Iarnród Éireann warns customers to pre-book intercity train tickets

Iarnród Éireann has now started asking its customers to book intercity train tickets well in advance during Christmas period.

The country now has a ban on non-essential intercountry travel. This ban will be lifted on December 18, after this Iarnród Éireann expects a significant rise in the number of travelers between Irish cities.

In order to avoid rush and to keep all the safety measures in place, Iarnród Éireann warns their customers to pre-book their tickets.

In order to provide the customers with a safe and clean travelling environment during the Christmas and New Year period, the trains will be operating at only 50% capacity. The capacity will be like this from December 18 to January 6.

The customers are also asked to avoid unnecessary traveling and also try to avoid peak time travel.

People who already posses existing tickets like open returns and season tickets, will still need to follow the new process and book in advance with no charges.

Barry Kenny, Irish Rail communications manager on Monday said that: “This is really a way of effectively managing that available capacity, allowing people to plan their travel in advance.”

“We would stress that people should pre-book during these dates, we don’t want to see people arriving at the station without pre-booking because this is how we will be able to manage the services better and ensure for people who are travelling that it’s a safe and sanitary travelling environment in line with COVID-19 regulations.” He added.

Mr Kenny also said that the passengers who failed to pre-book the tickets will be turned away at the station.

People can pre-book the tickets at www.irishrail.ie.