15 day period
and €341 for 15 travel days in a 30
day period.
The Eurail pass
This is considered by many as the best option
for travelling through Europe, and Ireland
is one of the 17 countries where you can
use it. It is especially good for those
with limited time. There are 15, 21, 30
and 60 day passes available and prices vary
depending on the countries chosen for travel.
Discounts are available for those under
26 years.
Europrail
Europrail (www.europrail.net)
offers Euro and other European passes. Click
on the blue icon above to get a pass or
more information. Rail connection provides
passes for all over Europe including the
Eurail pass. To get more information or
buy a pass click on the yellow icon.
Make sure you buy your pass before you leave
for Europe. Also remember that rail passes
do not guarantee seats on trains. You still
need to book the seats ahead of time as
trains are often crowded.
BackpackIreland sells train passes to locations
in Europe. We encourage you to buy your
passes through us as any revenue raised
goes directly back into improving the site.
SAFETY
Travelling by night is inexpensive, but
never leave your belongings unattended and
make sure the door of your compartment is
well locked. Train stations are not the
best places to spend the night although
they are generally well attended by police.
Rail Europe (226-230 Westchester Ave., White
Plains, NY 10604, tel. 914/682-5172 or 800/438-7245,
www.raileurope.com;
2087 Dundas E., Suite 105, Mississauga,
Ontario L4X 1M2, tel. 416/602-4195).
