DART/Train Station Newbie

Daemos

Be gentle

I'll be going to Dublin in May and am likely to be taking some public transport while there, and would like to be forearmed with some knowledge before going as I have no idea how the system works. Sorry in advance for the list of probably obvious questions

In regard to Connolly Street Station, how likely are we to get parking? It'll be the day of the Europa League final so it'll probably be busier than usual, but we'll hopefully be there early so how is it in general?

Or any advise on where we could find some cheap parking near Lansdowne or Connolly, or anywhere the DART stops? I looked up Google Maps but can't see many other reliable places other than Connolly.

Also how well-signed is Connolly? We'll be taking the DART to Lansdowne but I've never been to a train station of any kind so don't know what to expect and will probably get lost while I'm there.

Same goes for Lansdowne, how easy is it to navigate?

Do DARTs accept disability travel passes so we can avoid any ticketing nonsense? I know [at least I think I do] that you need to buy the ticket before you get on, so if they do take passes do you just stroll on with the pass in hand? And if we forget the pass, am I right about the tickets?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm the kind of person that wants every morsel of information before heading off

Victor

You should be able to get parking at Connolly. http://maps.google.ie/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.352396,-6.245846&spn=0.001857,0.004495&t=h&z=17

http://irishrail.ie/your_journey/carpark_information.asp

Station
Connolly Station

No. of spaces
460 including disabled

Parking Charges
Pay & display
Per Hour - €1.50
24 hours - €7.00
Weekend - €18.00
Operator: Euro Car Parks

However, if you want, you could drive to your local station, park there and get a train to Dublin and change to DART or bus. Public transport can be very busy when there are very big events on, so travel early. There will be exclusion zones for traffic around the ground and parking will be difficult for a considerable distance.

When you park in Connolly, walk to the main station building. Even with a travel pass, you will need to get a ticket at the booking office, however, it is free. If you don't have you pass, you'll have to pay either
€1.70 (Adult Single) or €2.90 (Adult Day Return). It makes sense to get the return ticket, as Lansdowne Road will be very busy after the game.

Then go through the ticket barriers. Check the display screen to see which platform the next train to Lansdowne Road is. They will mostly be indicated as heading to Bray or Greystones. See the map here: http://irishrail.ie/images/maps/Irish-Rail_Dublin-Map01.gif if there are and problems, the ticket barriers are manned almost all the time. Feel free to ask questions.

The station at Lansdowne Road is relatively straight forward with just two platforms, with a an underpass joining them. The station will likely be very busy on match day. The stadium is very obvious from the station. http://www.avivastadium.ie/howToGetThere.aspx Make sure you go to the correct gate for you ticket.

schemingbohemia

Just to follow up you may have to get off at Grand Canal Dock depending on where your ticket is for, see the last link in Victors post for details.

What's your original point of departure? May not make sense for you to go to Connolly Station (it's not Connolly street, it's Amiens Street by the way in case you're using a satnav).

Victor

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Just to follow up you may have to get off at Grand Canal Dock depending on where your ticket is for, see the last link in Victors post for details.

Oh, just to note Grand Canal Dock is often closed on match days. If you are at that end, getting a bus may be the better option.

Daemos

Thanks for all the info guys, very much appreciated

Victor wrote: »

However, if you want, you could drive to your local station, park there and get a train to Dublin and change to DART or bus.

Had considered that. I'm travelling from Kilkenny so could get a train [to Heuston I think, I looked it up yesterday but can't remember] or a JJK bus [and get the DART at Tara St.], but if we were delayed afterwards there'd be no way back until the very early hours of the morning. At least if we travel by car and miss the last convenient DART after the match it only means we'll have to walk to the car park instead of being sranded for hours

Victor wrote: »

Oh, just to note Grand Canal Dock is often closed on match days. If you are at that end, getting a bus may be the better option.

Which bus would it be?

Zebra3

If you are driving up from Kilkenny it might be handier to park at a DART station south of Lansdowne Road as opposed to coming into the city centre.

Cookie_Monster

Daemos wrote: »

Which bus would it be?

4 and 7 from City Centre are best alternative

Zebra3 wrote: »

If you are driving up from Kilkenny it might be handier to park at a DART station south of Lansdowne Road as opposed to coming into the city centre.

+1, cross country into Bray or Killiney Stations, which both have lots of free parking next to them.

Daemos

Thanks for the advice, I would rather have the car nearby in case we missed the DART but sure we'll see, it's still two months away

Zebra3

Even if the match goes to a penalty shoot out, everything should be over before 23:00. Plenty of time to get a DART.

P_1

Another option for you would be to drive to the Red Cow P+R and get a Luas from Red Cow to Connolly then Dart from Connolly to Landsdowne Road

Victor

pithater1 wrote: »

Another option for you would be to drive to the Red Cow P+R and get a Luas from Red Cow to Connolly then Dart from Connolly to Landsdowne Road

You could of course go as far as The Point on Luas, cross the East Link Bridge, through the gap in the wall and go through Ringsend and along the Dodder walkway, but that might be a bit much for someone not used to the area.

P_1

Victor wrote: »

You could of course go as far as The Point on Luas, cross the East Link Bridge, through the gap in the wall and go through Ringsend and along the Dodder walkway, but that might be a nit much for someone not sued to the area.

Just a tad alright:D Of course I'd always walk from town down to Landsdowne Road, much quicker in the long run

Psychosis

Zebra3 wrote: »

If you are driving up from Kilkenny it might be handier to park at a DART station south of Lansdowne Road as opposed to coming into the city centre.

This is definitely the best idea. Go early and you'll get parking around Blackrock/Booterstown/Seapoint dart stations. Then its just a 10 minute train to Landsdowne Road.

I would not recommend driving into the city centre or trying to get a train from connolly.