Faloola

I've done a little searching and it seems a round trip train ride from Dublin to Belfast runs about $53. Is this true? Why the high cost? It appears the RT from Belfast to Dublin, though, is less. Why? Are there any ideas or deals that I missed? Thanks in advance!

mjdh1957

Where exactly have you been looking to find this price?

PatrickLondon

Looking on Irish Rail for trains today, some are at 20 Euro, some at 10 (one way) - so a total cost of at most 40 Euro.
http://www.irishrail.ie/

flanneruk

'so a total cost of at most 40 Euro.'

= $52.80 at today's rate, or $53 if you round it. Would have been $30-odd before the Bush administration decided to devalue its country's currency.

That's the trouble with inept spendthrift governments. Chuck taxpayers' money away on pointless projects and those taxpayers find their currency's about as useful in the real world as Monopoly money. Tough - but that's why a cheap fare looks pricey if you translate it into confetti.

"The RT from Belfast to Dublin, though, is less. Why? "

Called the Free Market. Independent businesses compete with each other. One of those effete British inventions that'll never catch on in America.

Tony2phones

I use the Goldline Translink Bus

http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/...ast-to-Dublin/

PalenQ

since when is $53 return for that trip expensive?

PatrickLondon

That's top whack, BTW. There are trains at 20 Euro and 10 Euro in each direction. As with planes, there are different fares at different times of day, depending on how popular they are.

I don't see how you could get an 80-90 mile train journey much cheaper.

Faloola

Thank you one and all for the comments & ideas. I was looking at the Irish Rail, so it sounds like that is the place to go. I just finished an Amtrak train trip for a bit less, so my frame of reference for train tickets isn't very large. Thank you again...

flpab

53.00 is a good deal imo. amtrak is pricey but love it for longer trips here in the states, the schedule's suck though and so appreciate all the options irishrail gives its customers. They would rather clog our roads or build another friggin lane here in the USA than have decent rail service. We are now having another lane built on the worse highway, I-4 here in Orlando that will be a toll lane if you don't want to sit in traffic. Our idiot Gov turned down federal money for rail. I look forward to the scenic rail ride from Dublin to Belfast.

PalenQ

Ah to ride the Peace Train - the famous iconic Peace Train.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryofthewo...SGuk6GOMI_ZoBA