According to the Taoiseach, the launch of hourly train services between Dublin and Belfast is a significant day for the economy of the whole Ireland region, reports RTE.
Speaking at Farmleigh in Dublin, Simon Harris stated: “I think today is a really, really important day for the all island economy, for the island of Ireland, from a public transport point of view, to have seen the biggest expansion of this Dublin to Belfast route in a quarter of a century, is going to make a real difference.”
The largest extension of the line in over 25 years, the new hourly train service between Dublin and Belfast is being financed by a €25 million investment from the Department of Transport and the Government’s Shared Island Fund, reports RTE.
According to the Taoiseach, the service demonstrated how Good Friday benefits both northerners and southerners.
According to Mr. Harris, “it’s also about €25 million from the Shared Island Fund in my department that has helped make this a reality.” He also noted that it shows the value of institutions cooperating and of northern and southern ministers working together.
From Monday through Saturday, there will now be 15 services between Belfast and Dublin in each way, reports RTE.
There had only been eight daily services each way up until this point.
There will now be eight services on Sundays instead of the usual six.
A new 5.50am service from Dublin to Belfast and a new 7am service from Belfast Grand Central to Dublin will operate Monday through Saturday. Belfast already has a 6 a.m. service.
From Monday through Saturday, the last train from Belfast to Dublin will leave at 9 p.m. The current 8.50 p.m. service will be the last train from Dublin, reports RTE.
On Sundays, a new service departing Dublin at 8.50am is the first train north, and the first train south departs Belfast at 8.05am.
The last Sunday train, which is a new service, departs Belfast at 8:05 p.m. and Dublin at 8:50 p.m.
An hourly rail service on the Dublin/Belfast rail route has been a priority, according to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.
“This will help people along the line to choose the train more often and will strengthen both economic and social connections right along the corridor,” he said, reports RTE.
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