Train fare Dublin - Belfast

eth0_

I have an exam in Belfast on Friday and I just logged on to the Irish Rail site to buy a train ticket until I was quoted _fifty euro_ for a return ticket!

I last took this train less than a year ago and it was around 35 euro iirc, can't be sure.

Did the fares rise hugely in the past year?

I would avail of the student ticket of 36 euro return, but Irish Rail refuse to acknowledge my NUS Open University card, and won't issue me one of their money spinning rail student cards - not that i'd buy one anyway, on principal - because i'm not a full time student.

Polar101

I think it's 50 euro if you don't come back the same day, day return is 36.50 (or 18 while the campaign is running). I wonder if you can buy two 18 euro return tickets for different days and use them on single journeys..

the_syco

eth0_ wrote: »

_fifty euro_

Aye, going to Limerick, and it's €50 return also. But, for an extra hours journey (to Limerick), the bus only costs €20.

eth0_

Polar101 wrote: »

I think it's 50 euro if you don't come back the same day, day return is 36.50 (or 18 while the campaign is running). I wonder if you can buy two 18 euro return tickets for different days and use them on single journeys..

Sure why not :-)
Thanks for the tip, i'll get two day returns

Traffic

Irish rail dont seem to allow you to book your ticket from the North

John R

Traffic wrote: »

Irish rail dont seem to allow you to book your ticket from the North

NI Railways have an offer for advance booked day returns for £10-20 depending on which services you book. Only available from Belfast on the 06.50, 08.00, 10.30 and 12.30 departures.

If you only want it for one-way then the 08.00 departure would be £15, the others £10.

They are available through their on-line booking only.

http://www.translink.co.uk/enterprise-sss-form2.asp?source=LargeHome


Alternately just get the bus which is €20 return and only takes about 30mns longer.

Mrs. MacGyver

Polar101 wrote: »

I think it's 50 euro if you don't come back the same day, day return is 36.50 (or 18 while the campaign is running). I wonder if you can buy two 18 euro return tickets for different days and use them on single journeys..

Its 50 euro for monthly return. They got rid of the day return. i was up there my self Friday week and was shocked as last year i was able to avail of a day return ticket for about 32 euro - what a difference!

wish i'd checked the northern irish rail site as described above before i travelled from Dublin.

eth0_

Mrs. MacGyver wrote: »

Its 50 euro for monthly return. They got rid of the day return. i was up there my self Friday week and was shocked as last year i was able to avail of a day return ticket for about 32 euro - what a difference!

Wow that is such a stupid move! So many people go up to Belfast just for the day for shopping etc.

Bus Eireann have a return for 10 euro to belfast offer atm. Well done Irish Rail! Completely unfair that people should only have the option to purchase a day return online!

Standard Toaster

http://www.irishrail.ie/home/

I paid 30 odd quid about 2 months ago now.

MayMay

In fairness that's quite good value to go to Belfast...I mean, what's Dublin to Cork now? Sixty odd isn't it?

eth0_

Cork is about 100km further away from Dublin.

I wouldn't use the train to cork either, last few times I took it it was an absolute disgrace the train they put on, and then had the cheek to charge 60 euro for a service that used a freezing cold ancient train with no dining car.

What's annoying me is that they've taken away every fare to belfast bar the montly return, leaving you with no option but to pay 50 euro, unless you have access to the internet and a credit card.

delta_bravo

eth0_ wrote: »

Cork is about 100km further away from Dublin.

I wouldn't use the train to cork either, last few times I took it it was an absolute disgrace the train they put on, and then had the cheek to charge 60 euro for a service that used a freezing cold ancient train with no dining car.

.

Tickets are currently €31 on their website.

markpb

Seriously, if you're going to Belfast get Bus Eireann or Aircoach. They're cheaper, more reliable, more comfortable and often, much faster than the train.

stovelid

markpb wrote: »

Seriously, if you're going to Belfast get Bus Eireann or Aircoach. They're cheaper, more reliable, more comfortable and often, much faster than the train.

The train does take a more circuitous route than the coach, for example, through Portadown.

AFAIK, the journey is roughly the same time for coach or train; however, my experience is based on leaving from the airport. If you take the coach from the city centre during rush hour(s), it will obviously lengthen the journey.

transylman

Yes, brilliant policy by IE. You don't make enough profit to cover expenses so instead of trying to cut costs you increase ticket prices to a level which is, quite frankly, ridiculus. This organisiation must be controlled by unions and managed by idiots.

Just checking the prices, I can get a month return to Galway from Heuston Dublin by bus for €18 and the journey time is 3 hours. On the train the journey time is around 2 and a half hours and it costs €42.

Trampas

I drive to Lexilip to the get train to work as it cost €5.10 than go to my nearest station Sallins and pay €8 something and doesn't even get me close to work while Leixlip does.

Heuston station still leaves you miles from town.

Crazy

Ham'nd'egger

eth0_ wrote: »

Cork is about 100km further away from Dublin.

I wouldn't use the train to cork either, last few times I took it it was an absolute disgrace the train they put on, and then had the cheek to charge 60 euro for a service that used a freezing cold ancient train with no dining car.

What's annoying me is that they've taken away every fare to belfast bar the montly return, leaving you with no option but to pay 50 euro, unless you have access to the internet and a credit card.

Just put in a day return for the 19th October, it's still €18. Given that it is a special promotional rate and you can avail of it, just book the fecking thing and don't worry about anybody who can't book it online; it looks like you are just looking for something to moan about TBH.

eth0_

Hamndegger wrote: »

Just put in a day return for the 19th October, it's still €18. Given that it is a special promotional rate and you can avail of it, just book the fecking thing and don't worry about anybody who can't book it online; it looks like you are just looking for something to moan about TBH.

If you read my posts instead of jumping in like a total jerk you'd see I bought the day return for 18 euro.

It's retarded for IE to rip people off if they don't have the ability to book a cheap ticket on the internet. They're just going to lose business to the bus companies.

Cookie_Monster

Drive?!?

Easiest of all...

Ham'nd'egger

eth0_ wrote: »

If you read my posts instead of jumping in like a total jerk you'd see I bought the day return for 18 euro.

It's retarded for IE to rip people off if they don't have the ability to book a cheap ticket on the internet. They're just going to lose business to the bus companies.

If you were able to read what I said half as well as you are able to throw your tiara around the place, I told you to stop whinging and don't worry about anybody else.

You saved money on a special rate, fair balls to you. How dare IE give people even more of a discount via a computer than before and make things handier for passengers, shame on them. :rolleyes:

RadioCity

markpb wrote: »

Seriously, if you're going to Belfast get Bus Eireann or Aircoach. They're cheaper, more reliable, more comfortable and often, much faster than the train.

Amen to that.

Get the right bus and miss Dundalk and Drogheda too.

As was pointed out to me, for a lot of folk who use the train, price is not an issue as it goes in as Company expenses (or similar). And they therefore think the more expensive option is better, especially as they're not paying for it.

MrVostro

Hire a car instead - Still cheaper probably

Victor

stovelid wrote: »

AFAIK, the journey is roughly the same time for coach or train; however, my experience is based on leaving from the airport. If you take the coach from the city centre during rush hour(s), it will obviously lengthen the journey.

Quite a few coaches are going from Bus Áras to the airport via the port tunnel.

stovelid

Victor wrote: »

Quite a few coaches are going from Bus Áras to the airport via the port tunnel.

My memories of the route were pre-tunnel. Good to hear.

mikemac

+1 for the Aircoach, it's only a small bit slower, not much at all.

Last year I bought a 5 day Dublin-Belfast return train ticket for €99.
Must be some special offer as it was a good deal......but a hell of commute every day :eek:

jlang

micmclo wrote: »

+1 for the Aircoach, it's only a small bit slower, not much at all.

Last year I bought a 5 day Dublin-Belfast return train ticket for €99.
Must be some special offer as it was a good deal......but a hell of commute every day :eek:

I'm fairly sure a 5 day return Intercity ticket is one that allows you travel up once and back down once (up to 5 days later), not one that allows you go up and down every day for 5 days.

enterprise

Nobody seems to have pointed out that the Day Return fare is €36.50, however this fare ISN'T available on a Friday or a Sunday. The cheapest fare on these days is a Monthly Saver - €50.00.

Of course IE have a special web fare of €18 for a single journey to Belfast. However you have to book via Translink - as John R pointed out to return.

mikemac

jlang wrote: »

I'm fairly sure a 5 day return Intercity ticket is one that allows you travel up once and back down once (up to 5 days later), not one that allows you go up and down every day for 5 days.

Nope, I did Belfast to Return return every day from Monday to Friday.
Although they ran a bus one day-it was when they were installing some bridge near Dundalk
It must have been a special offer. I doubt anyone would put themselves that commute every day for a long period.

John R

micmclo wrote: »

+1 for the Aircoach, it's only a small bit slower, not much at all.

If you are going from the Airport then yes. It's hardly fast or convenient from the city centre though, having to change buses at dublin airport.