Tickets Explained

Whatever your journey, we have a ticket that will be just right for you. 

 

 

Single or Return Tickets

Ticket Type Available ToConditions of Travel

Online

Note 1

Ticket
Machines

Ticket
Offices

Single or
One-Way
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Students
Valid for one journey for the date shown on the ticket.
Yes Yes Yes
Day Return
  • Adults
  • Children
Valid for a return journey for the date shown on the ticket. Yes Yes Yes
Open Return
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Students
Valid for the one outward journey for the date shown on the ticket and for one return journey in the opposite direction within 30 days of the date shown on ticket.   No Yes Yes

Family

  • Families
Valid for one or two adults and up to four children under 16 years. Day Return and Open Return tickets available.  A minimum of one adult and one child must travel. No No Yes
Student
  • 3rd level Students
  • 2nd level students aged 16 to 18 yfears

A variety of student tickets are available which offer discounts of up to 30% on a number of full adult fares.

These tickets range from single, open return to weekly and monthly season tickets. 

Passengers must have either a valid Iarnród Éireann Student Travelcard or a valid Translink Student Discount Card to avail of any student tickets. No other student ID cards are valid on Iarnród Éireann services.

Yes Yes Yes
Schoolchild
  • School children 15 years or under

Discounted Single and Return tickets are available on the Dublin - Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, M3 Parkway & Greystones routes and are valid up to 7pm, Mon - Fri only.

To apply for a schooldchild E-purse Smart Card download this application form. 

Adobe PDF Document Schoolchild SmartCard Application Form (616 KB)

No No Yes
Scholar
  • 3rd level Students
  • 2nd level students aged 16 to 18 years

Scholar tickets are available on the Dublin- Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, M3 Parkway & Greystones routes, valid up to 7pm, Mon-Fri only.

To apply for a Scholar E-purse Smart Card download this application form.

Adobe PDF Document Scholar SmartCard Application Form (616 KB)

No No No
Ticket Type Available To Conditions of Travel

Online

Note 1

Ticket
Machines

Ticket
Offices

First Class
Upgrades

  • All
Reserving a First Class seat for people in possesion of a standard class ticket on certain Iarnród Éireann InterCity Services (excluding Cross Border) the supplement applies for each single journey on a particular route irrespective of type of ticket held. Upgrades are subject to availability. Yes No Yes

Reserve Standard Class Seat

  • All
Is an option for customers who are in possession of or purchasing on the day of travel a valid standard class ticket(s) such as Family Tickets, Day Return, Open Return, Weekly, Monthly, Annual, InterRail and Free Travel pass holders to reserve a seat on a service. Yes No Yes
16-25 Railcard
  • Adults aged 16 to 25 years

Holders of the 16-25 Railcard are entitled to substantial discounts off the regular Adult fare on presentation of their valid Railcard ID Card at time of purchasing their rail ticket.

Adobe PDF Document 16-25 Railcard Photo ID Card (706 KB) required. Cost: €10.00.

Yes No Yes

Taxsaver Loyalty

  • Annual Taxsaver Ticket Holders

Current Annual Taxsaver ticket holders can now avail of discounted fares of up to 30% on peak time travel fares online by selecting the 'Railcard/ Taxsaver Loyalty' ticket option.

For more information go to the Taxsaver website.

Yes No No
Group Travel
  • All
Iarnród Éireann offer cheap rates for groups of 10 or more people travelling together on Intercity services Dublin - Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Belfast, Waterford, Wexford  routes.

Go to the Groups section for more information.
No No No
Child
  • Under 16 years

Child Fares on InterCity services for children of 5 years of age and under 16 years of age are charged at half the appropriate adult fare up to a maximum fare of €28.50.

Where there is doubt regarding the age qualification, it will be the responsibility of the passenger to produce satisfactory evidence of age to secure the reduced fare.

Child tickets are not available from Ticket Machines within the Short Hop Zone.

Children under 3 years on DART services and on InterCity services children under 5 years when accompanied by a passenger holding a valid ticket, provided children do not occupy seats required for paying passengers. 

Yes Yes (Note 2) Yes

Note:

1) Tickets purchased online can be cheaper than the normal booking office fare, offer free assigned seating and are subject to terms and conditions accepted at the time of booking.

2) Child tickets are not available from Ticket Machines within the Short Hop Zone.

 

Season Tickets

Annual, Monthly or Weekly tickets are perfect for regular travellers commuting to or from work.  Monthly and Annual customers should also consider joining our Taxsaver scheme where you can save up to 52% on commuting costs. 

Season Tickets

Ticket Type Available ToConditions of TravelOnline

Ticket
Machines

Ticket
Offices

Taxsaver
  • Adults
Taxsaver is a facility for Employers to purchase Monthly or Annual commuter tickets on behalf of their employees - TAX FREE.  Companies save up to 10.75% in PRSI while employees can save between 31% - 52% in tax, PRSI and USC.

For more information and to see how much you can save, go to our Taxsaver website. 
No No No
Annual
  • Adults
Annual Tickets are valid for a 12 month period from the first day of any month to the following year.  

For more information and to see how much you can save, go to our Taxsaver website.
No No No
Monthly
  • Adults
  • Students
  • Children

Monthly Tickets are valid for unlimited travel within the zone specified for one calendar month (e.g. January).

Photo ID Card required for Adult tickets. Available at any Iarnród Éireann Booking Office, on production of passport-sized photograph.

No Yes Yes
Weekly
  • Adults

Weekly Tickets are valid for one week from Sunday to Saturday.

Photo ID Card required for Adult tickets except in the Short Hop Zone. Available at any Iarnród Éireann Booking Office, on production of passport-sized photograph.

No Yes Yes

 

Tourist Tickets

Trekker and Explorer tickets are ideal for tourists (both domestic & international) who want unlimited travel around the country by rail or by bus and rail.  These tickets offer freedom, flexibility and great value for money for anyone looking to explore all that Ireland has to offer by rail.

Tourist Tickets

Ticket Type Available ToConditions of Travel

Online

Note 1

Ticket
Machines

Ticket
Offices

Trekker Four Day
  • Adults

Four consecutive days of unlimited travel on all Iarnród Éireann services in the Republic of Ireland from the date of issue on the ticket.

Price €110.

No No Yes
Explorer
  • Adults
  • Children under 16 years
Irish Explorer Rail Only offers customers 5 days unlimited travel out of 15 consecutive days on all Iarnród Éireann services in the Republic of Ireland for only €160*.

Irish Explorer Rail & Bus offers customers 8 days unlimited travel  out of 15 consecutive days on Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann services for only €245*.

*Prices shown are standard class fares.  Child fares are 50% of the adult fare shown.
No No Yes

For more information on products, services, tickets, fares, cancellations, amendments or for general enquiries, please contact our customer information line on 1850 366 222 (Outside Ireland +353 1 836 6222) Monday to Friday 08:30hrs – 18:00hrs or simply fill in the enquiries form and a member of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.