Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority is planning to implement timetable alterations from 13th December 2026.
The company has published details of the proposed schedule, and invites the public to submit feedback in advance of the finalisation of the new timetable.
Customers are advised that feedback is welcomed for all routes as part of this consultation, whether changes are proposed or not.
The rail company is operating more services and carrying more passengers than ever before.
The changes proposed now are predominantly minor in nature and designed to assist with performance and punctuality across the network. They also represent further progress in delivering consistent, repeating departure times on DART and Commuter routes.
During 2027 Iarnród Éireann will begin to introduce the new battery electric DART fleet onto the network.
Iarnród Éireann say this will not only provide increased passenger capacity across the commuter network but it will also give the company an opportunity to amend the timetable further, in particular for routes in the Dublin Connolly area, to deliver a more consistent and reliable railway for all passengers.
Full details are below, but in summary:
Additional stops / services proposed
- Dublin / Cork route: Additional stops on some services at Portlaoise (an additional three trains daily) and Thurles (an additional two trains daily) to provide better connections between Portlaoise / Thurles and Dublin / Cork / Limerick.
- Dublin / Galway route: 06:50hrs Athenry to Galway, which had been operating as a temporary service, is to be retained.
- Dublin / Drogheda: 07:50hrs Dublin Connolly to Drogheda will call additionally at Howth Junction, Clongriffin and Portmarnock to provide an additional morning peak connection.
Minor time changes / intermediate time changes proposed
The following routes will see time changes or intermediate stop changes of a minor nature, predominantly a change of 1 to 2 minutes from current times on some services, but in limited cases up to 5 minutes:
Intercity routes
- Dublin / Cork
- Dublin / Limerick
- Dublin / Waterford
- Dublin / Galway
- Dublin / Westport & Ballina
- Dublin / Belfast (weekends only)
- Dublin / Sligo
- Dublin / Rosslare Europort
Commuter routes
- Dublin / Portlaoise
- Newbridge / Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock
- Northern Commuter
- Maynooth / M3 Parkway Commuter
- DART
No changes proposed
There are no changes proposed on the following routes:
- Tralee to Cork/Dublin
- Limerick / Ballybrophy (via Nenagh)
- Limerick Junction / Waterford
- Limerick / Galway
- Cork Commuter
Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority will review all suggestions received, for all routes on the network, whether or not changes are proposed in this draft timetable.
Suggested alterations which cannot be implemented at this timetable change will be retained in a database for consideration at future timetable reviews.
Please note that peak frequency cannot currently be increased, as all available fleet and infrastructure capacity is in use.
Full details of all changes, including draft timetable pdfs, are available at https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/timetable-consultation-2026 and consultation is open until Monday 14th September.