Tickets Explained
Whatever your journey, we have a ticket that will be just right for you.
- Single or Return Tickets for the occasional traveller or group
- Season Tickets for more regular commuters or
- Tourist Tickets
- Online Tickets
No Ticket, No Travel, No Excuse (PDF 164KB) - Be sure to purchase the appropriate ticket for your journey to avoid a fixed penalty payment plus the unpaid fare due!
| Ticket Type | Available To | Conditions of Travel |
Online |
Ticket |
Ticket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single or One-Way |
|
Valid for one journey on the date shown on the ticket. Save up to 18% on single tickets in the short hop zone using a leap smartcard. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Day Return |
|
Valid for a return journey on the date shown on the ticket. | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Open Return |
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Valid for one outward journey on the date shown on the ticket for the outward journey and for one return journey in the opposite direction only within the period of validity shown on the ticket.
|
No | Yes | Yes | |
|
Valid for one or two adults and up to four children under 16 years. Day Return and Open Return tickets available. A minimum of one adult and one child must travel. Go to our Family Travel section for more information. |
No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Student |
|
A variety of student tickets are available which offer discounts of up to 30% on a number of full adult fares. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Schoolchild |
|
Discounted Single and Return tickets are available on the Dublin - Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, M3 Parkway & Greystones routes and are valid up to 7pm, Mon - Fri only. To apply for a schooldchild E-purse Smart Card download this application form. |
No | No | Yes | |
| Scholar |
|
Scholar tickets are available on the Dublin- Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, M3 Parkway & Greystones routes, valid up to 7pm, Mon-Fri only. To apply for a Scholar E-purse Smart Card download this application form.
If students are over 18 years and in Leaving Certificate year then a special extension will be granted, please email smartcard@irishrail.ie with the relevant details. |
No | No | No | |
| Ticket Type | Available To | Conditions of Travel |
Online |
Ticket |
Ticket |
|
|
First Class |
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Reserving a First Class seat- Those in possession of a standard class ticket on certain Iarnród Éireann InterCity Services (excluding Cross Border services) may upgrade to first class. A supplement will apply for each single journey on a particular route. Upgrades are subject to availability. | Yes | No | Yes | |
|
Reserve Standard Class Seat |
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Is an option for customers who are in possession of or purchasing on the day of travel a valid standard class ticket(s) such as Family Tickets, Day Return, Open Return, Weekly, Monthly, Annual, InterRail and Free Travel pass holders to reserve a seat on a service. | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 16-25 Railcard |
|
Holders of the 16-25 Railcard are entitled to substantial discounts off the regular Adult fare on presentation of their valid Railcard ID Card at time of purchasing their rail ticket. Applications for this card are no longer available, however customers in possession of a valid railcard can still avail of the discounted fare until their card has expired. |
Yes | No | Yes | |
|
Taxsaver Loyalty |
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Current Annual Taxsaver ticket holders can now avail of discounted fares of up to 30% on peak time travel fares online by selecting the 'Railcard/ Taxsaver Loyalty' ticket option. |
Yes | No | No | |
| Group Travel |
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Iarnród Éireann offer cheap rates for groups of 10 or more people travelling together on Intercity services Dublin - Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Belfast, Waterford, Wexford routes. Go to our Groups section for more information. |
No | No | No | |
| Child |
|
Child Fares on InterCity services for children of 5 years of age and under 16 years of age are charged at half the appropriate adult fare up to a maximum fare of €29.50. Where there is doubt regarding the age qualification, it will be the responsibility of the passenger to produce satisfactory evidence of age to secure the reduced fare. Child tickets are not available from Ticket Machines within the Short Hop Zone. Children under 3 years on DART services and on InterCity services children under 5 years travel free when accompanied by a passenger holding a valid ticket, provided children do not occupy seats required for paying passengers. |
Yes | Yes (Note 2) | Yes | |
Schoolchild LeapCard Application Form (64 KB)Note:
1) Tickets purchased online may be cheaper than the normal booking office fare, offer free assigned seating and are subject to terms and conditions accepted at the time of booking.
2) Child tickets are not available from Ticket Machines within the Short Hop Zone.
Season Tickets
Annual, Monthly or Weekly tickets are perfect for regular travellers commuting to or from work. Monthly and Annual customers should also consider joining our Taxsaver scheme where you can save up to 52% on commuting costs.
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Season Tickets |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Type | Available To | Conditions of Travel | Online |
Ticket |
Ticket |
|
| Taxsaver |
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Taxsaver is a facility for Employers to purchase Monthly or Annual commuter tickets on behalf of their employees - TAX FREE. Companies save up to 10.75% in PRSI while employees can save between 31% - 52% in tax, PRSI and USC. For more information and to see how much you can save, go to our Taxsaver website. |
No | No | No | |
| Annual |
|
Annual Tickets are valid for a 12 month period from the first day of any month to the following year. For more information and to see how much you can save, go to our Taxsaver website. |
No | No | No | |
| Monthly |
|
Monthly Tickets are valid for unlimited travel within the zone specified for one calendar month (e.g. January). Photo ID is required for Student tickets. Check out the students section for more information. |
No | Yes | Yes | |
| Weekly |
|
Weekly Tickets are valid for one week from Sunday to Saturday. Photo ID Card required for Adult tickets except in the Short Hop Zone. Available at any Iarnród Éireann Booking Office, on production of passport-sized photograph. Photo ID is required for Student tickets. Check out the students section for more information. |
No | Yes | Yes | |
Trekker and Explorer tickets are ideal for tourists (both domestic & international) who want unlimited travel around the country by rail or by bus and rail. These tickets offer freedom, flexibility and great value for money for anyone looking to explore all that Ireland has to offer by rail.
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Tourist Tickets |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Type | Available To | Conditions of Travel |
Online |
Ticket |
Ticket |
|
| Trekker Four Day |
|
Four consecutive days of unlimited travel on all Iarnród Éireann services in the Republic of Ireland from the date of issue on the ticket. Price €110. |
No | No | Yes | |
| Explorer |
|
Irish Explorer Rail Only offers customers 5 days unlimited travel out of 15 consecutive days on all Iarnród Éireann services in the Republic of Ireland for only €160*. |
No | No | Yes | |
| The Gathering Travel Ticket |
|
The Gathering Travel Ticket enables holders to have unlimited travel across Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann services in the Republic of Ireland for three or seven days.
*Prices shown are standard class fares. Tickets are available from main rail and bus stations nationwide and must be used by December 31st 2013. One child can travel for free with each holder of a Gathering Travel Ticket. |
No | No | Yes | |
Online tickets offer customers great value when booked 7 or more days in advance, assigned seating (where available) at no extra cost and are subject to terms and conditions accepted at the time of booking.
|
Online Tickets |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Type | Available To | Conditions of Travel |
Online |
|||
| Adult |
|
Single/Return ticket is valid for the date(s) shown on ticket only, however, customers can travel on an alternative service other than the time on their ticket provided they pay a €10 surcharge at the ticket office prior to departure. Customers will be assigned a reserved seat at no extra cost on the reservable leg(s) of their journey. | Yes | |||
| Child |
|
Single/Return ticket is valid for the date(s) shown on ticket only, however, customers can travel on an alternative service other than the time on their ticket provided they pay a €10 surcharge at the ticket office prior to departure. Customers will be assigned a reserved seat at no extra cost on the reservable leg(s) of their journey. | Yes | |||
| Student |
|
Students must be in possession of a valid college ID to avail of student discounted tickets. Single/Return ticket is valid for the date(s) shown on ticket only, however, customers can travel on an alternative service other than the time on their ticket provided they pay a €10 surcharge at the ticket office prior to departure. Customers will be assigned a reserved seat at no extra cost on the reservable leg(s) of their journey. | Yes | |||
| Railcard/Taxsaver |
|
Customers must be in possession of a valid railcard or valid annual taxsaver ticket to avail of discounted fares up to 30% off peak travel fares. Single/Return ticket is valid for the date(s) shown on ticket only, however, customers can travel on an alternative service other than the time on their ticket provided they pay a €10 surcharge at the ticket office prior to departure. Customers will be assigned a reserved seat at no extra cost on the reservable leg(s) of their journey. | Yes | |||
| Reserve Seat Only |
|
Customers who are already in possession of a valid open (unreserved) standard class ticket(s) such as Kid + Family Tickets, Day/Open Return Ticket, children under five, weekly/monthly/annual tickets, Interail and DSFA pass holders can reserve a seat on a service for €3.00 per person each way. | Yes | |||
