Questions About Belfast to Dublin

[Inniskeen]

Originally Posted by 5111

The wife and I plan to travel from Belfast to Dublin via train on Saturday March 10. We were hoping to go fairly early so that we would have more time in Dublin. However, as I look online, many of the fares are already sold out. Here are my only train options that I can find:

2:10-4:10 route for £17.98 for two (WebFare) or £56.00 (Standard class)
or
8:00-10:00, 10:35-12:35, 2:10-4:10 routes are all available in First Class for £88 for two

The jump from £17.98 to £88 is significant, but it would allow us to leave earlier.

Here is part of the problem: when we booked our flight, the only option was with 1 layover in Newark and it is only 1 hour. Most of the time, flights are on time, but with only an hour, I am somewhat concerned about missing the connection and therefore arriving late. If that is the case, I would probably lose my pre-booked train tickets. No big deal with £18, but £88 is kind of a big deal. Or am I worried for nothing?

I know that buying WebFare is much cheaper than buying in person, but is First Class that way? Should I just wait until we arrive in Belfast to buy the tickets if we are going first class? Will it be sold out? I know that there are other options like buses, but we have never been on a train so we are leaning towards that if possible.

Any help is appreciated.

Due to the Six Nations Rugby match between Ireland and Scotland on Saturday the 10th of March trains leaving Belfast at 1035 and 1235 will be be particularly busy. You should have no difficulty buying either standard or first-plus tickets at Belfast for any other services up to about 10 minutes before departure. No need to pre-book.

[5111]

Thank you for the information. It was very helpful.

Why do all the travel blogs say to buy the tickets online to save money if you can't unless you are in the UK, or is this just because the trip originates in NI?

So either I am out £56 or £88 for the train or I take a bus...

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by 5111

Why do all the travel blogs say to buy the tickets online to save money if you can't unless you are in the UK, or is this just because the trip originates in NI?

That is referring to train travel in Great Britain, which has a rather more sophisticated system and allows tickets to be collected at many major stations. As mentioned above, the Northern Irish approach is much less sophisticated.

Don't rely on taking a bus unless you're prepared for it to be full and have to wait an hour to get the next one, possibly two or three times.

[5111]

Thanks for all the help guys. I think that we will just try the train either early morning or early afternoon. We will save the bus for an emergency backup.