This page highlights projects in Ireland with relevance for Northern Ireland. It is also worth checking out the All-Island Strategic Rail Review to see the overall vision for greater interconnectivity including a railway from Portadown to Derry-Londonderry with a connection to Letterkenny and an extension not just from Portadown to Armagh but further to Mullingar via Monaghan, Clones and Cavan.
New ‘SailRail’ routes to France from Ireland
Integrated tickets and discounts are becoming available from Irish Rail stations via Cork or (of more interest to NI residents) Dublin to or from France. Although Irish Ferries seem to document and offer the arrangements currently, it may be that more is to come, especially on the Brittany Ferries Cork-Roscoff route, in 2024. For more details see the following webpages:
- Travelling to or from Ireland to onward continental destinations from Cherbourg France (discount)
- Travelling between Ireland and Cherbourg (Irish ferries – integrated ticket)
Narrow Water Bridge
Already covered on our main projects page, this bridge from Co. Louth to Co. Down will provide a step-change in local and regional connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians and perhaps also allow for new bus services heading from Kilkeel and Newcastle towards Dundalk and onwards to Dublin avoiding Newry. The project is being co-funded by the Irish Government.
Belfast-Dublin Rail Electrification and service improvements.
Now that the Northern Irish side of the equation has been given major feasibility study funding, hopefully Irish Rail’s joint commitment to electrification will also bear fruit. An hourly service is due to beging in Autumn 2024.