Limerick - Belfast

b3t4

Whats the best way to get from limerick to belfast??

I've been looking at flights, trains and buses. Trains appear to be the best option but is it the only way is what I want to know??

A.

loyatemu

quick look at CIE's site suggests:

by Train - dep 0935 arrive 1725 (includes about 3 hours in Dublin)

by bus - dep 0830 arrive 1455 (half hour wait at busaras)

much as I hate going anywhere by bus I wouldn't fancy spending 8 hours travelling, battling my way across Dublin from Heuston to Connolly and hanging around for hours waiting for the connection. Bus is probably cheaper too.

Oriel

UlsterBus Timetable
http://www.translink.co.uk/present/GLE_271_I.asp

I wouldn't fancy sitting on a bus for that length of time though - at least on a train you're able to get up and walk about if you want to.

I hope it's worth it, but I'm sure it is...

Victor

loyatemu, I think you do them a disservice.

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/timetables_junction1.asp

Dep.Sta.	Arr.Sta.	Date		Dep.	Arr.	Changes	Service
Limerick	Belfast Central	26/08/2003	0645	1305	2

Limerick	Dublin Heuston			0645	0914		InterCity
Dublin Heuston	Dublin Connolly			0954	1039		Bus
Dublin Connolly	Belfast Central			1100	1305		InterCity

Borzoi

Christ, that looks very like an integrated transport system - even if not a particularly good one.

Then again you probably have to throw another €1 at the bus

GerardKeating

Originally posted by b3t4
Whats the best way to get from limerick to belfast??
A.

JetMagic do a Cork Belfast flight with takes 50 minutes.

If you got the 12:30 bus from Limerick to Cork and the 15:40hrs flight to Belfast, your total journey time would be about six hours.

There is also a 6am flight if you came to Cork the night before.

Pity the Direct Shannon-Belfast flight is no more.

Victor

Whereabouts in Belfast are you going, seeing as there are 2 airports?

You could also check into flying - it might be quicker to fly to somewhere odd (like Stanstead) and then fly back, cost is another matter.

---

Depending on time of day you can fly Aer Lingus to Dublin and Aer Arann to Belfast.

Flight EI112
Leaving From SHANNON 0815
Arriving DUBLIN 0900
EUR 31.00

---

If you fly from Shannon to Dublin, you can get a connecting bus to any of these stations and get a train.

Malahide (route 230 - local €1.20), use Northern Suburban services to conenct to InterCity services

Howth Junction (AerDART - semi-express €4 (€6 to connect to any DART station)), use Northern Suburban services to conenct to InterCity services

Connolly Station (route 747/748 - express €5). all train services.

---

You could fly to Dublin and hire a car.

GerardKeating

Originally posted by Victor
Depending on time of day you can fly Aer Lingus to Dublin and Aer Arann to Belfast.

AerArran are to discontinue the Dublin-Belfast route..

John R

For Limerick - Belfast by Bus there are several routes, via Dublin is the quickest and easiest though.

Limerick 08.30 09.30 11.30 13.30 15.30
Dublin 11.30 13.10 15.10 17.10 18.30

Dublin 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00
Belfast 14.55 16.55 18.55 21.00 22.55

Via Athlone, with several rest stops:

Limerick 11.25
Athlone 13.30

Athlone 14.45
Belfast 19.50

Via Galway/Sligo

Limerick 09.35
Galway 14.40

Galway 15.00
Sligo 14.30

Sligo 15.45
Eniskillen 17.10

Eniskillen 17.20
Belfast 19.40

Via Galway/Cavan Fridays Only

Limerick 12.35
Galway 14.40

Galway 15.00
Cavan 18.15

Cavan 19.15
Belfast 21.55


It's worth noting that the Dublin - Belfast bus picks up at Dublin Airport, more useful than the train if you were flying from Shannon.

From Dublin Airport: 08.20, 10.20, 12.20, 14.20, 16.20, 18.20, 20.20. Journey to Belfast 2h30m

If you are travelling by train 1 hour is more than enough time to get from Heuston to Connolly, the Irish Rail online planner gives 1 and a half hours minimum.

dmeehan

Dublin Heuston Dublin Connolly 0954 1039

what the hell is this?

to a tourist this would look like it is another train connection.
would it really kill them (or show them up) to mention that this is a bus connection?

maxheadroom

Originally posted by dmeehan
would it really kill them (or show them up) to mention that this is a bus connection?

They do mention it:

mollser

FFS - 46 mins from Heuston to Connolly?? What a fine city this is!!

dmeehan

surely there is another bus between 9.14 and 9.54

BuffyBot

Originally posted by dmeehan
surely there is another bus between 9.14 and 9.54

I'm sure there is - those times represent the amount of time taken for the bus to get through the morning traffic from Heuston to Connolly

maxheadroom

Originally posted by BuffyBot
I'm sure there is - those times represent the amount of time taken for the bus to get through the morning traffic from Heuston to Connolly

That can't explain it - the train arrives at 9:14 but the bus doesn't leave heuston until 9:54?


40 minutes to get off the train and across to the bus stop?

GerardKeating

Originally posted by dmeehan
surely there is another bus between 9.14 and 9.54

According to the Dublin Bus Site,



09:20
09:30
09:40
09:50
10:00hrs

there aint no 09:54 bus...

Victor

Originally posted by dmeehan
surely there is another bus between 9.14 and 9.54

They are allowing for delays, stopping in shop / restaurant, etc. (presumably).