Accessibility Policy for Intercity and All Other Routes

Iarnród Éireann endeavours to assist all customers with disabilities to travel on our rail services.

Guide for Rail Passengers with Disabilities 2026 (1.49 MB)

This section outlines our accessibility policy for Intercity and commuter services as listed below:

  • All Intercity services
  • Dublin Portlaoise Commuter services
  • Dublin Longford Commuter services
  • Dublin Connolly to Gorey Commuter services
  • Mallow - Cork - Cobh - Midleton Commuter services

Quick Navigation Links

Planning Your Journey and Assitance for Customers with a Disability

When you have decided to travel by train, where possible, please let us know your travel requirements in advance. This will allow us to facilitate as comfortable a journey as possible for you. If it is not possible to contact us,  we will do our utmost to provide assistance.

Our staff will use ramps to help you on or off our trains if needed. For the below stations, an hour's notice is required to ensure staff can be deployed to assist you on or off your service.

  • Heuston Station, Dublin
  • Connolly Station, Dublin
  • Limerick Junction
  • Colbert Station, Limerick
  • Mallow station
  • Kent station, Cork
  • Killarney Station
  • Tralee station
  • Kilkenny Station
  • Waterford Station
  • Athlone station
  • Ceannt Station, Galway.
  • Sligo station
  • Ballina station
  • Westport station

12 hours advance notice needs to be given for all other stations so that staff can be deployed to assist you.

At some stations there is a gap between the platform and the carriages. This may make it difficult for people who are visually impaired or have mobility impairments to get on or off the train. Assistance may be required for this.

The more detail we have about the assistance you need, the better we will be able to assist you.

When contacting us, please give the following details:

  • Date of travel
  • Time of travel
  • Departure station
  • Arrival station (including any intermediate stations where you have to change trains)
  • Nature of disability
  • Assistance required
  • Means of transport to and from departure and arrival stations eg taxi, private car and whether someone is meeting you at your destination
  • Whether you will be travelling alone or with a companion
  • Whether assistance will be required at both the departure and arrival stations (including changeover stations if applicable) and if so how staff will be able to identify you
  • Any other details to assist railway staff or which you wish to clarify

If you need to cancel a journey for which special arrangements have been made, please let us know. This will mean our staff can be made available to assist others.

JAM Card

The JAM Card was made by NOW Group, a social enterprise that supports those with learning difficulties and autism. NOW Group help them to get jobs for the long term. Their service users asked for a way to let people know that they need a little extra time or patience.

Find out more about NOW Group at  nowgroup.org and JAM Card at  jamcard.org.

The JAM Card is for those with a learning difficulty, autism, Asperger’s or any condition where there can be a barrier to communication. It is a simple, non-verbal way to let others know that you may need a bit of time or patience. The JAM Card is useful on public transport or in any customer facing environment.

There are 3 message options to choose from:

  • Please be patient, I have autism or Asperger's
  • Please be patient, I have a learning disability or difficulty
  • Please be patient, I have a condition

Where can I get one?

You can pick up an JAM Card at one of the following stations;

Connolly Station, Dublin
Pearse Station, Dublin
Heuston Station, Dublin
Kent Station, Cork
Ceannt Station, Galway
Colbert Station, Limerick
Plunkett Station, Waterford
MacDiarmada Station, Sligo

You can also request one directly from NOW Group through the JAM Card website. You just need to fill out the request form.

If you prefer not to use a physical card, there is a JAM Card app available for Android and iOS. The app lets you choose your message option, leave reviews, and find JAM friendly businesses.

Disabled Car Parking at Iarnród Éireann Stations

All of our station car parks have spaces for European Parking Card holders. They are at convenient locations on concrete or tarmac, with dropped kerbs. They are fitted with non slip pavements where it is possible to install them. To see more on accessibility at each of our stations, take a look at our   station pages.

Wheelchairs/Rollators and Powered Scooters On-Board Trains

There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible spaces on each train. It is important that you book your space in advance.

We can accommodate wheelchairs or powered scooters up to:
700mm in width
1200 mm long (including the footplates)
1435mm in height (including the occupant)
300kg in weight (including the occupant)
a turning radius of 900mm.

For the comfort of all our customers, Rollators must be folded and stored in the luggage racks. If you plan to travel with an oxygen tank, please call us on 0818 366222 to arrange suitable assistance and seating.

If your wheelchair or mobility scooter is larger that the dimensions above, we cannot accept it. It may not be able to turn corners on board the train which can pose a safety risk.

Scooters come in many shapes and sizes, so many have problems on trains. Some can not be manoeuvred safely on board. This means that trains can not carry some scooters. If you are a scooter user who wants to travel by rail, please get in touch with the station to ensure your scooter can be accommodated.

Priority Seating On-board Trains

We aim to make all reasonable efforts so that our disabled passengers can get a seat on a train. You can book seats online at www.irishrail.ie. Most of the time, this will be a Priority Seat. 

Assistance Dogs On-board Trains

Guide or Assistance dogs are welcome on all Iarnród Éireann services and in train stations.

Riding the Train

The Riding the Train social story aims to help those with sensory needs or communication issues when they take the train. Eg autism, ADHD, etc. It shows a simple, step by step guide to taking the train with ways to overcome sensory issues on the way.

Quieter Carriage

The Quieter carriage is now on on all services between Heuston and Cork. It aims to improve our services for those with sensory issues.

You can now book the Quieter carriage (carriage G) online. It is marked with purple branding. You will see this when you book online and when you board the train. For more, see our FAQ section.

▶

Sensory Packs

We offer Sensory Packs for those with sensory challenges.

The packs have ear defenders, sunglasses and a fidget spinner. They are given to customers with additional needs. These packs are free of charge. You can get one by filling in the form below.

Sensory Pod - Cork

A Sensory Pod is available at Kent Station, Cork. It is part of Iarnród Éireann's work to improve accessibility and support inclusive travel. The pod is part of a pilot programme that will help guide future accessibility improvements across the rail network.

The Sensory Pod provides a calm and quiet space inside the station. It supports customers who may experience sensory overload or who may need time away from busy surroundings. Customers can use the pod if they begin to feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed during their journey.

The pod is a private and comfortable space where customers can take time to feel settled before continuing their journey.

The Sensory Pod is located in the Travel Centre at Kent Station, Cork.

Complaints under Disability Act

If you wish to register a complaint under the 2005 Disability Act please contact access@irishrail.ie.

The 2005 Disability Act

Contact Us

Top