When I arrive in Dublin airport, how far away is it to get on the train to Belfast?

Question

I will be arriving in Dublin at 7 20 am and was wishing to know how complicated it would be to find the train ticket office and purchase the ticket to Belfast and catch the next train to there?

I will be coming in late November btw.

Also should I book ahead my ticket to Belfast from Dublin or do you think that it wont make much difference in price or availablity that late in the season??

Thanks for your answers!

Answer 1

Hi

Dublin Airport is 7.5 miles away from the city Centre.

You need to get a taxi (or the 747 bus) to Connolly Station, in Dublin City Centre to get the Enterprise Train going to Belfast Central... Timetables are available on http://www.irishrail.ie/home/

My advise would be to buy it through the site before hand just to be sure...The train journey should take you around two hours, but being such a cool train (and having a bar in it!) you should enjoy the journey!

Answer 2

You get into Connolly Station in Dublin city centre to get the train to Belfast. You can take the city bus (Dublin Bus) or you could take the airport bus that goes to the main railway stations and city centre hotels, but it's a lot more expensive. Or you could get a taxi, if you have lots of money to spare.

You can buy your ticket at the ticket office in Connolly Station, and there are also machines.

As for booking train tickets, try www.irishrail.com to see the prices. From Dublin to Belfast you'll be paying in Euros. Generally prepaid tickets are cheaper, but I don't know if this is the case with the train to Belfast because it's not actually an Irish train service.

Answer 3

There is a bus to Dublin outside the terminal, 5 euro, stops at the various railway stations. You want Connolly station for the train to Belfast.  By the time you collect your luggage from the carousel, you will be into mornng rush hour traffic which may affect arrival time at the train station.

I checked http://www.irishrail.ie/home/  weekdays leaving 9.35 am, Sundays 10 am, and you cannot reserve more than 28 days in advance, but there will be no problem finding a seat.  Standard seat 18 euro, premier seat 56 euro  -  not worth the difference.  Standard is OK.

Or you could get the bus / coach that goes straight to Belfast from the airport.  The price won't be any different in November, out of season or availability isn't a factor, but If it were me, I'd go for the bus straight to Belfast.  A little bit longer than  2 hours 10 mins on the fast train. Website said about half an hour longer.

www.aircoach.ie   says journey from airport to Belfast is 2 hrs 25 mins., I estimate there is a coach leaving the airport about 8.30 am arrive Belfast (Jury's Hotel) at 11 am, fare 10 or 12 euro depending on the day of the week (Tues, and Wed. are 10).  I don't know where Jury's Hotel  is in relation to the ferry, but I am sure there is a bus service  -  or you could always get a taxi.

www.ulsterbus.co.uk shows travel time 2 hours 30 mins. approx. by Bus Eireann (and http://www.buseireann.ie/site/home/ shows bus leaves airport 20 mins past hour  - every hour  -  and fare 14 euro from Dublin, though it may be a bit less from the airport)

There are two bus stations in Belfast.  I don't know if the ferry bus goes from the same one you arrive at.

Enjoy your trip !!

Answer 4

Regarding the Ferry question:

The stena line is so simple to find and use. If your staying in Belfast (where I live) any taxi will know where to take you if you ask to go to the stena line or seacat. In any event it's on Corry Road which is in the docks.

The ferry can take anywhere from 1.5-3 hours depending on the weather.

Answer 5

Hello Ray,

                Both these trips you ask about are better and quidcker by Bus, Ulster Bus goes from almost outside the doos at Dublin Airport, direct to Belfast, and the fares are reasonable too..on your BTW....OK so a lot of travel in Ireland can be seasonal, but you are not going to be kept waiting long, because you are virtually mainlining your travel between Dublin and Belfast, but by almeans get all your timings sorted out even if you do book your tickets on-line...

            Happy Travels...Tony M

Answer 6

An alternative to the train is a coach service from outside the arrivals terminal. Two companies run coaches to central Belfast, Air Coach(www.aircoach.ie) and Ulsterbus (www.ulsterbus.co.uk). Both services take around 90 minutes.