#irishrail — Public Fediverse posts

A sunny afternoon on the #RoyalCanal towpath in #Maynooth — I met plenty of fellow walkers enjoying this beautiful amenity as the #IrishRail trains rumbled past.

The rapeseed flowers are really coming into bloom, both in our fields, and, along our hedgerows, including along the banks of the #RoyalCanal near #Maynooth. Not quite the same shade of yellow as the safety front on the #IrishRail trains, but thought it was a fun pairing anyway 🙂 #Bloomscrolling

A traditional railway fan portrait of an #IrishRail InterCity class 2200 as it approaches #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal on the picturesque former MGWR line to Galway/Sligo/Cavan (only the line to Sligo remains today 🙁)

An #IrishRail InterCity enroute from Dublin to Sligo passing under Pike Bridge along the #RoyalCanal as it approaches #Maynooth on a beautiful spring afternoon.

It’s starting to feel like summer along the #RoyalCanal in #Maynooth as the #IrishRail Commuter trains role by under blue skies and fluffy clouds!

https://www.europesays.com/ie/447946/ Irish Rail board voices concerns over €36m IT project – The Irish Times #Business #DarraghOBrien #Éire #IarnródÉireann #IE #Ireland #IrishRail #NationalTransportAuthority

An #IrishRail InterCity accelerating away from #Maynooth along the #RoyalCanal en-route to Sligo on an April afternoon. #BlackAndWhite

Yellow meets yellow — a yellow-fronted #IrishRail Commuter train leaving #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal passes a cluster of yellow Dandelions. #Bloomscrolling

https://www.europesays.com/ie/406757/ CIÉ plans to redevelop Heuston and Connolly train stations – The Irish Times #Business #cie #Éire #IE #Ireland #IrishRail #PENSION

When you’re standing in a beautiful dusk scene it’s always tempting to shoot into the setting sun and get those amazing oranges, but when you turn the opposite way you get cool rich blues which can be beautiful in their own way!

I shot this #IrishRail commuter train approaching #Maynooth along a mirror-smooth #RoyalCanal with my back to the setting sun.

An evening #IrishRail commuter train pulling away from #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal as it starts its journey towards Dublin, bring home students after a busy day studying in #MaynoothUniversity.

Since it’s Saint Patrick's Day 🍀 🇮🇪: going through pictures taken in #Ireland in August 2024, travelling from #Dublin to #Belfast with the #IrishRail #Translink #Enterprise #InterCity. It’s a push-pull train. There’s an IÉ Class 201 diesel, and … (🥁) it’s got a bar-buffet style #DiningCar (sort of).

An #IrishRail Commuter train passing the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at Pike Bridge east of #Maynooth opposite the entrance to Carton House. The sun peeped through the racing clouds at just the right moment!

https://www.europesays.com/ie/388042/ Irish Rail needs executive chairman, outgoing chair says in resignation letter to Minister – The Irish Times #Business #DarraghOBrien #DepartmentOfTransport #Éire #IarnródÉireann #IE #Ireland #IrishRail

An #IrishRail InterCity passing the #RoyalCanal jetty at Jackson’s Bridge while the spring sun shines down on the still bare trees. The leaf buds on the trees are right on the verge of opening, so by next week the trees will probably be greening.

Peacefully grey — an #IrishRail InterCity accelerating out of #Maynooth along a mirror-smooth #RoyalCanal on a dull but perfectly still Irish spring afternoon.

What’s the point of trip planners if they can’t even provide accurate info? Why are Apple doing a better job than TFI using TFIs information? #irishrail

So the line between Connolly and Dun Laoighaire was is closed for repairs to overhead wires after some accident or the other. Fine. Shit happens.

However, the online scheduling system and the boards in the stations are still showing everything as hunky dory. Trains that can’t be running scheduled to leave as normal. The TFI app not showing any sign of an issue. Apple Maps has at picked up a notice of the problem and is showing that below the routes involving ghost trains.

Fucksake. #irishrail

RAILWAY KLAXON 📢 NEW CUTE DEPARTMENTAL VEHICLE JUST DROPPED #IrishRail

https://www.europesays.com/ie/363470/ Our readers on their experiences of commuting by train in Ireland #BreakingNews #BreakingNews #Commuters #Commuting #CommutingBelt #DART #Éire #FeaturedNews #FeaturedNews #Headlines #IarnródÉireann #IE #IntercityRoutes #Ireland #IrishRail #LatestNews #LatestNews #MainNews #MainNews #NationalTransportAuthority #News #TheMorningLead #TopStories #TopStories #Train #YourStories

A leisurely evening commute — an #IrishRail #train likely filled with students returning to their digs for another busy week of study coasts into #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal as Sunday dusk falls.

An #IrishRail InterCity reflected in the #RoyalCanal as it accelerates away from #Maynooth on a dull but tranquil February afternoon.

Through Pike Bridge — a view down the #RoyalCanal towards #Maynooth on a perfectly calm winter day as an #IrishRail InterCity #train starts into the last leg of it’s cross-country trek from Sligo to Dublin.

A bleak, but dry and calm, afternoon along the #RoyalCanal as an #IrishRail Commuter train starts it’s journey from #Maynooth towards Dublin.

This shot of some rare winter sun on the nose of an #IrishRail Commuter train approaching #Maynooth along the #RoyalCanal has been sitting in my camera roll for a few days — I forgot I snapped it on one of my few recent umbrella-free walks!

Request to Iarnród Éireann to move from X

I’ve posted a number of items recently (e.g. here) about why public institutions in Ireland (and anywhere else, for that matter) should not be using X. I noticed today a message on BlueSky containing the following clear and compelling letter from a number of commuter organizations to Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann), which can be found here but which I’m taking the liberty of sharing in full here to amplify.

–o–

We are writing as rail and commuter advocacy groups across Ireland, to request that Iarnród Éireann move its real-time service updates regarding cancellations and delays from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to your own website and official channels.

Currently, passengers seeking up-to-date information about service disruptions must have an active X account to view these critical updates. This creates several significant problems:

Accessibility Concerns: Requiring passengers to maintain an account on a third-party social media platform to access essential public transport information creates an unnecessary barrier. Many passengers, particularly elderly travellers or those who choose not to use social media, are effectively excluded from receiving timely service updates.

Platform Concerns: Recent controversies surrounding X, including serious issues with child safety and content moderation failures involving Grok AI, make it an increasingly inappropriate platform for a state-owned public service to rely upon as its primary and in some cases, only communication channel. Iarnród Éireann should not require its customers to engage with a platform facing such significant ethical and safety concerns. Dublin City Council have this week stopped posting on the platform because of these concerns. 

Service Reliability: Relying on a third-party platform also creates vulnerability. Changes to X’s policies, accessibility, or availability are beyond Iarnród Éireann’s control and could impact passengers’ access to vital travel information. EU and Irish law limiting access to these platforms for under 16’s could be introduced in the coming years which would remove the ability for young people to receive up to date journey information.

I would respectfully suggest that Iarnród Éireann implement real-time service updates (including information on delays/cancellations/amendments) directly on irishrail.ie , along with TFI Live and the Irish Rail app, where they can be freely accessed by all passengers without requiring any third-party account. This information is essential public service data and should be universally accessible.

Recommendations for Improved Service Communication

Beyond relocating updates to your own platform, we would like to suggest several improvements to how disruption information is communicated to passengers:

Clear Alternative Transport Information: When disruptions occur, guidance on alternative transport options is often vague or incomplete. For example, announcements stating “Dublin Bus will accept tickets” leave passengers uncertain whether LUAS, Go-Ahead, or LocalLink services are also available. Clear, specific information about all accepted alternative services would significantly reduce passenger confusion and stress during disruptions. Additionally, when a delay does occur, stating ‘operational issues’ does not allow commuters to determine the length of disruption. Commuters could utilise alternate modes of transport in the event of disruption, but cannot make the decision on whether to do so or not without clear information from Iarnrod Éireann. Other international providers have recently switched to a more detailed information provision in the events of issues or delays. For example, Dutch Railways, instead of saying ‘operational reasons’ now say ‘a fallen wire, or broken down train’ that allow passengers to more accurately determine whether to find alternative transport or to wait. It may also be useful to include a scale, letting the customer know whether or not the incident is minor, notable, or major where possible. 

Visual Aids and Information Hierarchy: Reading lengthy blocks of text to understand service disruptions is inadequate, particularly for passengers trying to quickly assess their options whilst at stations or en route. Disruption information would benefit greatly from visual aids such as maps showing affected sections, clear headings, and structured information that allows passengers to quickly grasp the extent and nature of disruptions. A balance must be struck between providing sufficient detail and maintaining clarity.

Integration with Journey Planning Tools: Iarnród Éireann maintains a GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) data feed that enables real-time information to be pushed to the TFI Live app and third-party applications such as Google Maps or Transit. We strongly encourage Iarnród Éireann to utilise this capability fully, ensuring that disruption information reaches passengers through the multiple platforms they already use for journey planning.

Location-Specific Disruption Guides: For locations where service disruptions occur regularly, Iarnród Éireann should provide dedicated journey planning resources. For instance, a guide explaining “My train has broken down in Greystones, what services can I access from here and where can I find further disruption information?” would be invaluable. Such resources would empower passengers to make informed decisions quickly during stressful situations.

We would appreciate your consideration of this matter and look forward to your response.

South East on Track, Cork Commuter Coalition, Dublin Commuter Coalition, Galway Commuter Coalition.

#IarnródÉireann #IrishRail #Twitter #X

Accessibility Upgrade at Maynooth Railway Station

In these turbulent times I think it’s a good idea to stay grounded and pay attention to the small things in life that can make a difference. On that note I thought I’d share a picture of the new accessible footbridge and lifts at Maynooth railway station:

These works took over a year to complete and were finished before Christmas, but I only just got round to taking a picture. The previous footbridge was rather rickety and had quite steep steps which made it difficult to get across between the platforms. It was also uncovered; the new one provides shelter from the elements. Moreover, without any lifts any person in a wheelchair would have to leave the station, go all the way up to the Mullen Bridge on one side of the track, cross the bridge, go all the way back down and enter the station again on the other side of the tracks.

Usually the trains heading to Dublin leave from the platform on the right (Platform 1) and those from Dublin arrive on the left (Platform 2), but this isn’t always the case. In fact when I’m travelling back on the late train from a concert in Dublin it seems to be random whether it arrives at Platform 1 or 2. It doesn’t make much of a difference for me getting home, though. Platform 2 is marginally closer to my house but the station is only 5 minutes’ walk anyway.

The new bridge took such a long time to construct because foundations needed to be laid for the towers containing the lifts and the station itself widened to accommodate them. Lifts are quite expensive to maintain and one quite often sees on the electronic signs in the station warnings that lifts in various places are out of order. I hope it’s a long time before we see a sign that the lifts at Maynooth aren’t working!

The new bridge was built next to the old one, on the side towards the viewer in the photo above, but when the new one was finished the old one was dismantled. I for one am not sorry it has gone. Anyway, the new bridge is a welcome improvement for Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) users. Unfortunately Irish Rail persists in making its only service announcementd via Xitter, for which I can see no justification. Thanks, Irish Rail, for the Accessibility Upgrade at Maynooth, but you need to get of X. Now.

#IarnródÉireann #IrishRail #MaynoothRailwayStation #X #Xitter

Racing the train — joggers and an #IrishRail Commuter service heading towards #Maynooth along the #RoyalCanal

A still Irish winter afternoon on the #RoyalCanal just east of #Maynooth as an #IrishRail Commuter train approaches.

An #IrishRail InterCity reflected in the #RoyalCanal as it speeds away from #Maynooth, starting the last leg of its cross-country trip from Sligo to Dublin.

An idyllic winter evening along the mirror-smooth #RoyalCanal just east of #Maynooth as an #IrishRail Commuter train is reflected in the water.

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

An #IrishRail Commuter service slowing down for the signal protecting #Maynooth station along the banks of a perfectly still #RoyalCanal

An #IrishRail Commuter train passing under Pike Bridge at the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal opposite the entrance to #CartonHouse near #Maynooth.

A dull morning along the undeveloped stretch of the #RoyalCanal at Confey in #Leixlip as an #IrishRail Commuter service approaches the first of the two Leixlip stations en route to Maynooth.

https://www.europesays.com/ie/236993/ Anger after re-opening of Wexford-Waterford train line is omitted from government spending plan #Business #Éire #IE #Ireland #IrishRail #OffTrack #rail #RailReview #RedLight #SouthEast #Waterford #wexford

Yesterday morning was blustery but beautiful, and the commuters slowing down for #Leixlip Louisa Bridge stations could enjoy lovely views of the #RoyalCanal as they made their way towards Dublin. #IrishRail #train

An #IrishRail Commuter service passing the supposedly haunted 13th lock on the #RoyalCanal having just climbed the bank at Collinstown. This lock and level crossing are on a tiny back road directly opposite the big Intel plant in #Leixlip.

An #IrishRail Commuter service approaching #Leixlip along the banks of a mirror-smooth #RoyalCanal with some dramatic early autumn clouds above.

One last railway photo from my lovely walk along the re-developed #RoyalCanal towpath around #Leixlip last weekend — an #IrishRail Commuter #trian rounding the corner at the bottom of the bank between Blakestown crossing and the new motorway link bridge at Intel Ireland. #BlackAndWhite

An #IrishRail Intercity #train entering the tight turn on the approach to #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station as the railway and canal turn 90° to enter the Ryewater viaduct directly after the station. The newly redeveloped towpath is unusually free of joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists here!

An #IrishRail InterCity #train accelerating onto the Ryewatwr Viaduct in #Leixlip having rounded the tight turn on the approach. #BlackAndWhite

An #IrishRail InterCity rounds the tight bend on the approach to the Ryewater Viaduct in #Leixlip.

An #IrishRail Commuter service rounding the tight corner on the approach to #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station. This is a particularly pretty section of the #RoyalCanal because it seems to attract more wild flowers than the average stretch does.

An #IrishRail Commuter #train races towards Maynooth along the #RoyalCanal having climbed the bank up to Blakestown level crossing and the 13th lock at the entrance to the Intel Ireland plant in #Leixlip. The recently redeveloped towpath was heaven for a summer walk 🙂

I ventured down the section of the #RoyalCanal east of #Leixlip Confey station. The towpath has yet to be redeveloped here, so it gets pretty wild pretty quick, and apart from the odd jogger and dog walker you meet much fewer people. The #IrishRail Commuter trains still break up the solitude though.