Dublin on Sunday

[Sealink]

I will be in Dublin on Sunday and naturally want to do a train trip to see the "real" Ireland, but have done the Enterprise to Belfast before.

Joking aside, I wanted to go to Cork and sample first class, is €111.00 really the cheapest fare? Or €56.00 rtn in Standard.

I probably have been spoiled by all the Advance style tickets that are on sale in the UK, and also the fact that my London - Holyhead - Dublin journey was GBP 31.00 ... any hints on how to get an IE bargain would be welcome.

I would consider skipping Cork and instead visit Waterford, Galway, Westport, Sligo etc. instead. (Not on the same day).

Thanks for your help.

[Thomas Ralph]

€111 is the cheapest first class return available without a concession. Advance fares don't apply to first class.

You can get advance tickets for standard class for as little as €10 single, but on Sundays it's €20 and I think that fare only applies to a single train. The standard online single fare is €36, so the cheapest day return on Sundays is indeed €56.

[Thomas Ralph]

If you're going to be travelling on a wide range of trains over a short period, you can get a four-day trekker ticket for €100 which gives unlimited rail travel in the Republic of Ireland for four consecutive days. A first class supplement costs €20 for most trains.

[Mark Gleeson]

You can get a single for 10 euro standard on every intercity route bar Dublin Rosslare if you book online and are willing to be flexible

Cheapest day return to Cork on Sunday if you book is 46 euro assuming you travel on the first train of the day to Tralee, change Mallow (10 euro) and return on any service (36 euro)

The cash fare for a day return on Sunday is 71 euro

[Sealink]

Thanks everyone.

My last journey on IE (apart from DART, and a journey on an old train from Bray to Dublin a few years ago) was from London to Millstreet. At the time I was very impressed with how well kept the stations enroute where, especially Millstreet itself.

I think there's also Railtours Ireland to consider also.
EDIT: They don't do Sunday tours.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Sealink

My last journey on IE (apart from DART, and a journey on an old train from Bray to Dublin a few years ago) was from London to Millstreet. At the time I was very impressed with how well kept the stations enroute where, especially Millstreet itself.

http://www.eurovision.tv/page/histor...test?event=235

[Sealink]

Haha. I remember it well.

Just looking at IE times - if it says "Reservations Not Available" between Galway and Dublin, does that mean, er, reservations not available, or train is fully booked? Thanks.

EDIT: Not sure why I got that message, but anyway, with the Galway - Limerick train pricing at €59.00 I will definitely be better off with the Four Day Trekker Ticket. So thanks to Thomas Ralph for the heads up.

Can this be purchased from the machines?

This is my plan - a trip report will follow.

SUNDAY MORNING:
Dublin Heuston - Galway 1st train 0825*
* surprised that I can't get the DART or a bus to Heuston from Ballsbridge for this time. Could it be that a taxi is my only option? Is it walkable?

SUNDAY MIDDAY:
Galway - Limerick - Cork 1205hrs

SUNDAY EVENING
Cork - Dublin Heuston Possibly via Mallow or direct.

[Mark Gleeson]

Reservations not available

1. Train fully booked which is shown by the red icons
2. For some specific trains and routes no booking is possible, eg Dublin Rosslare and you then get a message stating that you can only book a reservable journey

You can't book Limerick Galway, Limerick - Limerick Junction - Waterford - Rosslare or Nenagh as they are not intercity services

Normally only 50% of seats are pre bookable

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Sealink

Just looking at IE times - if it says "Reservations Not Available" between Galway and Dublin, does that mean, er, reservations not available, or train is fully booked? Thanks.

Sunday 4 April? Dublin-Galway? I have the option of booking the 0830, 1000 (via Limerick), 1430, 1630 and 1845 each with a fare of €25 (+CC charge). The 1130 and 2030 trains are cancelled this Sunday.

EDIT: Not sure why I got that message, but anyway, with the Galway - Limerick train pricing at €59.00 I will definitely be better off with the Four Day Trekker Ticket.

Where are you getting €59? Do note that internet bookings are generally much cheaper than the booking office.

Can this be purchased from the machines?

Probably not. Your best bet would be a booking office in a main station. Local stations may not have the correct ticket stock.

This is my plan - a trip report will follow.

SUNDAY MORNING:
Dublin Heuston - Galway 1st train 0825*

0830, but make sure you are there a few minutes early. The 0825 is **from** Galway.

* surprised that I can't get the DART or a bus to Heuston from Ballsbridge for this time. Could it be that a taxi is my only option? Is it walkable?

About 6km - its a fair hike. The first Dublin Bus route 7 is at 0800 from its outer terminus, so it won't get you in on time. Taxi is probably your best bet. About 6km = €12.50. This weekend only, you need to avoid Aston Quay, so go via College Green, because of road works http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...=UTF8&t=h&z=14 Other than the road works and preparations for the Easter Parade, you'll likely see nobody at that hour, save early rising tourists and street sweepers.

A more exotic and slightly cheaper (€8.80 taxi + €1.80 Luas), but slower option would be to use Luas from the Docklands to Heuston. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...92697&t=h&z=13

SUNDAY MIDDAY:
Galway - Limerick - Cork 1205hrs

SUNDAY EVENING
Cork - Dublin Heuston Possibly via Mallow or direct.

Realise you will be getting into Dublin quite late.

[Sealink]

Thanks for the updates.

The EUR 59.00 fare is my mistake - that was Galway - Cork.

[Colm Moore]

Oh, if using Luas early on Sunday,from 7.00am - 8.30am the frequency is 15 minutes. http://www.luas.ie/timetable.php

[Thomas Ralph]

Four day trekker ticket is only available from booking offices.

[Sealink]

I am back at my hotel in Dublin, today, I travelled Dublin - Galway - Limerick - Limerick Junction - Cork - Dublin.

All the trains were on time, and I have a few comments about the overall experience, including what I see as IE's decidedly dodgy "Trekker" leaflet..., but that's for another day. It's late. For me.

[Thomas Ralph]

Good to hear you got back in one piece

Perhaps you might like to post about your experiences over at the Intercity journey experiences thread.