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There is no direct train to Dublin from London, Paris, or anywhere on the European mainland. Ireland has no fixed rail link across the Irish Sea, and no amount of searching will turn one up. The practical route from Britain is a train to Holyhead, a Stena Line ferry across to Dublin Port, and then a bus or taxi into the city. From France or Spain, overnight ferries reach Rosslare Europort, with an Irish Rail train the rest of the way.
If you are already in Ireland, Dublin is well connected. Irish Rail runs regular services from Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast, and most major towns, and the two city-centre stations are straightforward to use.
Getting to Dublin from Britain
The standard route from London goes via Holyhead on the north Wales coast.
Avanti West Coast operates the main service from London Euston to Holyhead, with journey times of around 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes depending on the departure. Transport for Wales also runs on parts of this corridor. From Holyhead, Stena Line operates up to 8 sailings daily to Dublin Port, with a crossing time of around 3 hours 15 minutes. Expect the full London-to-Dublin journey to take 7 to 9 hours including the ferry and onward transfer.
Dublin Port is not connected to the rail network. From the port, city buses and taxis reach Connolly Station and the city centre in around 30 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic.
From Liverpool, Irish Ferries operates an overnight sailing directly to Dublin. Stena Line runs from Birkenhead to Belfast, where the Enterprise train then reaches Dublin Connolly in around 2 hours. Either way, count a full day of travel.
Three things to be clear on before you book:
- Eurostar does not serve Dublin. No Eurostar service exists to Ireland.
- BritRail passes cover Great Britain only. They are not valid on any Irish service.
- Interrail and Eurail passes do not cover Irish Rail. Ireland is outside both networks entirely.
Book your UK train and Stena Line ferry as separate tickets. Stena Line tickets are available at stenaline.co.uk.
Getting to Dublin from France or Spain
Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries run overnight sailings from Cherbourg and Bilbao to Rosslare Europort on Ireland’s southeast coast. From Rosslare, Irish Rail connects directly to Dublin Connolly in around 3 hours, with around four daily services on weekdays. It is slow. For travellers crossing from France without flying, it works.
Dublin’s two main stations
Two stations matter. Book the wrong one and you arrive on the wrong side of the city. For a full breakdown of all Dublin’s stations and their facilities, see our guide to train stations in Dublin.
Dublin Connolly (Amiens Street, north of the Liffey) serves Belfast, Sligo, Rosslare, and the DART coastal line. Dublin Heuston (St. John’s Road West, south of the Liffey) serves Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and the western routes.
The rule is simple: if you are coming from or going to Belfast or the northeast, use Connolly. For Cork, Galway, Limerick, or the west and south, use Heuston. Booking pages often show only “Dublin”. Open the train details and confirm the station before you pay.
The two stations are connected by the Luas Red Line tram. The ride takes around 15 minutes.
Route | Typical journey time | Station |
|---|---|---|
Dublin to Cork | 2h 20m to 2h 35m | Heuston |
Dublin to Galway | 2h 10m to 2h 30m | Heuston |
Dublin to Limerick | around 2h | Heuston |
Dublin to Waterford | around 2h 10m | Heuston |
Dublin to Belfast | around 2h | Connolly |
Dublin to Sligo | around 2h 30m | Connolly |
Dublin to Rosslare | around 3h | Connolly |
Irish Rail routes from Dublin
Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) runs InterCity services connecting Dublin to most of Ireland’s main cities. Dublin is the central hub. Nearly every long-distance service starts or ends here.
Route | Frequency |
|---|---|
Dublin to Cork | Around hourly |
Dublin to Galway | 7 to 9 daily (Monday to Thursday) |
Dublin to Limerick | 3 to 4 daily |
Dublin to Sligo | Around every 2 hours until early evening |
Dublin to Westport | 3 to 5 daily (Monday to Thursday) |
Dublin to Rosslare | 4 daily (Monday to Friday) |
InterCity trains have Wi-Fi, power sockets, and toilets. The Cork service uses Mark 4 trains, which include a quiet carriage where calls are not allowed. Standard class covers most departures; first class is available on some routes.
Seat reservations are not compulsory on most Irish Rail services, but they are worth having on busy departures: Friday evenings out of Dublin and the last trains before public holidays fill quickly.
Dublin to Belfast: the Enterprise
The Enterprise is jointly operated by Irish Rail and Translink (Northern Ireland Railways). It runs between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central Station, the new Belfast city-centre terminus that opened in October 2024. If you last made this journey before that date, the train no longer terminates at Great Victoria Street.
Journey time is around 2 hours. From October 2024, the Enterprise runs hourly Monday to Saturday, with 8 services on Sundays. Advance fares start from around €13.99 each way via irishrail.ie, with GBP fares available through translink.co.uk if you are booking from Belfast. Both channels sell tickets for the same train.
A day return on the Enterprise is practical. Dublin to Belfast and back in a day is an easy trip.
DART and local rail
The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) runs along Dublin Bay from Malahide and Howth in the north to Greystones in the south. Trains run every 10 minutes during the day on weekdays, from around 6am to midnight. Connolly and Pearse stations are the main interchange points for DART and InterCity services.
DART is the best way to reach the coastal suburbs from central Dublin. Dún Laoghaire is around 25 minutes from Pearse Station, Bray is around 40 minutes from Connolly, Howth around 35 minutes, and Malahide around 30 minutes. These times can vary slightly by service; check the DART timetable for your exact departure.
Commuter trains extend further out into counties Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and Louth. First services on most lines leave from around 5:40am.
How to buy tickets
For domestic Irish Rail routes, book at irishrail.ie. For the Enterprise to Belfast, both irishrail.ie and translink.co.uk sell tickets. Either works.
Method | Details |
|---|---|
Online | Advance discounts; book up to 90 days ahead |
Station ticket office | Walk-up fares; open during station hours |
Ticket machines | Same-day purchase and online order collection |
If you book online, you may need to collect your ticket from a station machine before boarding.
Ticket types
- Adult Single: one-way journey
- Adult Day Return: same-day return
- Adult Open Return: return within 30 days
- Weekly and Monthly passes for regular commuters
Fares vary by route, date, and booking lead time. Mid-week departures are typically cheaper than weekends and public holidays. Book early if you want the lowest fare on a specific service.
Fares
Dublin to Cork advance singles start from around €14. Enterprise Dublin to Belfast advance fares start from around €13.99. These are starting prices; busy departures and later booking windows cost more.
Rail passes and savings
Pass | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Trekker Four Day | €88 | Unlimited Irish Rail travel over 4 consecutive days |
Explorer | €128 adult / €64 child | 5 days unlimited travel within a 15-day period |
Sunday Fun Day Tracker (Northern Ireland) | £10 adult / £5 child | Unlimited Translink travel in Northern Ireland on Sundays |
These are Irish Rail and Translink products. Interrail and Eurail passes do not work on Irish Rail.
A Leap Card saves up to 31% on single-ticket prices across DART, commuter rail, and Dublin Bus. Cards are available at station ticket offices and newsagents. TFI Young Adult Leap Cards (ages 19 to 25) and Student Leap Cards offer additional discounts.
Children under 5 travel free on Irish Rail. Passengers 66 and over travel free with the Free Travel Pass scheme.
Getting around Dublin from the station
Luas tram
The Red Line connects Heuston and Connolly stations, passing through the city centre in around 15 minutes. The Green Line runs from Broombridge to Brides Glen, serving St. Stephen’s Green and central Dublin. Both lines accept Leap Card.
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus covers over 100 routes and runs from around 6am to 11:30pm daily, with a later start on Sundays. Leap Card is accepted on all routes.
Airport connections
From Connolly Station, Dublin Bus routes 782 and 784 connect to Dublin Airport. The Airlink Express (routes 747 and 757) links the airport directly to O’Connell Street and Heuston Station.
Seasonal schedules
Irish Rail runs reduced timetables on public holidays. Most services follow Sunday schedules on St. Patrick’s Day and bank holidays, with extra late-night departures typically added on St. Patrick’s Day. Check the Irish Rail website for exact times before travelling on public holidays, as specific departures change each year.
Friday evenings and the eve of public holidays see the heaviest demand on routes out of Dublin. If you are travelling on one of these days, book ahead.
Severe weather can cause short-notice service changes or cancellations. Transport for Ireland provides real-time updates via the TFI Journey Planner app and website.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from London to Dublin?
No. There is no direct train from London to Dublin. Ireland has no fixed rail link across the Irish Sea. The standard route is a train from London Euston to Holyhead (around 3 to 3 hours 30 minutes with Avanti West Coast), then a Stena Line ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Port (around 3 hours 15 minutes). Total journey time is typically 7 to 9 hours. Eurostar does not serve Dublin.
What are Dublin's two main train stations and which one do I need?
Dublin has two main stations. Dublin Connolly (north of the Liffey, on Amiens Street) serves Belfast, Sligo, and Rosslare. Dublin Heuston (south of the Liffey, on St. John's Road West) serves Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and the western routes. The two stations are connected by the Luas Red Line tram. Booking pages often show only "Dublin" - confirm the station in your train details before paying.
How long does the Dublin to Belfast train take and how often does it run?
The Enterprise service takes around 2 hours between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central Station. From October 2024, it runs hourly Monday to Saturday, with 8 services on Sundays. Advance fares start from around €13.99 each way via irishrail.ie. The train is jointly operated by Irish Rail and Translink.
Do Interrail or Eurail passes work on Irish Rail?
No. Interrail and Eurail passes do not cover Irish Rail. Ireland (Republic of Ireland) is outside the Interrail and Eurail networks. If you want a pass for unlimited travel on Irish Rail, look at the Irish Rail Trekker Four Day pass (€88) or the Explorer pass (€128 adult, €64 child for 5 days within 15), which are available at irishrail.ie.
What is the DART and how can I use it in Dublin?
The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is Irish Rail's electric coastal rail service running from Malahide and Howth in the north to Greystones in the south, passing through central Dublin. Trains run every 10 minutes during the day on weekdays, from around 6am to midnight. It connects with InterCity and Enterprise services at Connolly and Pearse stations. A Leap Card gives up to 31% off single fares and is the most convenient way to pay.
