Belfast-Dublin train to take 11 more minutes

A Stormont politician is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe after it emerged the early morning train journey between Belfast and Dublin is about to increase by 11 minutes. SDLP MLA John Dallat said the “slow and overcrowded” Enterprise service was “crying out” for investment.

Instead of a 6.50am departure, it is proposed the first service from Belfast will leave 35 minutes earlier at 6.15am, to arrive in Dublin’s Connolly station at 8.41am. This will mean a journey time of two hours and 26 minutes, which is 11 minutes longer than the current time. Taking the bus would be faster by about a minute and travelling by car would be around an hour shorter.

Mr Dallat, a member of Stormont’s regional development committee, believes cross-Border rail must be recognised as a key way to address “one of many practical problems with Partition”.

“This can only happen when both governments make it a priority. Both governments must commit to creating a new Enterprise service which is fit for purpose, one that boasts a much-reduced travel time and has the capacity to cope with demand.”

A consultation on the new timetable is live on the Irish Rail website until December 8th.