ireland train travel

[nonayclaret]

I am hoping to take the train from Dublin to Cork in May but have never experienced irish trains before. As I am flying to Dublin first I may get delayed and it is therefore awkward to book a set train. I am also coming back a week later.
Can you pay at the station on the day? Do you need to reserve seats...are the trains very busy?
Any advice from those in the know appreciated.
UTC

[dandeclaret]

You can pay on the day. Trains aren’t as big as some of those in the UK, but I’ve never had a problem getting a seat whilst travelling up and down the country here. Cork trains pretty much run on the hour, every hour from Heuston.

[nonayclaret]

cheers dande

[bumba]

cheers dande

Much cheaper if you book in advance, when I did the trip it was showing €20 before we got there but decided to pay on the day and cost €80 each

[nonayclaret]

thanks Bumba...one thing I'm not sure is if a flexible ticket allows you to get any train on that day due to potential flight delays.

[Tricky Trevor]

Use the trains regularly with our free travel pass. They are brilliant and reliable. Ticket machines at all larger stations but there is a ticket office at Dublin Heuston, your starting point for Cork. I wouldn’t expect you having a problem if you miss your booked train. As ours are free we are in a different situation to yourself but whenever we’ve missed one I’ve gone to the ticket office and they’ve told me just to get on the next.

Irish rail tickets explained:
https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/rail-far ... -explained

[nonayclaret]

Cheers tricky

[gc14]

Can you not fly direct to Cork ? A taxi from the airport to Cork centre was £ 25 euros last August ..

[atlantalad]

When you buy your ticket insist on getting a designated seat. Long story and trains tend to be packed. Last May my partner and I bought tickets at Heuston ticket office for the Dublin- Galway train. I was not asked at the time if I wanted to reserve seats. Anyway we boarded the train 20 mins before departure. It was half empty so easily found seats. Then noticed digital message over the seats we were in being reserved so moved to seats with no reservation showing. Just before departure a lady boarded and came to our seats showing us her ticket and she had clearly reserved one of our seats, so we had to split up. Train was near full now and departed. At the next stop more got on and people were standing in the isles as well as entrance areas ( something I thought only happened in less developed countries). When train got to the next stop more people got on and person came to my seat showing he had reserved it so I ended up standing in the isle. At Kinnegade 4 blokes got on and went to our original seats - taken by lady who had reserved seat in Dublin. They showed her their ticket showing they had reservation as a group of 4 for those seats at the table. They were ‘balchy’ and insistent that all 4 people needed to move from ‘their’ seats. In the end the 4 occupants moved - they had to stand in the isle. So…. be prepared to move seats even though you have a seat reservation. I am guessing that real time seat allocation does not exist on the Irish rail system and seats can be double booked as the train is on it’s journey.

Also from my experience of using trains in Ireland - they tend to get packed.

[sjb]

I presume the isle they stood in was Ireland?

[Tricky Trevor]

If you book online it offers you designated seating, carriage and seat number. You can choose to display name or ticket number above the seats.

[nonayclaret]

Thanks. Guys. Some interesting stuff to think about!

[Tricky Trevor]

Thanks. Guys. Some interesting stuff to think about!

Forgot to say. The Dublin Express bus goes Airport>Heuston and return. No messing about with changes. They have a desk at airport but easier and cheaper to buy online. They honour delayed flights.

https://www.dublinexpress.ie/

[Tribesmen]

Certain times can be a hassle , Friday is a big one from Dublin as everyone heads out for the weekend .
Buses are good also everything has dropped in price by 20% to get more people to use transport .
Best to book in advance give yourself and hour of a gap if Ryan Air is late then you should be fine .