Irish Rail Christmas travel arrangements (2025)

Irish Rail train

Iarnród Éireann has released full details of its Christmas and New Year rail arrangements for 2025. As in previous years, the festive period will include a mix of late-night DART and Commuter trains, revised timetables, and several days where services finish early or do not operate. We advise checking the Irish Rail website for the latest Christmas rail travel updates.

Late-night DART and Commuter services

Late-night services will once again operate across the DART and Commuter network in the run-up to Christmas. In 2025, these services will run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, offering additional late departures on the weekends of:

  • 4, 5 and 6 December

  • 11, 12 and 13 December

  • 18, 19 and 20 December

These trains serve key late-night destinations including Howth, Greystones, Dundalk, Maynooth, and Kildare (via the Phoenix Park Tunnel).

Example late-night departures include:

  • Pearse → Howth at 00:30 and 01:30

  • Connolly → Greystones at 00:35 and 01:35

  • Pearse → Dundalk at 00:40 and 01:40

  • Pearse → Maynooth at 00:27 and 02:10

  • Pearse → Kildare at 23:55 and 01:58

Normal fares apply on all late-night services, including Leap. Weekly, monthly and annual season ticket holders can use these trains at no additional charge. Security personnel will be on board each service.

Christmas and New Year timetable summary (24 December 2025 – 2 January 2026)

Christmas Eve — Wednesday 24 December

Rail services finish earlier than normal.

  • Intercity services run to a weekday timetable, but with several cancellations and alterations; last trains operate between 18:00 and 20:30.

  • DART and Commuter routes operate a Saturday schedule, with last departures between 19:25 and 21:00.

  • Phoenix Park Tunnel services operate a reduced timetable until around 19:45.

  • Cork Commuter services run a Saturday schedule until between 20:00 and 21:00.

Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day — 25 & 26 December

  • No rail services operate on any route on either day.

Saturday 27 December

  • A normal Saturday timetable operates, with some Intercity alterations.

Sunday 28 December

  • A normal Sunday timetable operates, with some Intercity alterations.

Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 December

  • Intercity routes operate revised and reduced services.

  • DART and Commuter routes run a Saturday timetable.

  • Cork and Portlaoise Commuter routes also operate Saturday timetables.

  • Phoenix Park Tunnel services operate with revised schedules.

New Year’s Eve — Wednesday 31 December

New Year’s Eve brings a modified weekday schedule and additional late-night trains:

  • Intercity operates a weekday timetable with some cancellations and alterations.

  • DART and Commuter services operate a Saturday timetable, with additional DARTs to/from Howth and Dún Laoghaire for the 19:00 fireworks.

  • Cork Commuter services operate a Saturday timetable.

  • Phoenix Park Tunnel services operate a revised schedule.

Extra late-night trains after Dublin’s New Year celebrations:

  • Pearse → Howth at 01:30 and 02:30

  • Connolly → Greystones at 01:35 and 02:35

  • Pearse → Dundalk at 01:40 and 02:40

  • Pearse → Maynooth at 01:20 and 03:05

  • Pearse → Kildare at 00:55 and 02:58

New Year’s Day — Thursday 1 January 2026

  • Intercity services operate a revised and reduced timetable.

  • DART and Commuter routes operate a Sunday timetable.

  • Cork Commuter and Portlaoise Commuter routes operate Sunday schedules.

  • There is no Phoenix Park Tunnel service.

Friday 2 January 2026

  • Normal services resume across all routes.

Christmas travel, DARTMatt Walsh