Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Avis 

Another negative experience with Irish Rail. Train for Cork late so leaving at similar time to the Portlaois train. This resulted in a large amount of people queuing at Gate. There was a number of staff chatting and having a laugh but no form of crowd control, they just waited until the last second and opened up the gates allowing all rush through. No concerns with Health and safety, no consideration to the very young or elderly and no forward planning considering Bloom was taking place and this would clearly produce more customer traffic.
Really need someone who cares about the customer to take control of the many, who seemingly don’t.

I have been using Irish Rail at least once a week since I was 14. I’m 34.
In all of that time I’ve always paid for a ticket or used my leap card. Recently, I was going through an extremely stressful court case (I was a victim of a violent crime) and I had to go to Newbridge which is only one stop from where I live. I topped up my leap card at the ticket machine and boarded the train.

No sooner than I sat down a ticket inspector was at my table and took my leap card and said this isn’t a valid ticket. I was confused and asked what he meant because I know I tagged on right before I got the train.

He said didn’t even look me in the eye and and dismissively recited a script about why he’s issuing me a fine for not having a valid ticket. I said but I’ve tagged on so it’s taken my money and I topped up the leap card before I got on anyway so I clearly was intending to pay and it was a mistake. I offered to pay for a physical ticket in addition to whatever fare had just been deducted from my leap card when I tagged on but he refused.

He just robotically repeated himself and actually seemed quite irritated that I was explaining I hadn’t meant to not pay. He didn’t even lower his voice and seemed to be taking enjoyment out of embarrassing me and treating me like a criminal in front of the other passengers. The lack of empathy from him I actually found to be shocking given I have seen him and he’s checked my ticket on numerous occasions and I always have one. He kept repeating “you can appeal it” knowing full well they refuse almost all appeals.

I appealed it, explaining the situation how it was a genuine mistake and I CLEARLY had every intention of paying and it was refused with the exact same robotic lack of empathy by someone called “Deirdre” with no title and no second name given in the email.

I find the way they operate disgusting. They let off all the extremely loud tracksuit wearing drunks without fining them and tell them to just get off at the next stop. (I have personally witnessed this at least once a week on the train I get). But innocent people who have been getting the train for 20+ years and always pay get treated like criminals.

I genuinely think some of the ticket inspectors take out their anger at the drunk tracksuit wearing individuals who never pay on the regular commuters who always pay but make a mistake. I always see them fining people when the ticket machine at a stop isn’t working (I see this regularly so I myself have taken videos of when the machine at my stop isn’t working). The drunk loud people who openly drink cans of beer or vodka and take over whole sections of the train do not pay. We, the people who pay the train fare every time for years pay for those people to get the train for free and take the brunt of the ticket inspectors anger as well.

Absolutely disgusting. I would rather walk for 2 hours than use your trains again.

Not even going to get into how the train is always LATE, has people PACKED LIKE SARDINES and the toilets have no toilet paper and poo smeared on the walls.

Disgusting company with zero empathy and punishes loyal customers for what others do.

I recently had the pleasure of travelling with a young lady who has Down syndrome from Clara, Co. Offaly to Heuston Station, Dublin on 26th May 2025, taking the 11:35am train from Clara. From start to finish, the journey was a truly positive experience, thanks to the outstanding support and kindness of Irish Rail staff.
At Clara Station, the Station Master was incredibly helpful, arranging a ramp for my friend and making sure she felt comfortable and at ease. His warm and attentive manner set the tone for the rest of the trip.
On board, the conductor was equally supportive. He assured us he would be there to assist us upon arrival at Heuston Station—and he did exactly that. His help was greatly appreciated and made a big difference to our journey.
Our return journey was just as pleasant. We were met by another conductor who went out of his way to ensure my friend felt supported and confident. He took the time to reassure her during the trip and assisted her off the train in Tullamore.
The level of care and attention we received throughout both journeys was truly commendable. It made our trip not only smooth but also enjoyable. We are very grateful for the kindness and professionalism shown by all the staff involved.
Thank you, Irish Rail, for providing such a thoughtful and inclusive travel experience for my friend.

I was on the 10:58 train from Mullingar to Dublin on Monday 12th may 2025. I let the person know I had autism and the person helped me on the train and made sure I had a seat and asked if I needed help off. I was really appreciative of the help. Very good service

absolutely ridiculous. no planning whatsoever. poor unreliable staff. waterford-dublin train never on time. been stuck in kildare for 20 minutes?!?!

Really shocking service. Timetables from the 1980's!! On a Saturday 25 mins between trains for city centre. Then on the way home, DART arrives early and we miss it. The government wants us to use public transport then they should provide a better service. Other European cities can manage trains every 10 mins so why not Ireland???

Terrible company, never anyone there to help. We were going from tullamore to Dublin with our elderly father. We had booked and reserved seats so he could sit as several times before we were standing. Staff so rude at the gate when trying to scan your card and it doesn't work. I was shouted at by a small man who spoke little to no English and called me stupid, in reality he is probably dissatisfied with his job. But we had to tell other people to move out of the seats we had booked and paid for they got rude but it should be up to staff and management to make sure people are in the correct seats. Common sense would tell you to have an usher on board and have one or two carriages just for reserved seats. Joke of a place untidy,dirty,uncomfortable and very badly organised towards people with mobility issues.

The train is shockingly punctual, only 10 minutes early if you redefine “estimated arrival” as “sometime after your grandchildren graduate.” Second-class carriages double as exclusive rodent nightclubs. The rats don’t bother with the toilets (to be fair, neither do some humans), so the scent of Eau de Wild Nature hangs in the air like a fine mist.

That final kilometer from Drumcondra to Connolly? Pure magic. Leprechauns take their union-regulated strolls across the tracks while the train activates Irish Light Speed™, taking a breezy 20 minutes to cover 1,000 meters. There's either a wormhole or the driver is collecting Fairy trash in real life.

Meanwhile, in the waiting lounge for the Belfast train, even free-range chickens would file a formal complaint about the living conditions. Flickering lights add a horror-movie vibe, while wild birds occasionally swoop through the building like they’re inspecting their future nesting sites, complete the "post-apocalyptic bunker" aesthetic. It’s less "public transport hub" and more "early auditions for the next zombie survival series." All that’s missing is a guy with a shopping trolley yelling about the end of days, and honestly, he might just be running late.

Station names are a mystery. Jim Knopf is clearly winging it. I might live in Dungheda... , Dundalk... or Drogheda. Maybe all three. Maybe I moved and nobody told me.

And let’s not forget the ultimate money-grab attempt: Jim Knopf’s quest to devalue monthly tickets straight from the vending machines, even if they have 20 perfectly valid days left. It’s a bold strategy. Why honor something people paid for when you can just make up new rules and pretend it’s progress?

Either way, I respect the commitment to chaos.

Dublin Sligo train must b the worst train service ever.Its disimproved 100% in the past 40 yrs.Always late dirty toilets no dining service.Cannot understand why Irish rail management never try to improve this service.Dublin Cork train like being in different country.

Hands down the worst rail system in Europe…purchased a ticket only to be told it needed to be pre booked as the train was too busy ? Charged €21.60 for ticket at the machine that was supposed to go from cork to Tralee that could not be used! There is no explanation as to what trains are headed where the signage makes absolutely no sense,it’s pretty much a guessing game.The staff were absolutely horrible! The woman working on the platform clearly hated her job and probably her life..was extremely rude and spoke to me like I was a piece of dirt, she couldn’t answer simple questions and was very dismissive and abrupt.If you can avoid Irish rail at all costs.

The worst train service, I get the train 3 times a week, is never on time always delays. Speakers on train are broke so you can barely hear the driver. It's a horrible service

not enough carriages going from ennis to limerick a lot of us left sitting on ground due to no seats

horrendous torture trying to book tickets for 2. site keeps reverting to one. despite the update. gave up in the end.

I dont remember the last time trains were on time.
They charge 6.55 euro for a 2stop destination - from Galway to Athenry.
Prices are ridiculous.
Galway Ceannt Station is under construction. Queues to get on the platform are outside in the wind and rain. They managed to increase prices before the new train station is built. Shocking prices, pathetic rail company, that's always late.

When the train is late, you rarely get a notice about that! The screen will simply stop showing the arrival time and move on to the next train.

Embarrassing how outdated this rail experience is. GREEDY FOOLS

Comfortable journey thank you.
But why not display the "name" of Next Station in addition to the the distance to the station on the electric signage above each coach door exit

Just tried to book a return journey on the app and it fails each time you need to confirm payment with your bank. It seem to forget what stage in the booking process you are at. Also it appears to jump out to the website for seat selection. Waste of time!

Horrible at its finest. I was on my way to get home with my family on the route Dublin-Cork, to get to our station at Limerick Junction as we live in Tipperary, as we said goodbyes to my sister who lives in Dublin we were near the gate to scan our tickets. My mom was having problems scanning her disability card, and the guy was very aggressive from the start with a lot of people who had trouble scanning their tickets, he told one young person to use their head when he was trying to scan his leap card, with my mom he was very impatient and aggressive too, and saw my mom was having trouble passing through and he didnt try to help just stood and chatted with his other buddies and security guards. Then I asked him if he can help my mom as me and my brother have passed through the gate and my mom was still standing struggling. He grabbed my mom's card from her hands and started scanning very aggressively tapping the machine, then he didn't even try to give her her card properly it almost fell on the ground. At the end I got angry of his behaviour and the way he was treating people and doing his job, so I said to him 'to do his job properly and don't act like an as****' his behaviour was outrageous. I was very calm about the situation but it was very unfair how me my mom and some people were treated. After I said that, he stared chasing us and screaming at me to get back he jumped into my face and for a second I thought he will hit me for how aggressive he was acting. Then as he did that he said to me 'you don't talk to me like that, you hear me' he was talking/shouting straight into my face and he forbid me to enter the train so me and my family couldn't get home, we have to pay for a hotel as we couldn't get home. I tried to get some help in Houston station and spoke with another worker and he said he understands but he can't do anything as everyone already went home so we just stood in the station. We had to stay at a hotel and couldn't get back home, we paid over 200 for the hotel, this happened on 02/03/2025, my brother was late for school and I was late to work the following morning. Our tickets went down the drain. Tall dark blonde young Irish male usually at the back gate, remember him and speak about him! I'll try to do everything I can about what happened to us. This is unfair and not his position to do any of this, he needs to be talked about. I'll do everything so me and my family can get justice of what happened. We use this service constantly and never had any problems before. We are traumatized.

God forbid it's on time

Today on 16.02.2025 in Cork the train to little island was not going, there was bus instead, the bus was all the way on the other side of the train station. I came 5 minutes earlier and they told me the bus was on the other side, not knowing the station very well it took me 3-4 minutes to figure out where to go, I found the bus at 18:14 and was running to make it, at exactly 18:15, 2 buses left for little island, the staff member saw me and a few more people running but he didn't tell the bus driver to wait a few seconds and the bus left right in front of my eyes. It wouldn't be that bad if there was another one in 15 minutes or so, but the next bus was at 7. I was going for work so I had to call taxi and still was late for work. When I traveled the day before the bus was at the front of the train station but today it was on all the way the other side. I think that if you're making such confusing changes you should be more organised especially if the next bus is in 45 minutes, awful service I'm very disappointed

Do they ever clean the toilets on the trains they are disgusting the smell and floors covered in urine.