The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system is an electrified commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city of Dublin, Ireland. The service makes up the core of Dublin's suburban railway network, stretching from Greystones, County Wicklow, in the south to Howth and Malahide in north County Dublin. The DART serves 31 stations and consists of 53 route kilometres of electrified railway, and carries in the region of 20 million passengers per year. In a similar manner to the Berlin S-Bahn, the DART blends elements of a commuter rail service and a rapid transit system.
Rail transport in Ireland is provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann, or Irish Rail, is the operator of the national railway network of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). It operates all internal InterCity, Commuter, DART and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast. In 2019, IÉ carried a record peak of 50 million passengers, up from 48 million in 2018.
Limerick Junction is the interchange railway station for trains originating in Limerick, Dublin Heuston, Cork, Waterford, Tralee and Ennis stations. The station opened on 3 July 1848.
Connolly station or Dublin Connolly is one of the busiest railway stations in Dublin and Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. On the North side of the River Liffey, it provides InterCity, Enterprise and commuter services to the north, north-west, south-east and south-west. The north–south Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Luas red line light rail services also pass through the station. The station offices are the headquarters of Irish Rail, Iarnród Éireann. Opened in 1844 as Dublin Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre.
Heuston Station, also known as Dublin Heuston, is one of Dublin's largest railway stations and links the capital with the south, southwest and west of Ireland. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ), the national railway operator. It also houses the head office of its parent company, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The station is named in honour of Seán Heuston, an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, who had worked in the station's offices.
Pearse railway station or Dublin Pearse is a railway station on Westland Row on the Southside of Dublin, Ireland. It is Ireland's busiest commuter station and second busiest station overall with 9 million passenger journeys through the station in 2016.
Kildare railway station is a railway station on the Dublin to Cork Railway line and Dublin commuter service.
Arklow railway station is a railway station in Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Waterford railway station is a railway station which serves the city of Waterford in County Waterford, Ireland. The station is located across Rice Bridge on the north side of the city.
Clonmel railway station serves the town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Kilkenny railway station serves the city of Kilkenny in County Kilkenny.
Muine Bheag halt serves the town of Bagenalstown, in County Carlow, Ireland. Nearby is Leighlinbridge in the same county.
Carlow railway station serves the town of Carlow in County Carlow.
Athy railway station serves the town of Athy in County Kildare, Ireland.
Manulla Junction railway station is a transfer point for train passengers in County Mayo, Ireland.
The Dublin–Cork Main Line is the main InterCity railway route in Ireland between Dublin Heuston and Cork Kent. In 2018, 3.46 million passengers travelled on the line, a 10% increase from 2017 figures.
Limerick Suburban Rail are a group of Iarnród Éireann commuter train services from Limerick Colbert to various other destinations on three different lines.
The Dublin-Waterford line is a railway line in Ireland connecting Dublin with the major port of Waterford City in County Waterford. The line is part of the significant network of InterCity routes connected to the Dublin-Cork Main Line from Dublin Heuston. The line was constructed by the Great Southern and Western Railway. At Cherryville Junction, County Kildare the line splits from the Cork line. Both passenger and freight services run on the line. InterCity passenger services are operated by the 22000 Class DMUs. Kilkenny is located on a short spur off the line; freight trains use the Lavistown loop line to avoid reversal there.
The Lavistown Loop Line provides an important function in transporting freight and timber liner trains on the Dublin–Waterford line. Before the loop was constructed, freight and timber liner trains would have to turn around at Kilkenny railway station to continue on to their destination in Sallypark, near Waterford. Approval for construction was given by Minister Brian Cowen on 2 December 1994. Non-passenger trains such as the "DFDS Freight Train" from Ballina–Waterford avoid Kilkenny by using the Lavistown Loop Line which joins both lines going to Kilkenny. The loop has allowed Irish Rail to run a daily morning limited stop service between Waterford and Heuston departing Waterford at 07.10 and arriving Heuston at 09.01.
