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05th Dec 2023

‘Fastest ever’ Cork-Dublin train service is launching next week

Stephen Porzio

It’s part of Irish Rail’s new timetable which takes effect on Sunday.

The “fastest ever” scheduled train service between Cork and Dublin will be launching next week.

On Tuesday (5 December), Irish Rail confirmed the details of its new timetable, which will come into effect from Sunday 10 December.

The announcement comes after public consultation on a draft timetable in September of this year.

Whilst discussing the new timetable, Irish Rail’s Communications Manager Barry Kenny revealed the news of the fastest ever train service from Cork to Dublin.

Beginning on Monday 11 December, the non-stop service departs from Cork’s Kent Station weekdays at 6.15am and will get passengers to Dublin’s Heuston Station by 8.29am – in a record journey time of only 2 hours and 14 minutes.

train‘Fastest ever’ Cork-Dublin train service is launching next week

Appearing on Newstalk Breakfast, Kenny said of the timetable: “The headline changes – we have a new 6am service from Heuston to Cork and connecting to Limerick as well.

“That will mean for the first time – with an arrival just after 8.30am – a pre 9am arrival to Cork and a pre 8am arrival to Limerick from Dublin.

“We also have some journey time improvements. While they’re modest, it does give us a headline of a 6.15am non-stop from Cork to Dublin – our fastest ever scheduled service on that route at 2 hours 14.”

Other highlights of the new timetable include:

  • Additional 12:20hrs Dublin Heuston to Carlow and 15:15hrs Carlow to Dublin Heuston service daily (Monday to Friday)
  • Additional 16:20hrs Westport to Athlone and 21:08hrs Athlone to Westport service daily (Monday to Friday), providing connections to/from Dublin Heuston at Athlone
  • Connection from/to Ballina to the new 21:08hrs Athlone to Westport above
  • Significant expansion to Heuston to Portlaoise Commuter Sunday services, with 8 additional Commuter services from Portlaoise to Heuston, and 7 from Heuston to Portlaoise, extending existing Heuston/Kildare services; there will also be additional stops on a number of Heuston/Cork services at Portlaoise, to connect with these Commuter services
  • Morning peak service each way between Cork and Mallow, operating at 07:20hrs Cork to Mallow, and 07:50hrs Mallow to Cork
  • Additional 12:20hrs, 13:27hrs and 14:20hrs Dublin Connolly to Drogheda, and 11:40hrs and 12:40hrs Drogheda to Dublin Connolly services (Mon to Fri)

For more information about the timetable changes, visit Irish Rail’s website right here.

Speaking about the alterations, Kenny had the following advice for passengers:  “No matter what route you’re travelling on, we’d advise people, just quickly check your times before travelling.

“There might be minor changes affecting your service.”

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