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Transport - Trains (DART)
Jan. 18th, 2010 10:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nacbrieTrain (DART)
Description: The main rail system for access in Dublin is called the DART (or 'DORT' if you're from particular bits of South Dublin). It runs from north to south, hugging the coast. Most stations have a northbound and a southbound platform, with access to the second platform via steps (> 3 m) and/or a lift.
Map: Here.
Useful for: Transport-wise it is useless for transport if you're anywhere but near the coast. If you are, however, then it's brilliant. It also goes quite far afield north and south of the city.
For general sightseeing, if you are mostly staying within the city centre and wish to see a little bit more of Dublin, then a trip on the DART to Greystones from the city centre will show you some really gorgeous views of Dublin Bay and Howth Head as you follow the bay around to the south and some breathtaking coastal scenery closer to Bray Head like this.
Cost: Once you've scoped out your lodgings and found they're near a DART station, you can calculate fares here. They're calculated on a per-station basis, but generally run from about €2-2.50 for a single, €3.50-4.50 return, €10-12 for an adult 1-day ticket and €17-20 for an adult three day ticket.
Operating Hours: They operate from about 6 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. on a Sunday from the city centre. Trains are timetabled, and there is usually a printed timetable at each station (there are online pdf copies for each station here).
Accessibility: Iarnród Éireann have a page describing access for disabled passengers, and a link to a PDF with the same information (NOTE: this is information for all the stations in the country, not just those in Dublin). Trains have quite a step to get onto them (IIRC, about 5-10 cm, although don't quote me on that). Ramps are offered at staffed stations, however not all stations are staffed and 'staffed' stations may not be staffed at all times, particularly out of hours (e.g. after 5 p.m.). Some (if not most, but the website will tell you) DART stations have a lift to the second platform. These lifts are often broken, but they always announce broken lifts on the display screen and possibly on the intercom at every station. Iarnród Éireann "invite you to notify them if you have any accessibility requirements so that your journey can be facilitated beforehand". I can't find anybody with experience of traveling on the DART with accessibility issues, but if you do then drop me a note!
Notes: DARTs are often horribly crowded at rush hour (8 - 9 a.m., 5 - 6 p.m.). Though the trains go quite far north and south of the city, often services will only go some of the way - f'rinstance, if you're staying near Greystones station, be aware that only half of the southbound trains will actually reach Greystones; the other half will terminate at Bray. They don't come too often, often once every 20 minutes or more. The trains are green and look like this. Coastal erosion can and does cause bits of the line to collapse, so check with the website for line closures.
Description: The main rail system for access in Dublin is called the DART (or 'DORT' if you're from particular bits of South Dublin). It runs from north to south, hugging the coast. Most stations have a northbound and a southbound platform, with access to the second platform via steps (> 3 m) and/or a lift.
Map: Here.
Useful for: Transport-wise it is useless for transport if you're anywhere but near the coast. If you are, however, then it's brilliant. It also goes quite far afield north and south of the city.
For general sightseeing, if you are mostly staying within the city centre and wish to see a little bit more of Dublin, then a trip on the DART to Greystones from the city centre will show you some really gorgeous views of Dublin Bay and Howth Head as you follow the bay around to the south and some breathtaking coastal scenery closer to Bray Head like this.
Cost: Once you've scoped out your lodgings and found they're near a DART station, you can calculate fares here. They're calculated on a per-station basis, but generally run from about €2-2.50 for a single, €3.50-4.50 return, €10-12 for an adult 1-day ticket and €17-20 for an adult three day ticket.
Operating Hours: They operate from about 6 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. on a Sunday from the city centre. Trains are timetabled, and there is usually a printed timetable at each station (there are online pdf copies for each station here).
Accessibility: Iarnród Éireann have a page describing access for disabled passengers, and a link to a PDF with the same information (NOTE: this is information for all the stations in the country, not just those in Dublin). Trains have quite a step to get onto them (IIRC, about 5-10 cm, although don't quote me on that). Ramps are offered at staffed stations, however not all stations are staffed and 'staffed' stations may not be staffed at all times, particularly out of hours (e.g. after 5 p.m.). Some (if not most, but the website will tell you) DART stations have a lift to the second platform. These lifts are often broken, but they always announce broken lifts on the display screen and possibly on the intercom at every station. Iarnród Éireann "invite you to notify them if you have any accessibility requirements so that your journey can be facilitated beforehand". I can't find anybody with experience of traveling on the DART with accessibility issues, but if you do then drop me a note!
Notes: DARTs are often horribly crowded at rush hour (8 - 9 a.m., 5 - 6 p.m.). Though the trains go quite far north and south of the city, often services will only go some of the way - f'rinstance, if you're staying near Greystones station, be aware that only half of the southbound trains will actually reach Greystones; the other half will terminate at Bray. They don't come too often, often once every 20 minutes or more. The trains are green and look like this. Coastal erosion can and does cause bits of the line to collapse, so check with the website for line closures.
