The Chris Rea song may have concentrated on those Driving Home for Christmas but many Irish people will be making their way home by train this festive season with as many as 400,000 intercity journeys expected over the Christmas and New Year period.
Iarnród Éireann has advised its customers to book online and check times before travelling by train this season and to allow extra time at stations in major cities to help beat the Christmas rush.
It has also issued its schedule for the Christmas period which is as follows:
Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th: Intercity services will operate a regular weekday service with some alterations until approximately 9pm. Most commuter services will operate a Saturday service until approximately 9pm while Newbridge/Kildare/Portlaoise commuter services will operate on a regular weekday service until approximately 8pm. The Dart will operate a Saturday service until approximately 9pm.
Christmas Day, Wednesday 25th: No services
Stephen's Day, Thursday 26th: No services
Friday 27th: Intercity services will operate a weekday service with some alterations. Meanwhile commuter services will operate a Saturday service with some alterations while the Dart will operate a Saturday service.
Saturday 28th: Intercity services will operate on the regular Saturday service with some alterations as will commuter services. The Dart will operate a regular Saturday service.
Sunday 29th: Intercity services will operate a Sunday service with some alterations while commuter services and the Dart will operate a regular Sunday service.
Monday 30th: Intercity services will operate a weekday service with some alterations while commuter services will operate a Saturday service with some alterations. Newbridge/Kildare/Portlaoise commuter services will be as per a regular weekday. The Dart will operate a Saturday service.
New Year's Eve, Tuesday 31st: Intercity services will operate a regular weekday service with some alterations while the Newbridge/Kildare/Portlaoise commuter service will operate a regular weekday service until approximately 8pm. All other commuter services will operate a Saturday service until approximately 9pm. The Dart will operate a Saturday Service until approximately 9pm.
Late night services will operate after the New Year’s Dublin Festival events, for Dart, Drogheda and Maynooth line customers until the following times:
- 1:30am from Connolly serving all stations to Bray
- 1:30am from Pearse serving all stations to Howth
- 1:40am from Pearse serving all stations to Maynooth
- 1:50am from Pearse, serving Tara Street and Connolly Stations and all stations from Howth Jn to Drogheda (including Clongriffin, Portmarnock and Malahide on the Dart line)
New Year's Day, Wednesday 1st: Intercity services will operate a weekday service with some alterations. Commuter services will operate a Sunday service as will the Dart.
Thursday 2nd: Normal schedules resume.
Full schedule information throughout the Christmas period will be available at www.irishrail.ie, and customers are advised to check their times before travelling on Intercity, Dart and commuter services.