Find Times and Buy Tickets
Irish Rail Journey Planner, Please fill this form and submit to find train times and tickets
Destination
From *required
To *required
Switch Departure and Arrival stations
Type
Use arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate through the type group
Date
Select an outbound date
Select outbound date dialog
Outbound Date (dd.mm.yyyy)
Select a return date
Time

Passenger

1 Passenger Open Passenger Modal<
Select passengers users dialog
Passenger
Passengers Information
Reservation Only

Who is eligible for this ticket?

  • Customers in possession of a valid open class ticket

What are the conditions of travel?

Customers who are already in possession of or purchasing on the day of travel a valid standard class ticket(s) such as Family Ticket, Day Return, Open Return, Weekly, Monthly, Annual or InterRail ticket can book on their chosen service by selecting the 'Reservation Only' option in the Passenger selection box. Customers are advised there is limited availability for seat only bookings online.

How do I buy this ticket? 

Where can I buy this ticket? 

Where do I collect the ticket? 

See our Ticket Collection section.

Free Travel Pass

Who is eligible for this ticket?

  • Free Travel/DSFA Pass Holders

What are the conditions of travel?

Customers who hold a Free Travel / DSFA Pass can book on their chosen service by selecting the 'Free Travel Pass' option in the Passenger selection box. Customers are advised there is limited availability for Free Travel bookings online.

How do I buy this ticket? 

Where can I buy this ticket? 

  • You can purchase the ticket above using our Journey Planner. Tickets can only be purchased up to 90 days in advance.
  • An allocation of bookings on all InterCity services can be reserved online without a fee for 'Free Travel Pass or valid ticket holders'. When this allocation is fully booked, all remaining seats can be reserved by 'Free Travel Pass or valid ticket holders' for €2.50 per journey. 

Where do I collect the ticket? 

See our Ticket Collection section.

At least 1 passenger is required

For more information on Online Tickets please see Ticket Information

Preferences
Wheelchair Information
Select wheelchair users dialog
Wheelchair Information

There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible spaces on each train, book in advance to avoid disappointment.

passenger-seat icon Travel Pass or Travel Ticket holder

Travel Pass or Valid Ticket holder dialog
Travel Pass or Valid Ticket holder

Is an option for customers who are in possession of Free Travel Pass, a valid standard class ticket(s), seasonal ticket(s), Taxsaver ticket(s) or InterRail to book onto a train in standard class. Customers who have a valid standard class ticket but wish to upgrade to First Class should also use this selection. For more information go to Tickets Explained section.

Please select the passenger(s) who require this ticket type

Information on Strategic Noise Mapping

Introduction

The information detailed herein is provided to explain the work undertaken by Iarnród Éireann in fulfilling our legislative requirements as prescribed by the Environmental Noise Regulations 2018 to 2021. These regulations transpose EU Directive 2002/49/EC (Environmental Noise Directive) and relates to environmental noise created by human activities and particularly noise emitted by road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic and industrial activity.

The background to the Noise Regulations and the work undertaken by Iarnród Éireann is detailed herein.

Background to Strategic Noise Maps and Noise Action Plans

The aims of the Environmental Noise Directive are:

  • To monitor environmental noise by requiring competent authorities in member states to draw up "strategic noise maps" for agglomerations, major roads, major railways and major airports, using the harmonised noise indicators Lden (day-evening-night equivalent sound levels) and Lnight (night equivalent sound levels). These maps are to be used to assess the number of people annoyed and sleep-disturbed respectively throughout each member state in the European Union
  • To inform and consult the public about noise exposure, its effects, and the measures to be considered to mitigate same
  • To address local noise issues by requiring competent authorities to draw up noise action plans to mitigate noise exposure where necessary and to maintain the environmental acoustic quality where it is good. The directive does not set any limit value, nor does it prescribe the measures to be used in the action plans, which remain at the discretion of the competent authorities

Iarnród Éireann’s work, as a designated noise mapping body, culminates with the publication of Strategic Noise Maps for specific areas of our heavy rail network (i.e. does not include the Luas Light Rail network, which is mapped separately by Transport Infrastructure Ireland).

The Strategic Noise Maps published by Iarnród Éireann include:

  • Major Heavy Rail (above a threshold of >30,000 vehicle passages per annum) within Dublin Agglomeration Area;
  • All Rail (all vehicle passages per annum) within Dublin Agglomeration Area;
  • All Rail (all vehicle passages per annum) within Cork Agglomeration Area;
  • All Rail (all vehicle passages per annum) within Limerick Agglomeration Area; and
  • Major Heavy Rail (above a threshold of >30,000 vehicle passages per annum) outside Agglomeration Areas

Strategic Noise Mapping

A Strategic Noise Map is designed for the assessment of noise exposure in a defined population area (i.e. agglomeration) and from a defined source (road, rail & air traffic or industry). Just as a map has contours indicating how ground levels change spatially, so to a noise map can illustrate how environmental noise levels change across an area.

The Strategic Noise Maps are generalised and graphically display noise contours for the exposure of the receiving environment to noise generated by annualised daily train movements along defined sections of the Iarnród Éireann network. The following two noise indicators are provided, in line with the Environmental Noise Regulations:

  • LDEN- The overall noise level for day-evening-night. This level is a noise indicator for overall noise environment based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours with a 5dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00 – 23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night time noise (23:00 – 07:00). LDEN noise levels above the threshold of 55dB are required to be reported to the European Commission
  • LNight – The night noise level. This level is a noise indicator for the noise environment based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over the night period. LNight noise levels above the threshold of 50dB are required to be reported to the European Commission

Legislative Requirements

These Strategic Noise Maps have been produced only for the purposes of the Environmental Noise Regulations, using computer modelling in accordance with a common noise assessment methodology adopted by the European Commission (Article 6.2 of EC Directive 2002/49/EC and brought into effect through EU Commission Directive 215/996. The new common methodology is called CNOSSOS – EU and further details can be found at this link.

This new common assessment methodology has been used for the first time in the production of the current Strategic Noise Maps. Previous Strategic Noise Maps were produced using a different recognised methodology available at that time. This change should be considered if making any direct comparisons between the current maps and previous maps, as the modelling methodologies and input data sets has changed.
Iarnród Éireann will not be held responsible for any outcomes that may arise from the use of these results by any party for any reason other than for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the Environmental Noise Regulations.

Purpose of the Strategic Noise Maps

The purpose of the Strategic Noise Maps are to;

  • Provide relevant data to the European Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive. To this end, Iarnród Éireann has undertaken an assessment of the rail network and produced Strategic Noise Maps for defined sections of the network to determine the exposure to environmental noise
  • Provide a source of information for the general public on environmental noise and its effects. To this end, the Strategic Noise Maps are published on the Iarnród Éireann website for public accessibility
  • Provide the basis for developing Noise Action Plans to identify noise priority areas and quiet areas and propose relevant mitigation measures to help mitigate the harmful effects of these noise sources. To this end, the Strategic Noise Maps have been provided to the relevant local authorities whose responsibility it is to produce and adopt action plans

The results should not be used to determine ambient noise levels at specific locations for the purposes of submitting information for planning applications, the enforcement of noise specific planning conditions or writing Environmental Impact Assessments. A more detailed examination of noise issues will be required for these purposes and should involve monitoring to determine ambient noise levels at relevant locations.

Next Step – Noise Action Plans

The Environmental Noise Directive requires that Action Plans be prepared and adopted by Local Authorities. These action plans will be developed by City and County Councils to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary.

Iarnród Éireann is not responsible for developing any Action Plans, however we will co-operate with the City and County Council, as requested and as necessary. The Action Plans will be developed following a consultation process involving the general public.

It is envisaged that Action Plans will identify relevant measures (both existing and new) to manage environmental noise from the sources mapped. Such measures could range from over-arching national strategies which take noise into account, to local targeted measures designed primarily to address a specific noise issue.

 

Print Back to top
Top