COMMUTERS are set for a major boost as Irish Rail has introduced 35 extra train services on several popular routes.
Irish Rail announced the new schedule that is set to come into effect on August 26, with extra train services between Dublin and Galway, Dublin and Waterford and Dublin and Belfast.
The new timetable was confirmed after the public consultation in May/June, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority as nearly 2,000 customers participated in it.
The train company is set to launch up to five new additional weekday services on the Heuston/Galway route – including the early first services at 5:45am from Dublin to Galway.
The new weekday schedule (including Saturday) consists of:
- 5:45am Heuston/Galway service
- 7:27am Tullamore/Galway service
- 9:05am Galway/Heuston service
- 8:30pm Heuston/Galway service
- 8:50pm Galway/Heuston service
The Sunday schedule will feature a new 10:30am Heuston/Galway service and a 1:40pm Galway/Heuston service.
There has been extra Heuston/Waterford service in each direction, a later final service each way, delivered through:
8:15pm Heuston/Carlow service is deferred to 8:20pm and extended to Waterford.
9:37pm Carlow/Heuston will commence from Waterford at 8:20pm.
Additional service is provided each way, Dublin/Waterford/Dublin, on Sundays, bringing the total services to 5 in each direction.
There will be seven new services from Monday to Saturday in each direction on the busy Dublin to Belfast route, delivering a new clockface hourly service on the route, including pre-9am arrivals in both cities.
Customers are also requested to take note of the proposed departure times changes for numerous DART, Northern Commuter, Maynooth Commuter, and some Newbridge/Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock services operating to/from Connolly.
All Sligo services will now call additionally at Broombridge for interchange with Luas Green Line services.
These changes are made to accommodate hourly Dublin/Belfast services and enhance punctuality performance.
Services will also operate to/from the new Belfast Grand Central Station later this year.
New improvements
Cork Commuter services improvements will see ten new Saturday and four new Sunday services in each direction on the Cork/Cobh route, while six new Sunday services will be delivered on the Cork/Midleton route.
Both routes will be getting clockface hourly all-day services on both days.
There are a couple of public consultations for the new 9:25pm Wexford to Gorey service, delivering a later evening connection from Wexford to Dublin Connolly.
Another one is for additional service from Monasterevin for 7:15am Portlaoise to Heuston route and additional stops at Oranmore and Attymon on a number of services, which includes Heuston/Galway/Heuston.
