Cork to Dublin commute

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 9:03am #1

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this commute. I have just been offered a job in Dublin and while not fully remote, they only want me in the office once a week. I live in Cork city and the office would be in Dublin, near enough to Smithfield. Would this be doable? I know doing this daily would be madness but I am toying with the idea of once a week.

All feedback appreciated!!!

Thanks

Ken Tucky · 18-01-2022 9:13am

Its not something i would look forward to every week. Would it be regular 9-5 hours or would they allow you to work 8-4?

Regardless i would be using the park and ride at the Red Cow. Luas drops you straight to Smithfield. In no way would i be trying to drive into the city centre!

As i said if you could get in and out outside regular rush hour that would be very doable. Rush hour in Dublin lasts a lot longer than an hour and the Naas road can be quite busy from 7 on.

Once a week if the job is worth it!! I'd go for it if i was you

18-01-2022 9:14am

Train to heuston be grand once a week id say

urban_nudist · 18-01-2022 9:19am

Just over 2 hours on the train either way and a 10-12 minute walk from heuston to Smithfield, once they're committed to once per week long term and won't turn around when restrictions ease and ask for extra office days it should be something that you can manage

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 9:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118493069#Comment_118493069

It is a standard 9-5 job but fairly flexible, I don't think coming in earlier/later would be too much of an issue.

As others have commented, basically just wondering to myself if it's manageable. As I have been working from home for the past 2.5 years or so, the thought of a long drive once a week is nice but I know this is just rose-tinted glasses and all that.

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 9:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118493091#Comment_118493091

"once they're committed to once per week long term and won't turn around when restrictions ease" - This is something I want on paper if I went ahead.

bennyineire · 18-01-2022 9:23am

Once a week totally fine but I would not drive it TBH, traffic will add at least an extra hour both ways. Get the train and you'll be grand

maestroamado · 18-01-2022 9:31am

I think the train be the best option... i expect you be able to do some work on the train so not waste time driving...

Padre_Pio · 18-01-2022 9:34am

Train or bus will leave you within walking distance.

Either Heuston or Bachelor's Walk.

Bus is much cheaper than train, but you'll save on train tickets since you'll be planning your trips weeks ahead.

Ken Tucky · 18-01-2022 9:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118493102#Comment_118493102

I used to be on the M8 a lot...Probably my favorite motorway. Sometimes felt like the only car in Ireland..😀

The fun starts just before Naas if you do drive...Train probably is a better option but for me i would be doing it in the car.

From late March till mid October that could be a nice drive if your times are flexible...Could use the train for the dark winter months.

Anyhow best of luck with it. Im stuck in the same place everyday now so a trip like that is actually appealing to me the more i think of it..I did start by saying i wouldn't look forward to that drive but i have totally flipped now 😂

FishOnABike · 18-01-2022 9:38am

06:15 train from Cork + Luas from Heuston station to Smithfield would have you in work for 9am.

6pm train would have you back in Cork at 20:37.

It would cost €41.49 (train return) + €8.50 (parking) + €3.70 (Luas) = €53.69

How much earlier than 06:15 you need to be up to get ready, grab something to eat and get to the station depends on your own circumstances.

Is being up say 5am-ish and home 9pm-ish once a week is doable long term worth it for the job for you? Will the job remain mostly remote or will the number of days on site increase as CoViD work from home guidelines are wound down?

Chris_5339762 · 18-01-2022 10:28am

As the others have said, once a week is do-able and a nice little trip to break life up, but needs to be set in stone incase management start to insist on more and more.

Edit: Two days per week would be the absolute, absolute maximum, three would make it implausible.

Manach · 18-01-2022 10:31am

An ex-collegue did to a fairly regular twice a week jourmey. It was just about doable in terms of life/work balance but there were occassions when they had to stay overnight.

loyatemu · 18-01-2022 10:39am

might be easier to do 2 days a fortnight and do them together with an overnight.

I'd have to ask what is so important on that one day a week that requires you to be in-person - perhaps once you're settled in you could drop back to "as-required" in the office rather than a strict once a week.

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 10:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118493489#Comment_118493489

Isn't this it? There isn't anything really I would imagine bar old ideas of being in person I would say. I would think its more like to want to increase office participation instead of "as-required" as people return to the offices.

bk · 18-01-2022 11:24am

FishOnABike gave you good information there on the train times for a normal work day. Though if your company offered flexible work hours for that day, it might be a bit more appealing, for example:

Cork 7am - Dublin Hueston 9:30am - Smithfield by 10am
Smithfield 4:30 pm - Dublin Hueston 5pm - Cork by 7:30 pm

Obviously add the time it would take you to get too and from Kent station.

If they are just having you up for a bit of office participation, training and a few meetings, that might be sufficient. Specially if you could also work on the train, answer emails, etc. depending on the job.

I'd definitely take the train over the car, much more relaxing, can sleep, work, watch a movie. I'd highly recommend getting noise cancelling headphones, a god send for regular commutes like this.

You might want to work out the cost over a year of doing this, either by train, coach or car (Diesel + tolls + wear and tear) and check if it is worth it versus your current job, it might wipe out any pay increase you get from moving job.

BTW if you are booking the train far in advance, you can get it for €43 return, though need to add Luas + parking at Kent to that. You could be talking in the region of more then €2,000 per year.

I've a colleague who lives in Cork, we use to see him up about once every 6 months. Once you settle in the company might be willing to do something like that or even just once a month or every two weeks. Obviously depends on the job and company.

Padre_Pio · 18-01-2022 2:06pm

RE the cost, 50 euro travel cost a week for 50 weeks a year is 2,500 euro, or near 5,000 in pre tax money. Not small change.

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 2:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118494628#Comment_118494628

This is a very good point alright. Will have to take it all into account. Salary would have to be at least 5+ up so

B2021M · 18-01-2022 2:23pm

Can you maybe buy point to point taxsaver tickets that might help too? Not sure if available on a single route like that but think they are.

loyatemu · 18-01-2022 2:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118494837#Comment_118494837

5K for the annual ticket from Cork to Dublin, you get tax relief on that but at one day a week it doesn't seem to be worth doing.

bk · 18-01-2022 2:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118494738#Comment_118494738

And really you might want to be making quiet a bit more then that extra, to make it worth the extra 7 hours extra a week you would be commuting. Lost time with family, lost time with friends or hobbys, etc. Also what day of the week do you have to go into the office, if a Friday that would suck, cut into your weekend and you would probably be quiet tired Saturday morning too.

Of course, there are other reasons beyond money, more interesting job, learn new skills, good for the CV, etc.

Just some points to consider.

PhoenixParker · 18-01-2022 2:48pm

I know plenty of people who've had jobs that needed them to be in Dublin one day a week. They weren't remote workers, they just had senior jobs based in Galway/Limerick or Cork.

It's very doable but I'd negotiate that they pay for it somehow. E.g. a per diem rate for each day in Dublin, mileage allowance, or a company credit card so you can buy the train tickets easily

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 2:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118495043#Comment_118495043

That would be ideal alright but I doubt a standard MNC would be up for a mileage allowance etc. I can always ask though.

redcurrant89 · 18-01-2022 2:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118495012#Comment_118495012

Yep, the lost time is certainly something to factor in. Always hard to factor the lost time in terms of actual money. Sure I could put down the hour rate of the time lost, but it doesn't take into account a more interesting job etc.

bk · 18-01-2022 2:58pm

Yeah, thinking a little bit more about how much extra you would need to earn.

So lets say they offer 5k extra per year compared to your current salary, you are just breaking even with the extra cost.

But lets say they even offer 10k more. So about €2,500 extra after the travel cost and tax. Which is about €208 extra net per month. But now think about this, you will be commuting an extra 28 hours per month. So you are basically valuing your time at €7.4 per hour net (208 / 28) or less then minimum wage.

Of course, if more interesting job, etc. that is hard to quantify, might still make it worth it.

AndrewJRenko · 18-01-2022 2:59pm

I did the reverse journey by train for a couple of days a week for about four months in my 30s. It was tiring enough, but my generous employer provided the first class ticket, so I got breakfast and dinner at the seat, which broke up the journey and made use of the time.

You'd be crazy to drive it, definitely train or bus. To get to Smithfield, train is a no-brainer. I'd say one day a week is about the max you could do on an ongoing basis, depending on your personal energy and flexibility.

whitey1 · 20-01-2022 3:21am

I would look at the entire picture, not just the hours involved or the cost of the train ticket

With laptops, WiFi, cell phones etc…… your commuting time doesn’t have to be dead time. It could be the most productive 6 hours of the week

Use the day in Dublin to network, either internally with colleagues over lunch or reconnect with old friends/college roommates for a pint after work.

Maybe that one day in the office is a day when you can really show what you’re made of

They’re not asking you to come in for the good of your health….there’s obviously some perceived benefit to them of you being in Dublin one day a week

21-01-2022 4:26pm

If you can get your boss to include your travel time as time in the office (if you're on your laptop that's what it is) then you could get a much earlier train back to Cork. That's what I was doing for one of my staff when we were in 1 day a week. Maybe not suggest it first week.

Rather than Luas get a Dublin Bikes membership, you'd be down in Smithfield in 5 minutes.

Just wondering, will this job open up many more opportunities for you in the future or is it a sideways move?

Wishbone Ash · 21-01-2022 5:33pm

the thought of a long drive once a week is nice

I do Dublin-Donegal-Dublin one day per week (not work related). While it's fine in summer, in winter it's a different story. Bear in mind that, in winter, you'll be doing both journeys in the dark and, if it's wet, it can be a lot more tiring.

radiotrickster · 29-01-2022 5:14pm

I did Dublin to Cork once/twice a week for a year, OP. I got the train and it felt like a big journey at the beginning but once I settled into it and brought a book or my tablet with me, or even just a pair of earphones, it began to feel like an opportunity to relax and unwind after a long day!

_Kaiser_ · 02-02-2022 2:03pm

I'm living halfway between Cork and Dublin myself and have been approached by agencies for 2 jobs based in Dublin City Centre

One of them I rejected outright, having finally drawn out from the recruiter that they were expecting someone on site 3 days a week for nothing more than the chats

The second I did the interviews for and am waiting on feedback, but unless it pays SIGNFICANTLY more and has flexible times and no more than 1 day a week, I won't be taking it.

I did the occasional trip to Grand Canal in my last job and it took me as long to get from the M50 to the office as it did to get from the house to the M50 (as close to 2 hours total each way). I know some people here are advocating doing a hybrid commute or getting trains/buses but that just adds costs on top of a car I already have (and won't be getting rid of), and in my current job I have fully remote working and the freedom to drop into an office as I see fit rather than required. Sounds perfect right? Well maybe if the organisational structure and culture was a bit more mature it would be!

In any case, Dublin City Centre is a nightmare to get to/out of if you don't live in the city (and then you really need to live on a major bus route/LUAS line).

02-02-2022 2:19pm

How about drive to a commuter town (Kildare / Naas ?) then take the train from there ? Avoid traffic then comparatively short train.

BailMeOut · 02-02-2022 2:22pm

I know several people who commute to London every week so Cork/Dublin is definitely doable. The train is great and you can get a lot of work done on it if needs be.

freshpopcorn · 02-02-2022 2:27pm

I suppose OP you need your options.

A lot of it depends on what you like yourself without meaning to sound smart. It really depends on how you feel about driving/train.

P

namloc1980 · 03-02-2022 5:19pm

The fact it's in Smithfield makes the train the obvious choice I think. Before Covid I used to go to Dublin from Cork once every 2 weeks or so for work. Took the train most of the time as I found the car and traffic too much.

spitonmedickie · 17-03-2022 11:31pm

What did you decide to do OP?

_Kaiser_ · 18-03-2022 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118570846#Comment_118570846

As I said earlier in the thread, this just adds extra expense to the trip (trains/PT in general isn't cheap for the most part). Plus would he get a seat on a train at those stations or would it be another .. 45 mins-hour? (I've never done the trip) standing crushed against others?

If he was driving that far from Cork by car he might as well finish the journey, or go as far as the Red Cow Luas/P&R anyway if considering PT

mailspaining · 29-04-2022 5:27pm

Interested what you did too OP. Have the same offer. Day a week in Dublin contractually or can be called up with reasonable notice - seems pretty doable, 30 min drive to the train station, bus at Heuston should get me close to the office. Was thinking if I got the 7am or maybe 8am train and aimed for the 4pm train now working each way it's attractive. 5k a year more than now but scope for more.

Cork to Dublin commute

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