More services on busiest routes under new national timetable from Irish Rail

A NEW national rail timetable has been brought into effect by Irish Rail, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.

Following a public consultation on a draft timetable earlier this year, the new timetable on all routes was implemented from last Sunday, December 10.

Highlights of the new timetables include a 6am Heuston to Cork service, Monday to Friday, giving a pre-09:00hrs arrival to Cork city, with a connection at Limerick Junction for a pre-08:00hrs arrival to Limerick's Colbert Station.

Four Heuston to Cork and five Cork to Heuston services on Sundays will additionally serve Portlaoise, to provide connections to the enhanced Portlaoise Commuter service.

Extra Monday to Friday services for Heuston-Carlow and Westport-Athlone have also been added, with the latter also connecting to services to and from Ballina.

This includes a new late service to Westport/Ballina from Athlone.

1,652 customers participated in the public consultation for the new timetable, held in September 2023

Details of the new timetable are on the Irish Rail journey planner, as are Christmas and New Year service arrangements, and bookings are now available also.