By Train in Southwest Ireland with Cork and Killarney

By Train

From Dublin Heuston Station the region is served by three direct rail links, to Limerick City, Tralee (via Killarney), and Cork City. Journey time from Dublin to Limerick is 2 1/2 hours; to Cork, 2¾ hours; to Tralee, 3¾ hours.

The rail network, which covers only the inner ring of the region, is mainly useful for moving from one touring base to another. A major upgrade of the Dublin-Cork line is due in 2007, with promises of hourly service in each direction. There are currently four trains a day from Cork to Tralee, but this too is scheduled to improve in 2007. The journey from Cork to Tralee takes about 2 hours; from Cork to Limerick, about 1¼ hours; from Limerick to Tralee, about 3 hours.

A suburban rail service runs up to four times hourly from Kent Station and has stops at Fota Island and Cobh and offers better Cork Harbour views than the road.

Train Information

Irish Rail-Iarnod Éireann (www.irishrail.ie/home). Dublin Heuston Station (01/836-6222). Inquiries (061/315-555 in Limerick; 021/450-6766 in Cork; 066/712-3522 in Tralee). Kent Station (021/450-6766 for timetable).