New services from Iarnrod Eireann

Improved InterCity, DART and commuter services which come into effect from next Sunday have been announced by Iarnród Éireann.

The improvements, which include increased frequency and shorter journey times, are to be followed by further additions to regional services in early 2005.

Among the improvements from December 12th are:

On the Dublin Northern Commuter route a new service will operate at 5.10 p.m. from Connolly to Balbriggan station serving Skerries and Balbriggan. A new late evening train will operate at 11.20 p.m. from Pearse to Drogheda.

... Off-peak DART frequency increases to a train every 15 minutes from 10.00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

An extra service will be provided each way in the evening between Dublin and Carlow, leaving Heuston at 7.45 p.m. and Carlow at 9.17 p.m.

The timetable between Waterford and Limerick Junction, will be changed to give better connections at Limerick Junction into services to and from Dublin. In 2005 the company plans to introduce extra trains on the Dublin Heuston to Galway and Athlone-Galway route. From January 10th these will be:

A new service from Athlone to Galway at 07.05 a.m. An extra InterCity service will operate from Galway to Dublin at 9.35 a.m.

In the evening, the 5.55 p.m. Heuston to Athlone service will be extended to Galway. A new 9.10 p.m. service from Galway to Athlone will operate each evening.

The new timetables are available online now at the journey planner on www.irishrail.ie.