Irish Rail publish sketchy information about carrying your bike by train in Ireland, so we have compiled a definitive guide for passengers who wish to bring a bike on the train. Upcoming EU regulations will make such information a legal requirement.
Irish Rail will carry your bike on all Intercity branded train services for a fee. The fee depends on the distance you are travelling. The bike travels in the guard's van (either at the front or rear of the train) or in a special rack if provided. Folding bikes, if covered, are carried for free as normal luggage on all trains (also on Luas).
In general all trains shown as Intercity in the online timetable can carry bikes. All trains listed as suburban, also can however this cannot be guaranteed. Where a service is listed as Arrow or DART bikes will not be carried, but you may carry a folded bike. Space is limited and strictly on a first come first served basis.
Services you can carry your bike on
- Dublin-Cork*
- Dublin-Belfast*
- Dublin-Tralee
- Dublin-Westport
- Dublin-Galway
- Dublin-Limerick
- Dublin-Waterford
- Dublin-Sligo
- Dublin-Rosslare (but not on services to/from Arklow/Gorey/Wexford except 06:00 Gorey Connolly)
- Dublin-Portlaoise commuter services
- Galway-Limerick-Waterford-Rosslare regional services
- Ballybrophy-Nenagh-Limerick regional services
- Manualla Junction - Ballina (note bus substitution on Saturday mornings no bikes)
Normal space is for 3 bikes per train but may be up to 6 spaces on certain routes (*). Irish Rail provide some details here however where 3 spaces are quoted, the third requires staff assistance to access and may not be suitable for all bikes. Bike rack on all new Intercity Railcars is in the coach with the wheelchair symbol.
For Dublin Cork/Belfast bikes must be placed in the luggage van at the Dublin end of the train. On all other routes locate the wheelchair accessible coach which is at the front/rear of the train. On intercity routes this is normally coach C on a 3 coach train or coach F on a 6 coach train, a bike rack is provided at the outer end of this coach.
Photos of the bike racks current fitted:
Folding Bikes Only On The Following Routes
- Dublin - Maynooth - Longford commuter services
- Dublin - Balbriggan - Drogheda - Dundalk commuter services
- All DART services
- Mallow - Cork - Cobh/Midleton
Rail Users Ireland is working together with groups representing cyclists from Dublin, Galway and Mayo to improve facilities on board Intercity services for bikes, a new bike rack has been provided on the new trains as a result of these efforts, however much remains to be done.
Cost
The cost of bringing your bike depends on the distance you are travelling:
- €2.50 for up to 56km
- €4.00 for 57km-108km
- €5.50 for 109km-137km
- €8.00 for 138km+
Note these are single fares, return fares double except for 109km-137km which is €10.50. Passengers travelling Belfast Dublin may be permitted to carry a bicycle for free but the opposite is not true. Passengers should note beyond main stations many ticket checkers will not charge for bikes.