Cheap Train Tickets to Ireland | Timetables & Prices

Trains in Ireland

Ireland is a very small island. Spanning just 84,421 square kilometers (32,595 square miles), it could fit over 100 times into the United States. And if you take Northern Ireland out of the equation (Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, governed differently and separated by the Irish border) it drops to just 70,273 square kilometers (27,144 square miles). This means that you can use Irish trains to quickly traverse this nation, and if you buy your Irish rail tickets from Omio, you can travel cheaply as well.

You can take a train to Dublin from most major towns and cities, including the Cork to Dublin train, which takes about 2.5 hours, or even hop on the Dublin to Belfast train to travel across the border into the UK.

Discover Ireland by Rail—Book Irish Trains with Omio

Wherever you go in Ireland, make sure you book your train tickets with Omio. You can book train tickets in Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and other popular locations, and if you need to book a flight to mainland Europe, hop on a ferry to the United Kingdom, or take some buses in Berlin once you arrive by train, you can book tickets for those journeys as well.

Bridge, Dublin, Ireland. Credit: Pixabay

How does the train system work in Ireland?

The Irish railway network is managed by Iarnród Éireann, also known as Irish Rail. It operates all passenger and freight rail services in Ireland and also works closely with Northern Ireland Railways north of the border to provide the popular Dublin to Belfast train.

Travelers can purchase cheap Irish Rail tickets through the Omio platform. There are an abundance of different routes available.

Good to know about trains in Ireland

• There are two train ticket classes available on Irish Rail trains: Standard and First.
• Food is available in most trains via the buffet/catering car.
• Arrive at the station at least 10 minutes before departure to avoid missing your train.
• Although there are always trains available, you should still book your Irish train tickets as early as possible to ensure you get the best price.
• Plan your trip to Ireland and other countries using the Omio Journey Planner.
• There are no metro links in Ireland, although one is planned for Dublin.
• Dublin also has a tram system, known as Luas, which operates two lines (Green Line and Red Line) between 67 stations across the city.

Facts about Irish trains

• The Irish rail network spans 2,733 km (1,698 mi) of track.
• Only 53 km (33 mi) of Irish tracks are electrified.
• The annual ridership of the Irish rail network is over 50 million.
• The very first railway line in Ireland opened in 1834.
• The Irish rail network was once nearly twice the size as it is now, with its peak coming in the 1920s.

When arriving by train

If you’re arriving in Ireland from the UK (Northern Ireland), there are a few things you might want to keep in mind. Firstly, Ireland is part of the European Union and uses the Euro. If you’re going to be spending cash, make sure you change some money in advance. You can use debit cards and credit cards in most shops, but many of the locals still prefer to use cash and it’s not uncommon to find shops and services that only take cash payments.

If you’re taking the train to Dublin, there’s a good chance you will arrive at Dublin Connolly Station. It’s one of the busiest railway stations in Ireland and provides a wide number of connections, including connections to the light rail service and bus stops, making it easier to explore more of the city. It’s also centrally located and is a short trek from popular destinations such as the Irish Emigration Museum and Croke Park.

If you’re new to the area and need some advice or inspiration, take a look at our guide to Dublin for tourists with top tips on things to see and do.

Booking Irish train tickets with Omio

Ready to book a cheap train ticket in Ireland? You’re in the right place. Get started by using the search feature at the top of this page. It will ask you for basic details about your proposed trip, including the departure and arrival location, as well as any available discount cards. Enter all of the information that you have and then hit the little “Search” button.

On the next page, you will see a list of all available train routes based on your chosen information. You can sort by price to find the cheapest train tickets, and when you’re happy with your selection, just conform and make the purchase. You can buy your cheap train ticket in Ireland using a variety of different currencies and it takes just a few seconds and clicks to confirm.

After you buy your Irish rail tickets, they will be stored in your Omio account. You don’t need to print them out (although you can if you want) and just need to make sure you have your phone on you. Adding some more trips to your journey? We sell train tickets for many other routes in Ireland and across Europe, and we also provide a variety of flights, bus tickets, and ferry tickets.

Here are some reasons why you should book with Omio:

• Cheap train tickets: Whether you’re taking a train to Dublin, exploring Cork, or heading on over to Limerick, you can find the cheapest train tickets every time on Omio.
• Fast and easy-to-use platform: Don’t have a lot of experience booking train tickets? Not very tech-minded? It’s not a problem, as Omio is very easy to use—we made sure of it. It takes just a few seconds to book train tickets in Ireland and you can do it using your laptop, PC, tablet, or mobile phone.
• Fully mobile-ready: Not only can you use Omio on your mobile device, but we have an intuitive mobile app that allows you to search train routes and book train tickets on the go. The app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, both of which have accumulated tens of thousands of positive reviews.
• A wide range of train routes: Book yourself a seat on the Dublin to Belfast train, the Cork to Dublin train, and countless other routes. If it’s available and in demand, there’s a good chance you can find it on Omio.
• Digital ticket storage: Once you book train tickets using Omio, they will be stored in your account. You can check them at any time, whether you’re confirming your travel dates weeks in advance or showing them on the train.

Dublin, Castle, Ireland. Credit: Pixabay

Most important train companies in Ireland

The rail network in the Republic of Ireland is controlled by Irish Rail while Northern Ireland Railways control things north of the border. These two also work together on the Dublin to Belfast train, as noted previously.

Irish Rail is known as Iarnród Éireann in Irish, which is why you’ll often see the company abbreviated as IE instead of IR (IR was more common in the past and featured on a previous logo). It’s a bilingual company though and tends to use both versions of its name.

Book your Irish Rail tickets through Omio.

Most important trains in Ireland

Irish Rail passenger services are separated into three different types: InterCity, Commuter, and DART. There are also some luxury train journeys and night trains. Read on to learn more about these services.

| InterCity trains | Commuter trains | DART | Night train and other luxury trains |

InterCity trains

InterCity trains are long-distance trains that typically leave from Dublin. The main two stations providing InterCity services are Heuston and Connolly and they connect to major cities across Ireland, including Cork, Sligo, Waterford, and Galway. InterCity trains are also used for the Dublin to Belfast route, which is known as Enterprise.

Commuter trains

Most Commuter trains leave from one of four routes in Dublin: Northern, Western, South-Western, and South-Eastern. There are also similar services in other cities, including Limerick and Cork. As the name suggests, commuter services tend to be short-distance and are typically used by commuters.

DART

DART stands for Dublin Area Rapid Transit. It is an electrified rail network that serves the city of Dublin and parts of the Irish coast. It encompasses 31 stations and carries about 20 million passengers every year. First established in 1984, DART is one of two electric railways in Ireland, with the other being the light rail system Luas.

Night trains and other luxury trains in Ireland

Perhaps unsurprisingly considering its size and the fact it’s an island, there are very few night trains leaving from Ireland. But they have operated in the past. Grand Hibernian trains took passengers on scenic tours of the country over the span of 2, 4, or 6 nights. The trains departed from Dublin and included sleeper compartments, washing facilities, catering, and everything else passengers needed to stay comfortable, happy, and satiated on board. However, these trains pulled out of service in 2021 and it seems unlikely that they will return.

Other multi-stop and multi-day train services are available, but they are few and far between. If you want to experience a true night train, one that offers a little luxury and the convenience of traveling while you sleep, you’ll be better off booking a ticket to mainland Europe and to countries like Germany, France, and Austria, where these services are plentiful.

The train network in Ireland and major connections

The train network in Ireland is very efficient and is being steadily upgraded and improved in line with other major European rail networks. Most of the connections it provides are within the Republic of Ireland itself, with only one major connection across the border. See below to get an idea of how long it takes to travel between major cities in Ireland.

Popular train journeys in Ireland

Lisburn to Dublin: A journey of about 133 km (82 mi) that takes a little over 2 hours.
• Dublin to Cork: It takes about 2.5 hours to cover the 218 km (135 mi) between these two destinations and there are over a dozen trains departing every day.
• Dublin to Limerick: You can find very cheap train tickets on Omio for this route. It takes less than 2 hours and 20 minutes on average.
• Dublin to Sligo: You can expect to be on the train for over 3 hours on this route and there are around half a dozen trains leaving every day.

Book all of these journeys and more using Omio.

Best cross-border trains from Ireland

You don’t have many options when it comes to booking international train tickets for Ireland. In fact, you have only one, and that’s the Dublin to Belfast train discussed several times above. Provided as a joint venture from national rail companies in the south and north of Ireland, the Dublin to Belfast train (known as Enterprise) covers about 140 km (87 mi) and takes an average of 2 hours and 12 minutes. There are usually 8 of these trains departing from Dublin every day, so you can choose a departure time that suits you best.

The train leaves from Dublin Connolly and arrives in Belfast Lanyon Place, which was previously known as Belfast Central. Lanyon Place is well-connected and runs routes to other cities in Northern Ireland.

Dublin, Blue Sky at Night, Ireland. Credit: Pixabay

Train travel tips for Ireland

Ireland may be a small country, but it’s also a beautiful one. It’s packed with history and culture, as well as some of the friendliest people you can meet. So, to make sure you get the most out of your visit to the Emerald Isle, keep the following train tips and general travel tips in mind:

• As in the UK, Ireland uses 3-pin power plugs, unlike the 2-pin varieties used elsewhere. This is also true for the power sockets found on Irish trains. Take an adapter to ensure your devices don’t die as soon as you arrive.
• Pack warm clothes regardless of the weather. The temperature can change in an instant and it can get very cold, even in the spring. It does get hot as well though, so don’t worry, you’ll get some vitamin D during the spring and summer.
• If you don’t already know, there is a big difference between Northern Ireland in the north and the Republic of Ireland in the south. The former is part of the UK, the latter is not. Also, it’s worth noting that the Republic of Ireland is part of the EU while the UK (and thus Northern Ireland) is not.
• Although Ireland is a bilingual country, nearly everyone speaks English, and fewer than half of the population can speak any actual Irish. As a result, the signs are always in English and you shouldn’t need a phrasebook.
• Take Euros if you are visiting the Republic of Ireland and Pounds if you are visiting Northern Ireland. Prepare for some checks if you’re crossing the border—make sure you have your passport ready.
• Most Irish cities are small when compared to other major European cities. They are also well connected with rail and bus routes.
• There is more to Ireland than Dublin. Sure, many train journeys begin and end in the Republic of Ireland capital, and it’s a great city to visit, but there are many other cities worth visiting, including Cork and Limerick.
• They say that the Guinness here is different from anywhere else in the world, so give it a try. It’s also the home of Jameson’s.
• The English are famous for their full English breakfast, but there is an Irish version that’s just as good—and some would say better. You can even order this on some InterCity trains, provided you’re traveling in the morning.

Last but not least, book your Irish train tickets through Omio to save big.

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