Prime 10 Irish prepare journeys: Skip the visitors and journey Eire by prepare

Michael Palin as soon as described the journey between Derry and Coleraine (pictured above) as one of the vital lovely prepare journeys on the planet.

The primary stretch of that route is, in some ways, the sweetest. The prepare follows the River Foyle into the countryside, whizzing alongside the sandy Benone Strand earlier than passing beneath the Mussenden temple by one of many nation’s longest tunnels.

Hop off on the quaint station of Castlerock for a seaside picnic or to discover native Nationwide Belief properties. It is a coastal cracker.

Particulars: 048 9066 6630; translink.co.uk

Journey time: 35–45 minutes approx.

Worth: From £10/€11 return.

Extra: Learn our Causeway Coast driving information

2. Dublin to Rosslare

Dublin to Rosslare. Picture: Irish Rail

That is arguably the perfect prepare journey in Eire.

Choose your spotlight: The Avoca viaduct? Killiney Bay? That sluggish passage alongside the waterfront in Wexford city? Michael Portillo even travelled the tracks for an episode of BBC2’s ‘Nice Railway Journeys’ sequence.

The prepare terminates at Rosslare Europort, however I might suggest disembarking at Wexford for a mosey, earlier than catching the return journey.

Particulars: irishrail.ie

Journey time: Three hours, relying on stops

Worth: From €14.99 every method (on-line)

Extra: 10 nice causes to go to Wexford

three. RPSI steam-hauled excursions

Picture: The Railway Preservation Society of Eire

The Railway Preservation Society of Eire (RPSI) maintains a museum (£7/5pp) at Whitehead and a number of real-life Thomas the Tank Engines that it makes use of to function steam-hauled excursions on a not-for-profit foundation.

Prepare journeys run commonly each north and south of the border – the Portrush Flyer, a return journey from Belfast) prices from £22/€25 for adults, for instance, whereas a daytrip from Dublin to Kilkenny together with classic carriages hauled by a steam locomotive prices €35 for adults and €20 for youths. Santa specials are particularly widespread, operating from each Dublin and Belfast all through December (guide early).

Blasts of steam and chug-along nostalgia aren’t the one purpose tickets are rapidly snapped up – eating automobiles embrace a full bar serving draught Guinness.

Particulars: steamtrainsireland.com

Costs: From round €12/6

Extra: All aboard! A €2,270 steam prepare tour is coming to Eire

four. Howth to Greystones

The Dart suburban rail follows the curve of Dublin Bay.

Throughout rush hour, Dublin’s Dart trains get crammed and sweaty. Off-peak, they rework into cellular viewing platforms alongside Dublin Bay.

And what views! Consider Killiney Bay, clickety-clacking by the Aviva Stadium, or the cliff-hugging coastal part from Bray to Greystones… the place eagle-eyed travellers can spot seals and cormorants dipping beneath the cliffs.

There are elevated views over the north inner-city (to not point out the gardens of Dublin four) and no scarcity of cafés and coastal walks in each Howth and Greystones.

Particulars: irishrail.ie

Journey time: One hour 25 minutes approx. (with out adjustments)

Worth: €6.20/€2.55 (cheaper with Leap Playing cards). Grownup all-day tickets price €12.15, and there is good worth in an all-day, rail-only household ticket priced at €20.

Extra: Prime 10: Dublin from the DART

5. Dublin to Sligo

Inventory picture of commuter prepare, Longford. Picture: Irish Rail

Departing Dublin’s Connolly Station, this line passes by town suburbs because it follows the Royal Canal in the direction of Maynooth.

The midlands stretch varies between low-lying countryside, stops in Mullingar and Longford and shut brushes with our bodies of water resembling Lough Bofin, earlier than crossing the River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon.

The method to Sligo is from the south – be careful for Knocknarea, atop of which Queen Maeve is claimed to be buried, earlier than disembarking.

Particulars: irishrail.ie

Journey time: Three hours approx. (relying on stops)

Worth: From €18.99 every method (on-line)

6. Cork to Cobh

Cork to Cobh. Picture: Irish Rail

Departing Kent Station, the journey to Cobh lasts simply 24 minutes, however boasts extra scenic gems than your complete Cork-Dublin InterCity route.

The route makes its method over the Belvelly Channel, with stops together with Little Island, Fota Wildlife Park and Carrigaloe, earlier than arriving into Cobh’s redbrick station.

This port city was the ultimate departure level for RMS Titanic in 1912 – it is simply one of many tales dropped at life in Cobh Heritage Centre.

Particulars: irishrail.ie

Journey time: 24 minutes

Worth: From €three.50 (single; one-way)

Extra: 10 Nice Causes to go to the Ring of Cork

7. Waterford & Suir Valley Railway

Kilmeaden, on the Waterford Suir Valley Heritage Railway. Picture: Pól Ó Conghaile

It is a small prepare. And a small observe. However the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway is an enormous concept – a neighborhood heritage mission taking passengers for an evocative jaunt alongside the previous Waterford to Dungarvan line.

The station is Kilmeaden, the ticket workplace is an previous prepare carriage and a number of other dinky carriages are tugged alongside a hidden stretch of the River Suir by a Simplex locomotive that helped excavate the Channel Tunnel.

If you happen to like this, strive Donegal’s Fintown Railway – a three-mile spin on the county’s solely operational railway or the Stradbally Woodland Railway in Co Laois.

Particulars: 051 384058; wsvrailway.ie

Journey time: 50 minutes (March-September)

Worth: €9/€four; household charges from €20

Extra: Small Wonders: 25 greatest small sights to go to in Eire

eight. Dublin to Belfast

The Dublin-Belfast Enterprise prepare. Picture: Tourism Northern Eire

Viaducts (and the views from them) are the scenic highlights of this inter-city route collectively operated by Northern Eire Railways and Iarnród Éireann.

After Malahide in Co. Dublin, hold your eyes open for 2 different viaducts, one crossing the River Boyne at Drogheda and the opposite, the 18-arch Craigmore Viaduct, stretching a full quarter-mile by Co. Armagh countryside.

The Wi-Fi could be very patchy, however components of the journey are lovely.

Particulars: irishrail.ie or translink.co.uk/enterprise

Journey time: 2 hours and 15 minutes (relying on stops)

Worth: From €18.99/£17.40 every method

9. Eire’s ‘Orient Specific’

Belmond Grand Hibernian’s ‘Wexford’ eating automotive.

The Belmond Grand Hibernian might be a contender for one of many world’s nice prepare journeys… in addition to its costliest.

Operated by the identical firm that runs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Specific and Royal Scotsman, the Grand Hibernian is working two, 4 and six-night itineraries round Eire ranging from €three,200pp – together with meals, drinks, leisure and excursions. And sure, they guide out…

20 opulent, en-suite cabins, two eating automobiles and an remark automotive had been refurbished at specialist outfitters Mivan Marine Ltd. in Belfast. If you happen to can afford to trip the rails in model like this, who cares the place you are going?

Particulars: + 44 20 3117 1300; belmond.com/grandhibernian

Journey time: 2, three or 6 nights

Worth: From €three,200pp (two-day itineraries)

Learn extra: All aboard! My dream journey on Eire’s solely luxurious sleeper prepare

10. Dublin to Galway

Galway Bay, with the Burren within the background. Picture: Deposit

Just like the mountains and charming arrival of the Mallow-Killarney journey, the perfect is saved for final on this Inter-city staple.

After swinging previous Oranmore, the prepare hits a coastal stretch alongside Galway Bay the place, on a superb day, views stretch so far as the hills of the Burren (above).

Previous to that, the beautiful iron railway bridge over the River Shannon at Athlone is an engineering marvel – it dates from 1850 – and the boggy midlands carry their very own, slow-burning appeal, earlier than the prepare crosses Lough Atalia and lands passengers at Eyre Sq..

Particulars: irishrail.ie

Journey time: Two hours & 40 minutes (relying on stops)

Worth: From €18.99 each-way (on-line)

NB: All costs topic to alter/availability. Fares are far cheaper for those who guide on-line prematurely. This story has been up to date to replicate value and timetable adjustments.

Learn extra:

All aboard! My dream journey on Eire’s solely luxurious sleeper prepare

On-line Editors