Route Overview
The Enterprise route: Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central along the east coast.
The Enterprise is the only through train between Dublin and Belfast. It is also the only rail service in the world jointly run by a UK and an EU railway company. Iarnród Éireann operates the Republic side, Translink the Northern Ireland side, and the handover happens somewhere between Dundalk and Newry without ceremony.
Since the service stepped up to hourly in 2024, a day trip is genuinely practical. 180 km, 2 hours 8 minutes, with 15 weekday departures from Connolly between 05:50 and 20:50. No passport check, no border queue, no airport security. For the same money as a taxi across Dublin you get a window seat on one of the most scenic stretches of Irish railway.
Belfast Grand Central opened in late 2024 as the new terminus. It sits 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the City Hall. Onward Translink runs to Derry, Bangor and Larne, with direct coaches to both Belfast airports. From Connolly, the Luas Red Line waits at the door for O'Connell Street or for the hop to Heuston.
- Route
- Dublin Connolly → Belfast Grand Central
- Distance
- 180 km / 112 mi
- Duration
- 2h 08m
- Operator
- Iarnród Éireann + Translink (joint)
- Train
- Enterprise
- Frequency
- 15 daily Mon-Sat, every 2h Sun
- First / Last
- 05:50 / 20:50 from Dublin
- Currency
- Euro → Pound sterling
- From
- €15.99 / £13.50 standard single
How to Book
Irish Rail (from Dublin)
Book at irishrail.ie. Flexible standard single from €15.99, first class from €25.99. Seat reservations available online. Student Leap Card and other concessions bring singles as low as €8.75 for 16-25s.
Translink (return from Belfast)
Book at translink.co.uk. Flexible standard single from £13.50, first class single from £22. Collect from machines at Grand Central.
At the counter
Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central both have staffed ticket offices with full walk-up access. Walk-up singles cost around €30 or £33 - roughly double the cheapest online advance fare. Use this for last-minute travel only.
Journey Timeline
Seating Classes
Onboard Experience
Onboard Experience
The Enterprise is a mixed fleet and you will not know what you are getting until the train rolls in. Dedicated Enterprise trainsets, Irish Rail ICRs, and Translink Class 3000 units all run the route, and the rota changes with maintenance. Everyone gets free WiFi and a power outlet at every seat.
Only the dedicated trainsets carry the First Plus hot menu, topping out at £10.80 for a full Irish breakfast to your seat. ICRs run a trolley from £5.30 a sandwich. Class 3000 carries no food or drink at all.
Services run six or seven carriages, so standard rarely feels full outside the morning commuter peaks in either direction. The ride is smooth: jointed-rail rumble through south Armagh, then a noticeably quieter glide once the line crosses onto continuously welded track in the Republic.
The Enterprise vs the alternatives
Cheaper than driving once you add Dublin parking, faster than the bus, and the only way to actually read your book between the two cities. Drive only if you need a car at the other end. For Belfast's airports, you'll switch to a coach at Grand Central anyway.
- Day trips in either direction: hourly cadence makes it practical
- Working onboard: free WiFi, power at every seat, tray tables that work as desks
- Avoiding Dublin parking costs
- Anyone nervous about the border crossing: there isn't one to worry about
- You're going to Belfast International or George Best - both are bus-served from Grand Central, not rail-served
- You've paid for Enterprise Plus and today's service is an ICR or Class 3000 - check which fleet type runs before booking
If You're Connecting
Belfast Grand Central is one platform change from Translink's whole network. Derry, Bangor, and Larne Harbour for the Cairnryan ferry all run from the same building. Direct coaches to Belfast International and George Best airports also leave from Grand Central. The Belfast → Derry line, hugging the Antrim coast past Castlerock, is arguably Ireland's most scenic.
Grand Central sits 10 minutes' walk from City Hall. Hotels around Donegall Square and the Cathedral Quarter fill up fast during rugby internationals and Open House weekends.
For the return, Connolly puts you on the DART for the coast (Howth north, Bray south). The Luas Red Line waits at the entrance, with Irish Rail services from Connolly to Sligo and Rosslare. For Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, or Kerry, the Luas runs 15 minutes west to Heuston. From there, the Dublin to Cork and Dublin to Galway intercity routes are the obvious next moves.
Do I need a passport to get a train from Dublin to Belfast?+
No. There is no passport check between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on the Enterprise. Common Travel Area rules apply, so UK and Irish citizens move freely. Non-UK/Irish visitors should carry their passport as normal but will not be asked for it on the train.
Is it better to take the train or bus from Dublin to Belfast?+
The train is faster (2h 08m versus 2h 30m to 3h on the bus), more comfortable, and easier to work on. Bus fares are lower. The Enterprise wins for city-centre-to-city-centre journeys. For Belfast airports, take the train to Grand Central and connect to the airport coach there.
Can I take a bike on the Enterprise?+
Yes, but advance booking is required and spaces per service are limited. Book the bicycle through whichever operator you are buying the ticket with. Folding bikes travel as regular luggage without needing a reservation. There is no charge for carrying a bicycle but the reservation is mandatory.