Ireland - General Information

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Country Name

Republic of Ireland

National Railway System

Iarnród Éireann

Official Website

www.irishrail.ie

Language

English is used for most purposes, but the Irish Constitution provides that the Irish Language (also known as Erse) is the first official language. Although Irish is not widely spoken, except in some rural areas, official notices and publications are usually bi-lingual. Public institutions, including the railway, use their Irish name in preference to the English version. Passenger information systems at stations and on trains normally show or announce information in Irish, before doing so in English.

Currency

Euro

UIC Code

numeric 60; alpha IRL

Timetable

Journey Planner

www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/timetables.asp

Downloadable Timetable

www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetables.asp

Printed Timetable

Usually issued annually each December but only as route leaflets. In English and Irish.

Engineering Information

www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp

Maps

S.K. Baker's "Rail Atlas of Great Britain & Ireland", which is widely available in the UK, shows Irish Railways at 1:1,070,000. A volume of detailed layout plans for the whole of Ireland is published by Quail Map Co. An historical compilation - "Johnson's Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railway of Ireland" (1997) - is now out of print, but worth seeking in second hand bookshops. For a handy on-line map of Ireland's railways go to bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_british-isles.php.

Gauge

1600 mm (5 feet 3 inches)

Electrification

1500 V dc (DART suburban system in Dublin)

Rule of the road

Left

Other passenger railways

None

Tourist lines

Some of the more remote lines may be irregular in operation so it is as well to enquire about dates and times of operation before visiting. There are other shorter lines.

Metro

None, though the DART suburban system has metro characteristics

Trams

Dublin (LUAS)

Recent and future changes

The Irish railway system was allowed to deteriorate for many years, but in the last decade extensive upgrading and modernisation has been carried out on the majority of the passenger system and there have been extensive purchases of new rolling stock (mostly multiple units). The DART suburban system has been extended to Greystones and Malahide. A light rapid transit system - LUAS (Irish for "speed") - has come into operation in Dublin and will continue to extend. Also in Dublin, a commuter line from Glasnevin Jn to Docklands opened in March 2007. A section of the former Youghal branch line reopened between Glounthaune (formerly Cobh Jn) and Midleton in July 2009 as did [Limerick -] Ennis - Athenry [- Galway] in March 2010. The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway was extended by 2km in July 2010. Part of the former line from Clonsilla to Navan re-opened to M3 Parkway station in September 2010. Beyond that, other mooted (some much publicised) line re-openings are by no means certain, apart from linking routes in inner Dublin, because - unfortunately - a special review of Government expenditure published in July 2009 suggested examination of closure (apparently completely) of the following lines: Limerick Jn - Waterford (excl.) - Rosslare Strand; [Limerick -] Killonan Jn - Ballybrophy; Manulla Jn - Ballina, and that no further development should take place of Western Rail Corridor beyond the [Limerick -] Ennis - Athenry [- Galway] section mentioned above. IÉ withdrew the vestigial Rosslare Strand - Waterford passenger service (there is no freight service over most of the line) in September 2010 and the other transversal lines, Limerick Jn - Waterford; [Limerick -] Killonan Jn - Roscrea - Ballybrophy, and even Ennis - Athenry, are believed to be under greatest threat. The line was cut back at Rosslare Europort in April 2008; trains now use a very basic platform inconveniently located for the ferry terminal.

IÉ's freight operations are now very limited. Bord na Mona, on the other hand, is one of the largest narrow gauge freight operations in Europe - principally moving peat (turf) traffic to power stations. Indeed, they ceased operating their Clonmacnoise & West Offaly Railway tourist passenger service because of the high volume of peat traffic.

Special notes

In addition to universal "Standard" (formerly Second) class, "City Gold" (formerly First) class is available on most trains between Dublin and Cork, plus a few to and from Tralee, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. "Premium" class (partner NIRailways call it "First plus") is available on principal trains on the international route between Dublin and Belfast.

There are no overnight services in Ireland.

See also