The introduction of hourly train services between Dublin and Belfast is an important day for the all Ireland economy, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking at Farmleigh in Dublin, Simon Harris said: “I think today is a really, really important day for the all island economy, for the island of Ireland, from a public transport point of view, to have seen the biggest expansion of this Dublin to Belfast route in a quarter of a century, is going to make a real difference.”
The new hourly rail service linking Dublin and Belfast is being funded from a €25m investment by the Government’s Shared Island Fund and the Department of Transport and is the biggest expansion of the route in more than 25 years.
The Taoiseach said the service showed the benefit of the Good Friday for people both north and south.
Mr Harris said it demonstrates the benefit of institutions working together, and minister in the north and south working together and “it’s also about €25 million from the Shared Island Fund in my department that has helped make this a reality.”
There will now be 15 services in each direction between Belfast and Dublin from Monday to Saturday.
Until now there had been only eight daily services each way.
On Sundays, there will be eight services each way, up from six previously.
There will be a new Monday to Saturday 05.50am service from Dublin to Belfast and a new 7am service from Belfast Grand Central to Dublin. There is already a 6am service from Belfast.
The last train of the day from Belfast to Dublin will be at 9pm Monday to Saturday. The last train from Dublin will be the existing 8.50pm service.
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On Sundays, the first train of the day heading south leaves Belfast at 8.05am and the first train north is a new service departing Dublin at 8.50am.
The final Sunday train leaves Belfast at 8.05pm and Dublin at 8.50pm – both are new services.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said an hourly rail service on the Dublin/Belfast rail corridor had been a priority for both jurisdictions on the island.
“This will help people along the line to choose the train more often and will strengthen both economic and social connections right along the corridor,” he said.
Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said it offered the opportunity to grow jobs and improve access to education.
“It will also help decarbonise transport and encourage behavioural shift to public transport,” he added.
All trains will serve Dublin Connolly, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Portadown and Belfast Grand Central.
There are plans for more investment in new trains for the route by the end of the decade.
Additional reporting Eleanor Burnhill
