Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Avis 

As a foreign student temporarily visiting Ireland, I wish to express my concern regarding Irish Rail’s recent policy requiring all students to hold a TFI (Transport for Ireland) Student Leap Card in order to access discounted fares. While I understand the need for standardisation in verifying student status, the implementation of this policy appears to result in indirect discrimination against non-resident and visiting international students.

The policy appears inconsistent with Ireland’s obligations under the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the Erasmus+ programme, both of which promote equal treatment, mobility, and access to services for international students. By denying short-term foreign students the same access to discounted fares as Irish students, Irish Rail risks creating the perception of systemic exclusion and undermining Ireland's commitments to academic openness and international exchange.

In my view Irish Rail, as a semi-state entity providing essential public services, should adopt a more inclusive approach. This could include recognising valid international student identification, allowing institutional confirmation of enrolment, or issuing temporary travel discounts for verified visiting students. Failure to address this disparity weakens Ireland’s global reputation as an accessible and equitable destination.

Has a mobility problem when I arrived at Connolly Station got great help from staff and the lovely lady that was working on the train to Newry got me a great seat and got the ramp for getting on train lovely train staff that took care of me got a wheelchair when I arrived in Newry and got me on the bus to bus station great experience with the lovely staff

We have made extensive use of Irish Rail during our visit to the Republic in Ireland in late May/early June 2025. Stations have included Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Cobh, Clara and perhaps some others. Our trains have been relatively clean, extremely prompt, and really a joy to use. Reserved seats have had our names shown in a display so no one elso can claim them. Trolley service is quick and pleasant, with a wide selection of snacks and drinks. The station agents (especially in Cobh) have been very helpful and have answered our questions completely.

The ride quality is dramatically better on the intercity trains (Dublin to Cork, for example) than the more local trains (Limerick to Galway), and the local trains show more wear and tear. I think it would change some opinions if the toilet areas were simply spruced up with new walls and fixtures. They are a little too ugly due to use. The Intercity toilets are modern and attractive (and I only mention this because of some of the other reviews.)

It's said that you can set your watch (when we used to set watches) by Swiss and German train promptness. I would argue that our experience has been the same with the Irish trains.

Only Irish Rail would have engineering works over an entire Bank Holiday weekend. No trains between Dun Laoghaire and Connolly for the whole weekend...pathetic service. They can do things like that because they're the only train service, so they apply minimal effort, and don't care in the slightest for their passengers. I saw an ad on a poster on a train a few days ago for starting your career with Irish Rail, and maybe I should apply, because it would be handy Work to just show up when you want and have Bank Holidays off.

Another negative experience with Irish Rail. Train for Cork late so leaving at similar time to the Portlaois train. This resulted in a large amount of people queuing at Gate. There was a number of staff chatting and having a laugh but no form of crowd control, they just waited until the last second and opened up the gates allowing all rush through. No concerns with Health and safety, no consideration to the very young or elderly and no forward planning considering Bloom was taking place and this would clearly produce more customer traffic.
Really need someone who cares about the customer to take control of the many, who seemingly don’t.

I have been using Irish Rail at least once a week since I was 14. I’m 34.
In all of that time I’ve always paid for a ticket or used my leap card. Recently, I was going through an extremely stressful court case (I was a victim of a violent crime) and I had to go to Newbridge which is only one stop from where I live. I topped up my leap card at the ticket machine and boarded the train.

No sooner than I sat down a ticket inspector was at my table and took my leap card and said this isn’t a valid ticket. I was confused and asked what he meant because I know I tagged on right before I got the train.

He said didn’t even look me in the eye and and dismissively recited a script about why he’s issuing me a fine for not having a valid ticket. I said but I’ve tagged on so it’s taken my money and I topped up the leap card before I got on anyway so I clearly was intending to pay and it was a mistake. I offered to pay for a physical ticket in addition to whatever fare had just been deducted from my leap card when I tagged on but he refused.

He just robotically repeated himself and actually seemed quite irritated that I was explaining I hadn’t meant to not pay. He didn’t even lower his voice and seemed to be taking enjoyment out of embarrassing me and treating me like a criminal in front of the other passengers. The lack of empathy from him I actually found to be shocking given I have seen him and he’s checked my ticket on numerous occasions and I always have one. He kept repeating “you can appeal it” knowing full well they refuse almost all appeals.

I appealed it, explaining the situation how it was a genuine mistake and I CLEARLY had every intention of paying and it was refused with the exact same robotic lack of empathy by someone called “Deirdre” with no title and no second name given in the email.

I find the way they operate disgusting. They let off all the extremely loud tracksuit wearing drunks without fining them and tell them to just get off at the next stop. (I have personally witnessed this at least once a week on the train I get). But innocent people who have been getting the train for 20+ years and always pay get treated like criminals.

I genuinely think some of the ticket inspectors take out their anger at the drunk tracksuit wearing individuals who never pay on the regular commuters who always pay but make a mistake. I always see them fining people when the ticket machine at a stop isn’t working (I see this regularly so I myself have taken videos of when the machine at my stop isn’t working). The drunk loud people who openly drink cans of beer or vodka and take over whole sections of the train do not pay. We, the people who pay the train fare every time for years pay for those people to get the train for free and take the brunt of the ticket inspectors anger as well.

Absolutely disgusting. I would rather walk for 2 hours than use your trains again.

Not even going to get into how the train is always LATE, has people PACKED LIKE SARDINES and the toilets have no toilet paper and poo smeared on the walls.

Disgusting company with zero empathy and punishes loyal customers for what others do.

I recently had the pleasure of travelling with a young lady who has Down syndrome from Clara, Co. Offaly to Heuston Station, Dublin on 26th May 2025, taking the 11:35am train from Clara. From start to finish, the journey was a truly positive experience, thanks to the outstanding support and kindness of Irish Rail staff.
At Clara Station, the Station Master was incredibly helpful, arranging a ramp for my friend and making sure she felt comfortable and at ease. His warm and attentive manner set the tone for the rest of the trip.
On board, the conductor was equally supportive. He assured us he would be there to assist us upon arrival at Heuston Station—and he did exactly that. His help was greatly appreciated and made a big difference to our journey.
Our return journey was just as pleasant. We were met by another conductor who went out of his way to ensure my friend felt supported and confident. He took the time to reassure her during the trip and assisted her off the train in Tullamore.
The level of care and attention we received throughout both journeys was truly commendable. It made our trip not only smooth but also enjoyable. We are very grateful for the kindness and professionalism shown by all the staff involved.
Thank you, Irish Rail, for providing such a thoughtful and inclusive travel experience for my friend.

I was on the 10:58 train from Mullingar to Dublin on Monday 12th may 2025. I let the person know I had autism and the person helped me on the train and made sure I had a seat and asked if I needed help off. I was really appreciative of the help. Very good service

absolutely ridiculous. no planning whatsoever. poor unreliable staff. waterford-dublin train never on time. been stuck in kildare for 20 minutes?!?!

Really shocking service. Timetables from the 1980's!! On a Saturday 25 mins between trains for city centre. Then on the way home, DART arrives early and we miss it. The government wants us to use public transport then they should provide a better service. Other European cities can manage trains every 10 mins so why not Ireland???

Terrible company, never anyone there to help. We were going from tullamore to Dublin with our elderly father. We had booked and reserved seats so he could sit as several times before we were standing. Staff so rude at the gate when trying to scan your card and it doesn't work. I was shouted at by a small man who spoke little to no English and called me stupid, in reality he is probably dissatisfied with his job. But we had to tell other people to move out of the seats we had booked and paid for they got rude but it should be up to staff and management to make sure people are in the correct seats. Common sense would tell you to have an usher on board and have one or two carriages just for reserved seats. Joke of a place untidy,dirty,uncomfortable and very badly organised towards people with mobility issues.

The train is shockingly punctual, only 10 minutes early if you redefine “estimated arrival” as “sometime after your grandchildren graduate.” Second-class carriages double as exclusive rodent nightclubs. The rats don’t bother with the toilets (to be fair, neither do some humans), so the scent of Eau de Wild Nature hangs in the air like a fine mist.

That final kilometer from Drumcondra to Connolly? Pure magic. Leprechauns take their union-regulated strolls across the tracks while the train activates Irish Light Speed™, taking a breezy 20 minutes to cover 1,000 meters. There's either a wormhole or the driver is collecting Fairy trash in real life.

Meanwhile, in the waiting lounge for the Belfast train, even free-range chickens would file a formal complaint about the living conditions. Flickering lights add a horror-movie vibe, while wild birds occasionally swoop through the building like they’re inspecting their future nesting sites, complete the "post-apocalyptic bunker" aesthetic. It’s less "public transport hub" and more "early auditions for the next zombie survival series." All that’s missing is a guy with a shopping trolley yelling about the end of days, and honestly, he might just be running late.

Station names are a mystery. Jim Knopf is clearly winging it. I might live in Dungheda... , Dundalk... or Drogheda. Maybe all three. Maybe I moved and nobody told me.

And let’s not forget the ultimate money-grab attempt: Jim Knopf’s quest to devalue monthly tickets straight from the vending machines, even if they have 20 perfectly valid days left. It’s a bold strategy. Why honor something people paid for when you can just make up new rules and pretend it’s progress?

Either way, I respect the commitment to chaos.

Dublin Sligo train must b the worst train service ever.Its disimproved 100% in the past 40 yrs.Always late dirty toilets no dining service.Cannot understand why Irish rail management never try to improve this service.Dublin Cork train like being in different country.

Hands down the worst rail system in Europe…purchased a ticket only to be told it needed to be pre booked as the train was too busy ? Charged €21.60 for ticket at the machine that was supposed to go from cork to Tralee that could not be used! There is no explanation as to what trains are headed where the signage makes absolutely no sense,it’s pretty much a guessing game.The staff were absolutely horrible! The woman working on the platform clearly hated her job and probably her life..was extremely rude and spoke to me like I was a piece of dirt, she couldn’t answer simple questions and was very dismissive and abrupt.If you can avoid Irish rail at all costs.

The worst train service, I get the train 3 times a week, is never on time always delays. Speakers on train are broke so you can barely hear the driver. It's a horrible service

not enough carriages going from ennis to limerick a lot of us left sitting on ground due to no seats

horrendous torture trying to book tickets for 2. site keeps reverting to one. despite the update. gave up in the end.

I dont remember the last time trains were on time.
They charge 6.55 euro for a 2stop destination - from Galway to Athenry.
Prices are ridiculous.
Galway Ceannt Station is under construction. Queues to get on the platform are outside in the wind and rain. They managed to increase prices before the new train station is built. Shocking prices, pathetic rail company, that's always late.

When the train is late, you rarely get a notice about that! The screen will simply stop showing the arrival time and move on to the next train.

Embarrassing how outdated this rail experience is. GREEDY FOOLS

Comfortable journey thank you.
But why not display the "name" of Next Station in addition to the the distance to the station on the electric signage above each coach door exit

Just tried to book a return journey on the app and it fails each time you need to confirm payment with your bank. It seem to forget what stage in the booking process you are at. Also it appears to jump out to the website for seat selection. Waste of time!