Hourly Dublin-Belfast Train Service Launched, Marking Significant Milestone
Dublin: For the first time in 25 years, an hourly train service now connects Dublin and Belfast. Starting Monday, 15 daily trains will run in each direction between the two cities from Monday to Saturday, a substantial increase from the previous eight services. On Sundays, service has expanded from six to eight trips each way. The new schedule is made possible through a €25 million investment from the Shared Island Fund and the Department for Transport.
The first train from Dublin to Belfast departs at 5:05 a.m., with hourly services continuing until 8:50 p.m. A return service from Belfast Grand Central departs at 7 a.m., with an additional 6 a.m. service also available. All trains follow the established route, stopping at Dublin Connolly, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Portadown, and Belfast Grand Central. Sunday services begin with an 8:05 a.m. departure from Belfast and an 8:50 a.m. departure from Dublin, with final evening trains departing at 8:05 p.m. and 8:50 p.m., respectively—both newly introduced services.
Prime Minister Simon Harris heralded the service expansion as the most significant development in cross-border rail connectivity in a quarter of a century, emphasising its importance for the economy and regional mobility. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan noted that the enhanced Dublin-Belfast service would greatly strengthen economic and social ties across the island. Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd highlighted the positive impact on employment and education opportunities, affirming the new service as a catalyst for regional growth and accessibility.
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