How busy would the Dublin/Galway line be on the June bank holiday?

ixoy

I'm travelling to Galway on the Friday of the June bank holiday. I've not used the line in over 15 years so I've no idea what the numbers would be like - should I be booking in advance? Does that even make a difference if you don't purchase a seat? Or would I be okay to go there on the day?

Mrs OBumble

By line, I guess you mean train?

Who cares .. the bus is cheaper and faster!

www.gobus.ie
www.citylink.ie

Judgement Day

Bad and all as CIE/IE are, the relaxation benefits of train travel over bus/car are so enormous as to be impossible to quantify. This prehistoric YouTube video from 1976 hits the spot. Sorry I can't help with your query directly - your more likely to get a factual reply here: http://www.railusers.ie/

DWCommuter

Trains will be jammed.

DWCommuter

Judgement Day wrote: »

Bad and all as CIE/IE are, the relaxation benefits of train travel over bus/car are so enormous as to be impossible to quantify. This prehistoric YouTube video from 1976 hits the spot. Sorry I can't help with your query directly - your more likely to get a factual reply here: http://www.railusers.ie/

That ad was so far from the reality of 1970s intercity rail travel, that its almost funny.:D

KC61

ixoy wrote: »

I'm travelling to Galway on the Friday of the June bank holiday. I've not used the line in over 15 years so I've no idea what the numbers would be like - should I be booking in advance? Does that even make a difference if you don't purchase a seat? Or would I be okay to go there on the day?

Depending on which train you plan on taking it can be cheaper to book online.

The booking office return ticket to/from Galway will be EUR 48 going on a Friday.

However, a quick look online shows that by choosing your trains carefully and booking online you can get there for far cheaper.

On June 4th. the 0930 From Dublin to Galway is EUR 15 one way, while the 1915 is only EUR 10. If you're coming back on Monday, the 0705 and 1105 trains are EUR 15 one way and the 0905 is EUR 10.

All other trains will be priced at EUR 48 return.

Depending on when you are coming back you could do the round trip for only EUR 20 by booking online. Obviously the trains at less popular times will be the ones with the cheaper fares. The other benefit is that you do have a confirmed seat reservation.

So bottom line is in this case it is better to book online.

Judgement Day

DW - the 1976 Ad was accurate enough if you were fortunate enough to use the new 'Super Train' MkII stock which was never guaranteed no matter what route you were on! I have many happy (?) memories of travelling down to Cork on the 20.40 (?) ex.Heuston in the mid 1980s with the train consisting of an 071 plus a Park Royal and a gen van.

Anyway here's another ad - this time for the BR 125s - which tickles my fancy.

KC61

JustMary wrote: »

By line, I guess you mean train?

Who cares .. the bus is cheaper and faster!

www.gobus.ie
www.citylink.ie

Not quite as comfortable though...

Victor

Note there are some timetable changes on the Sunday and Monday. http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055917544

fh041205

I got the 14.30 Heuston-Galway last Friday. It was delayed 30 mins in Clara due to a train occupying the single track between there and Athlone. I don't know how reliable this is, but the man sitting opposite me was a regular traveller and he told me it happens to him a lot. So you may want to plan for such a delay, it cost me 50 quid in the end.

ixoy

Thanks for all the replies. I've got an offer of a lift down so I'll probably take that and just get the train on the Monday which I'd hope would be quieter!