We are thinking of taking the train from Dublin to Athenry (on the Galway line) on a Sunday in June. I am getting mixed messages as to reliability, but does that mean they sometimes don't operate as scheduled or are late or what? Anyone with any recent experience with Irish rail service on a main line? I am not concerned about speed, just getting there on time for our appointment. Thanks.

In my experience, people who tell you trains are unreliable are most often people who never go on trains.
The Irish rail network is very simple, with only a few lines and infrequent trains. It is, therefore, very reliable. The UK, like most other European countries, has a very complex rail system with numerous junctions where trains connect and many tracks where trains on different routes converge.
I've used the Dublin-Galway line several times over the years, as well as other Irish routes, and cannot remember any serious problems. If you're travelling on a Sunday, you should check whether any engineering work is taking place on the track. If not, then you only need to worry about a train breaking-down or some similar accident, which is the sort of thing that could happen with any form of transport in any country.

Thanks, GeoffHamer, for the info. We love train travel and are going to give it a try. Will check on the engineering work the day before and have an alternate in mind, just in case.

Have ridden several trains in Ireland - to my dismay. Found that they are very reliable - reliably slow - I think a bicycle would be faster.

Dublin-Athenry is 187 km and trains take about two and a half hours which gives an average of 46 mph according to my calculations. It's not a TGV but, if you can do that on a bicycle, you'll be a world champion.

As long as it stays on schedule, I don't care how slow it is.

It's fine. We have a small rail network (we are a smallish country) so go for it. I don;t often travel by rail as we usually drive but on may occasions we have gone away in groups to the country and some of us drive and others take the train and its fine. Its not a 3rd world country if there is a delay its for a re4ason or just a short one. Take the train it will be a different view of the countryside.

It's not that the trains are unreliable though I have heard as si pointed out, they are a bit slow. The only problem I know with them is that they aren't a great option if you want to tour a lot of the country. Point to point should be fine though.

Bill

The trains here are fine, maybe a little late by times, but for a good reason. Life is not to be rushed!..but they are definitely faster than a bike!

The train we took from Cork to Dublin last week was right on time.

They are scheduled to start introducing their plush new train carriages this week.

I don;t mind savoring life if I'm walking - or in a car and can go/do what I want. But for point to point speed is the key requirement. 46mph - and I thought the LIRR was slow. That's called the Silver Snail and does about 65 between major stations. Come to think of it the express subway lines do over 50.