We're traveling from Dublin to the Dingle Peninsula, and trains seem to be the best way to get there. How comfortable are the Standard seats? One in our party has neck injuries and difficulty with some seats (first class is sold out). Also any tips on stations/how hard transfers are? The closest station for us is Connolly but then we'd transfer in Heuston, which is a bit cheaper ticket but longer taxi/bus ride to the station. Also I cannot make heads or tails about catering (if available or not) from Dublin to Faranfore/western Ireland. Thanks.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7843 posts
There is level access from the bus and tram stops at Heuston.
At Mallow you change from Platform 1 to 3, by footbridge, which has escalators and lifts as well.
https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/station/mallow
Irish Rail domestic trains have no catering currently post Covid.
It is only available on the international "Enterprise" to Belfast. There seemed to be talk about trying to get it back on the Cork trains then slowly reintroduce across the network, but that all seems to have gone quiet again.
I'm not sure what is meant about the question re- Connolly and Heuston, as all trains to Cork, Tralee, Limerick and Galway leave from Heuston.
The best way for that transfer is the LUAS tram or for access from most of central Dublin.
At Connolly LUAS starts right outside the station, and also calls at the nearby Busaras.
If the injured member is fit to fly and can cope with air turbulence (and presumably cope with car travel) I see no reason why he should not be able to cope with train seating anywhere in Western Europe.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thanks, that is very helpful. I think we should be fine starting at Connolly with the transfer at Heuston; I appreciate all the details on the levels/stairs, etc.
Posted by
35 posts
Okay, so you get on the train in Dublin, ...where do you get off the train in near Dingle? I'm trying to plan out a non-driving trip. We'd love to stay in Dingle for a few days to use as a home base, but I can't figure out how to get there via public transport - train and/or bus. Any guidance is appreciated!
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Far as I can tell you take a train from Dublin (Connolly or Heuston), which has a transfer or 2 and get off at Farranfore Station (about 4 1/2 hrs total). We have hired a shuttle from there to take us to Dingle where we're staying. But when I'd looked previously you can then get a bus from the train station to Dingle, but it may leave from the Tralee station, which is the one after Farranfore. But totally doable without a car, other than the final lift to where you are staying in Dingle.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7843 posts
The direct bus to Dingle, the 275, leaves from Tralee.
https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=Tralee+%28Bus+Station%29&form-view-timetables-to=Dingle+%28The+Quay+Opp+Super+Valu%29&form-view-timetables-route=&form-view-timetables-submit=1
To the best of my knowledge from Farranfore you would change bus at Tralee anyway.
Posted by
Ireland
219 posts
As said already in the thread, you can't start the journey from Connolly Station as all trains to Tralee leave from Heuston Stn.
As regards seats, I find them generally good with decent back support, although certainly not as nice as the comfy armchair at home.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7843 posts
You will only ever have 1 change from Heuston to the Tralee line-at Mallow (out of the Cork train).
One train a day in each direction on weekdays runs through from Tralee (2 on Sunday)-
This is the timetable-
https://www.irishrail.ie/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Heuston-timetables/05_dublin-tralee.pdf
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thanks for the additional information. You can indeed start at Connolly and end up at Farranfore or Tralee; bought tickets today to do that. Yes, we change in Heuston for Mallow, but Connolly was much closer to the hotel we're staying in than Heuston, so we're starting our journey there.
Posted by
170 posts
We took the train from Dublin (Heuston Station) to Cork. In Cork we then took a bus to the Cork Airport where we rented a car and drove to Kinsale where we stayed a few days and then drove on to Dingle. We couldn't really figure out a way to do this section of the country solely on public transit. Interested to see what others say on that. The train ride was lovely. Driving and riding by car was a bit terrifying I'll admit.