Misplaced Pages

Iarnród Éireann: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:39, 11 January 2006 editJonjoe (talk | contribs)2,057 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 01:03, 13 January 2006 edit undoMonucg (talk | contribs)551 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 8: Line 8:
Iarnrod Eireann's services are divided under two major brands - the ] sector which operates long-distance routes (including the "]" service run in conjunction with ]), and ]/Commuter sector which operates routes in the greater ] area and ]. A separate timetable is published for each sector annually. Iarnrod Eireann's services are divided under two major brands - the ] sector which operates long-distance routes (including the "]" service run in conjunction with ]), and ]/Commuter sector which operates routes in the greater ] area and ]. A separate timetable is published for each sector annually.


] is a large interchange in Ireland's railway system. The two main intercity stations are ] and ]; ] services radiate to/from ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Additional regional services run Cork - Tralee and Limerick - Rosslare Europort. ] is a large interchange in Ireland's railway system. The two main intercity stations are ] and ]; ] services radiate to/from ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Additional regional services run Cork - Tralee and Limerick - Rosslare Europort.


] ]

Revision as of 01:03, 13 January 2006

For List of Railway Stations See List of railway stations in Ireland

File:Iarnród Éireann.png
1994: Iarnród Éireann

Iarnród Éireann (; in English Irish Rail), is the national passenger railway system in Ireland. Established on 1 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. It runs all internal intercity, suburban and commuter railway services in the Republic of Ireland and it operates the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast jointly with Northern Ireland Railways. In addition to Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland Railways, Bord na Móna operates a 3ft-gauge large industrial railway (the largest railway system in Ireland, but it does not carry passengers). See also rail transport in Ireland.

File:Irish Rail.png
1987: "The Four Rails" of Irish Rail

At the time of its establishment Iarnród Éireann referred to itself as Irish Rail, and introduced the four rails IR logo; however, the initials IR were often defaced as IRA on signage. In 1994, the company brought the Irish form of its name and related initials to the fore, and these remain the corporate branding today. The Irish word iarnród translates literally into English as iron road, or formally railway.

Iarnrod Eireann's services are divided under two major brands - the InterCity sector which operates long-distance routes (including the "Enterprise Train" service run in conjunction with Northern Ireland Railways), and DART/Commuter sector which operates routes in the greater Dublin area and Leinster. A separate timetable is published for each sector annually.

Dublin is a large interchange in Ireland's railway system. The two main intercity stations are Connolly Station and Heuston Station; Intercity services radiate to/from Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Galway, Waterford, Rosslare Europort, Sligo, Westport and Ballina. Additional regional services run Cork - Tralee and Limerick - Rosslare Europort.

Iarnród Éireann No. 215 at Grand Canal Dock DART station, 2001

Commuter services are also mainly radial to/from Dublin: Northern (Dundalk), Western (Maynooth/Longford), South Western (Kildare) and South Eastern (Arklow). Additional commuter services run Ennis - Limerick, Tralee - Cork and Cóbh - Cork. The north-south route is also host to DART, Ireland's only electrified heavy rail service.

Quality of service varies from route to route. The Enterprise is well regarded, despite problems with punctuality. There have been ongoing problems with excess power drain on the locomotives, with one or two locomotives overheating and bursting into flames while in service. Breakdowns are a regular occurrence as a result. The Cork - Dublin route, also quite well regarded, was the "premier line" of the Great Southern and Western Railway, one of the biggest pre-Córas Iompair Éireann operators. Journey time and rolling stock are quite good on this route.

File:Iarnród Éirann advert.jpg
Advertising for Iarnród Éireann Intercity in Galway, 2005

Network Catering

Iarnrod Éireann's Network Catering unit provides a trolley service of food and drink, a snack car and (on some routes) a restaurant service. It also operates restaurants at Connolly Station and at Dun Laoghaire. According to Irish Rail's annual report, the unit lost €270 000 in 2004.

See also

External links

CIÉ
Categories: