COMMUTERS are set for a major Irish Rail shake up from TODAY in a big train boost for commuters – with seven new stops on popular routes coming into effect.
Irish Rail has announced more Intercity train services between Dublin and Galway, Dublin and Waterford, and Dublin and Belfast.
The new timetable was confirmed following a public consultation in May/June, which was conducted in conjunction with the National Transport Authority with nearly 1,930 customers participating in it.
All improvements and changes will take effect from today, August 26 – except for hourly Belfast services, which will commence later in the year.
To accommodate hourly Dublin/Belfast services and improve punctuality, customers are also asked to note that departure times are proposed to change on many DART, Northern Commuter, and Maynooth Commuter services.
Amongst stopping pattern changes, customers on the Sligo/Dublin Connolly route will benefit from an interchange with the Luas Green line with the proposal to stop all services at Broombridge instead of a limited number of services currently.
Additionally, Kishoge Station on the Heuston Commuter line will open on Monday, August 26.
The train company is set to launch up to five new weekday services on the Heuston/Galway route – including the early first service 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 also been an extra Heuston/Waterford service in each direction and a later final service each way.
The 8:15pm Heuston/Carlow service is deferred to 8:20pm and extended to Waterford.
The 9:37pm Carlow/Heuston service will commence from Waterford at 8:20pm.
Additional service is provided each way, Dublin/Waterford/Dublin, on Sundays, bringing the total services to five in each direction.
Later in the year, seven new services will be available from Monday to Saturday in each direction on the Dublin to Belfast route.
These services will deliver a new clockface hourly service on the route, including arrivals before 9am 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 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.
Kishoge Station will be open on Monday, served by Heuston Commuter and Newbridge/Hazelhatch to Connolly/Grand Canal Dock services.
Some Phoenix Park Tunnel services will now start or end at Connolly Station rather than at Grand Canal Dock.
The Galway/Heuston services will be serving Oranmore from Monday to Friday and Sunday; they will no longer serve Attymon customers.
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 is a public consultation for the new 9:25pm Wexford to Gorey service, which will deliver a later evening connection from Wexford to Dublin Connolly.
Another one is for an additional service from Monasterevin at 7:15am on the Portlaoise to Heuston route, with additional stops at Oranmore and Attymon on several services, including Heuston/Galway/Heuston.
