Train stations in Cork

Cork (Kent Station) is the city's station, on Lower Glanmire Road, a 10 minute walk from the city centre. Irish Rail runs the hourly Dublin Heuston trains and the commuter trains to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow from here.

From Kent Station to St Patrick's Street

The walk into the city centre takes about 10 minutes. The easier option with luggage is Bus Éireann route 205, which runs from the station past Cork Bus Station on Parnell Place to the St Patrick's Street stop outside Marks and Spencer in about 8 minutes, then on to University College Cork and MTU. It runs from 06:20 Monday to Friday, 07:15 on Saturday and 10:15 on Sunday, about every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes at weekends. A new timetable starts on 25 October 2026 with the same pattern. A single adult fare is €1.70 with a Leap card, or €2.40 in cash. The Leap fare includes changes between Cork city buses within 90 minutes.

Trains to Dublin

Trains to Dublin Heuston leave Kent Station every hour at 25 minutes past, from 09:25 to 20:25 Monday to Saturday, with earlier direct trains at 05:40, 06:15 (Monday to Friday only) and 07:00. The 08:00 needs a change at Mallow and reaches Heuston at 10:46. On Sundays direct trains leave at 08:25, 10:25 and 12:25, then hourly from 13:25 to 19:25. Most trains take about 2 hours 30 minutes. The 06:15 Monday to Friday train is the fastest at 2 hours 14 minutes. Most trains call at Mallow, Limerick Junction and Thurles, and some also call at Charleville and Portlaoise. The 06:15 runs non-stop. This is the timetable until 12 December 2026.

The train ends at Heuston, not Connolly, so allow an hour to change between the two by Luas or bus. A ticket from Cork to Dublin includes one onward trip within Dublin at no extra cost: choose Connolly as your destination for the Luas, or Dublin for a bus to the centre.

Killarney, Tralee and Limerick

Trains to Killarney and Tralee run about every two hours. Killarney is about 1 hour 25 minutes to 2 hours from Cork, and Tralee about 2 hours to 2 hours 35 minutes. The early 06:25 Monday to Saturday runs through from Cork, reaching Killarney at 07:49 and Tralee at 08:26. Most other journeys need a change at Mallow, for example the 10:25 from Cork connects at Mallow into the 11:25, which reaches Killarney at 12:21 and Tralee at 12:58. For Limerick, take a Dublin train to Limerick Junction and change there. The 09:25 from Cork reaches Limerick Colbert at 11:08.

Cobh and Midleton

The commuter trains leave from the same station. Trains to Cobh take 26 minutes and run every 30 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday, and hourly in the evening and on Sundays. Midleton trains take 23 minutes and run every 30 minutes on weekday daytimes, and hourly in the evening and at weekends. Cobh is the harbour town at the end of its line.

The airport and Kinsale

Bus Éireann route 226 leaves Kent Station about once an hour at 50 minutes past, from 05:50 to 23:50, for Cork Airport and Kinsale. The airport is about 25 to 30 minutes away and Kinsale just under an hour. The timetable that starts on 25 October 2026 keeps the hourly pattern.

Tickets

Book Dublin trains on irishrail.ie for the lowest fares. Web fares start at €21.49 each way and bookings close 60 minutes before departure. Station fares are higher. Cork to Cobh is fare band C, with a single at €3.90 at the station or €3 with a Leap card. You can top up a Leap card at the station's ticket machines.

Engineering works

On 12, 14 to 15, 19 to 22 and 27 to 29 October and on 2 to 5, 9 to 12 and 16 to 19 November 2026 (Monday to Thursday evenings), signalling work between Mallow and Cork changes the late trains. The 21:00 from Heuston runs only to Mallow, with a bus on to Cork. The 22:00 from Cork to Mallow and the 22:30 from Mallow to Cork are replaced by buses, and the 23:00 from Cork becomes a bus at 23:20.

Rail passes and reservations

Interrail passes are valid on Irish Rail. As of October 2026, seat reservations on InterCity trains such as Dublin to Cork are optional. Book them on irishrail.ie with the Reservation Only option. A limited number are free, and after that a seat costs €2.50 per journey. First class seats are available on this route. Collect the reservation ticket from a station machine before you travel. Commuter trains to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow need no reservation.