Second train running to FAI Cup final from Dundalk

Dundalk FC have confirmed that a second train will be running to the FAI Cup final against Cork City on Sunday November 8^th after the initial train sold out.

The train, which costs €15 return per person, will leave Clarke Station in Dundalk at 11.50am and will arrive at Lansdowne Road at 1.05pm. Kick-off on the day is at 3.30pm.

The train is scheduled to return from Connolly Station at 6.40pm, or 7.40pm if the match goes to extra-time. The price of the DART from Lansdowne Road to Connolly Station is covered in the cost of the return ticket.

The €15 price applies to everyone and no free travel passes will apply. Tickets are on sale from Oriel Park from today during office hours and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Irish Rail running train from Dundalk to the Aviva for FAI Cup final

Irish Rail have confirmed they will be running a train from Dundalk to the Aviva Stadium for the FAI Cup final on Sunday November 8^th.

The train, which costs €15 return per person, will leave Clarke Station in Dundalk at 11.50am and will arrive at Lansdowne Road at 1.05pm. Kick-off on the day is at 3.30pm.

The train is scheduled to return from Connolly Station at 6.40pm, or 7.40pm if the match goes to extra-time. The price of the DART from Lansdowne Road to Connolly Station is covered in the cost of the return ticket.

The €15 price applies to everyone and no free travel passes will apply. Tickets are on sale from Oriel Park from today during office hours and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

5.40am Dundalk to Pearse train to run tomorrow morning as far as Connolly Station

Irish Rail have confirmed that the 5.40am Dundalk to Pearse train will run tomorrow morning.

Doubts about the service had emerged after Irish Rail drivers announced they would be striking from 6am to 9am.

The 5.40am service from Clarke Station will run but only as far as Connolly Station though. This service will also stop at the normal intermediate stations.

No other commuter services will operate prior to 10am.

Full details on the strike can be found here.

Help sought in relation to hit-and-run at Dundalk Train Station

The side of David’s car after the incident at the train station on Thursday

A local motorist has appealed for the public’s help in relation to a hit and run incident at Clarke Station in Dundalk on Thursday last, July 2^nd.

David Needham was parked at the local train station from 7am until 6.45pm but during the course of the day his vehicle was badly scraped right along the driver’s side by what he believes to have been a white or silver car.

Anyone that may have witnessed the incident can contact David at davidneedham10@gmail.com

New 7.55am direct train from Dundalk to Dublin launching this Monday

A new direct train service from Clarke Station in Dundalk to Dublin Connolly will launch on Monday morning.

The new 7.55am train will leave from Dundalk train station, with a stop off at MacBride station in Drogheda the only stop en route to Dublin.

Irish Rail estimate that the total journey will take 63 minutes, with passengers expected to be in Connolly Station for 9.03am.

This is to compliment the existing Enterprise service, which leaves from Belfast Central and usually arrives in Dundalk around 8am. This train will still stop in Clarke Station.

This ‘additional’ train is only covering a period of time where there will be significantly reduced capacity on the usual train as the Enterprise is being replaced by a smaller train as part of the Enterprise refurbishment. Regular train goers will be familiar with the already reduced capacity on the 8am train from Dundalk.

Steam train excursion from Dundalk

Thanks to local photographer Darran Rafferty for sharing these superb pictures of a steam train coming into Dundalk today.

The Dundalk Railway Heritage Society, in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, ran an excursion from Clarke Station to Connolloy Station in Dublin.

You can check out more of Darran’s work at www.facebook.com/drafferty.photos

Steam train running from Dundalk to Dublin next week

Dundalk Railway Heritage Society, together with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, will host a steam train excursion from Dundalk to Dublin on Thursday May 7^th.

The trip is one-way only, with tickets costing €15.

They are on sale from the ticket office at Clarke Station in Dundalk, with a limited number available.

The train will depart Dundalk on the day at 12.50pm, with the train terminating at Connolly Station.

Those who make the journey will have to make their own arrangements to get home.

Before sunrise at Clarke Station

Check out this superb shot of Clarke Station from local photographer Mark Quigley.

The picture was actually taken in December 2012 but little has changed about Dundalk Railway Station since then. One of the finer stations in the country, this captures it superbly.

Send us your pictures to news@talkofthetown.ie

Travelling from Dundalk to Dublin Airport via rail could be a possibility in the next few years

David Franks, chief executive of Irish Rail

People could soon be able to travel to Dublin Airport from Dundalk train station.

That’s if an ambitious Irish Rail plan to link the airport with Cork, Galway and Belfast comes off.

The proposed new line was revealed by Iarnrod Éireann chief executive David Franks in an interview with The Irish Independent.

While the line would cost in the region of €300m, it would open the entire rail network to air passengers and boost tourism. Dublin Airport is one of the few major airports in Europe without a rail link to its city centre.

“One of the biggest contributions we can make to the economy is moving people over long distances and into city centres fast,” the chief executive told the Irish Independent.

“My vision is more a Manchester Airport connection where you can go all over the country using diesel trains.

“You could gain access to Cork, Galway or Belfast. We think it could be done for about €300m, but that’s very rough and ready.”

Irish Rail might run intercity services direct to the airport, or else link the airport and city by DART before switching to intercity trains.

The ambitious plan would involve building a spur line to the airport from Clongriffin.

This is already being considered by the Department of Transport, in the context of developing a new public transport option for north Dublin.

But the second part would involve a second line from the airport to Swords, before connecting back onto the main Dublin-Belfast line, which would also service commuters from Drogheda and Dundalk.

Trains could run every 15 minutes into the city, with the trip taking 20 minutes. As the line is underneath the flight path, no property would be affected.

Irish Rail believes it could be built in less than five years, and carry three million airport passengers. Research suggests that 24pc of people travelling through airports use a rail link.

The scheme would also be enhanced if the proposed DART Underground project goes ahead, which will link the main lines between Heuston Station and Connolly Station.

Body of man last seen at Dundalk train station is discovered

Seoirse Mac Gabhann

The body of a missing 52-year-old Dublin man was found yesterday afternoon.

Seoirse Mac Gabhann had last been seen on Tuesday, December 16, at approximately 3pm at Clarke Station in Dundalk.

His last phone contact was at 5.45pm in Raheny.

He was reportedly leaving Dundalk to get a train to Raheny in Dublin where he lived.

Earlier this week, Seoirse’s family had appealed for anyone who had seen him to come forward.

Gardai no longer require any further assistance from the public in this matter.