Cheapest Way to get to Dublin?

Thargor

Anyone know who the cheapest company is for getting to Dublin either by bus or train departing early Saturday morning (7am)? Just a normal adult return coming back on Sat, no special offers or anything like that. I think Citylink @ €18 is the cheapest right now but are there any lesser known companies around these days?

kraggy

gobus.ie

formally Nestor's.


Think they do it for 15 single.

m83

Gobus (formerly Nestor Link) are a little dearer and the journey is longer due to more stops. I always get CityLink unless the timetable doesn't suit. Nestor Link come back later at night from Dublin which can be very handy but they charge a €5 premium for the service which is ridiculous IMHO.


EDIT: Snap! @ Kraggy

galah

huh?

I though it was the other way round...and the prices are the same, as far as I am aware. Edit: Just checked - outbound from Galway they both take 3.15 hrs.

On the way back though, Citylink takes way longer and is to be avoided (always close to 5 hrs the last few times I had to take them), cause they sit in Dublin city center for ages...

inisboffin

I usually only get the Citylink at night from Dublin, I found it to be pretty consistent time wise - 3.5 hours - don't think I have EVER been on one that was 3.15 in either direction! That goes for Nestor too.
The Citylink almost always leaves within 3 mins of schedule, but I don't get it in the airport, so if it comes from there and is early, that's likely why it sits for a bit in Dublin

KevR

I often travel to Dublin Airport by bus. I usually travel up at night (eg - on the 01:45 Go Bus or 02:15 CityLink) and it always takes exactly 3 hrs 15 mins. Coming back from the Airport and there can be huge differences in the duration of the journey. If you get a City Link bus that goes into the City of Dublin then it will take well over 4hrs to get to Galway, where as the Go Bus which avoids the City will take a lot less.

Off-topic a bit but I don't understand why the buses don't use more of the new motorway (they only go on it at Kinnegead). It's so much smoother and a more comfortable journey when on the m'way. It's a pity they use the bumpy winding N roads most of the way.

They should introduce express services to Dublin City with little stops (Galway-Athlone-Dublin) to supplement their services which make all the stops. If they used all of the new motorway and had fewer stops they could beat the train for speed and have much cheaper fares.

snubbleste

Thargor wrote: »

Anyone know who the cheapest company is for getting to Dublin either by bus or train departing early Saturday morning (7am)? Just a normal adult return coming back on Sat, no special offers or anything like that. I think Citylink @ €18 is the cheapest right now but are there any lesser known companies around these days?

I'm assuming a day return:
If you buy online BusEireann is €16.70
Citylink is €18 as you mentioned
GoBus only go to Dublin Airport
Train is €34 if you buy online

inisboffin

The sneaky thing about the online train purchase is it changes price by up to a tenner depending on time of train.

I bought one yesterday for 30 even. Generally all but the last from Galway are 15 each way, and only the first 2 from Dublin are 15 each way - hit check price in reservations to see

Thargor

Alright thanks everybody.

m83

Don't trust CityLinks journey duration times, they always always exceed them.

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

The sneaky thing about the online train purchase is it changes price by up to a tenner depending on time of train.

I bought one yesterday for 30 even. Generally all but the last from Galway are 15 each way, and only the first 2 from Dublin are 15 each way - hit check price in reservations to see

Depending on the day when you are travelling, the Weekender ticket may be better. Irish Rail have details buried deep in their website. I've just discovered that new cards are no longer available, but people with one can still use it 'til it expires.

(They can be handy when travelling in countries with limited English too ... look kinda like an ISIC card if you don't look too hard!)