Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Reviews 

343
TrustScore 2 out of 5

2.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 50 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Customers frequently encountered significant service issues, such as frequent delays, overcrowded trains, and a general lack of reliability. The booking process caused frustration, with reserved seats often taken or non-existent, and online booking sometimes problematic. Train facilities were also criticized for being unhygienic, featuring dirty toilets, unpleasant smells, and overall uncleanliness. However, some customers praised staff for being helpful, kind, and going above and beyond to assist passengers. Conversely, other reviewers reported negative encounters, citing staff as unhelpful, rude, or difficult to locate.

What people talk about most

Service

Clients share negative opinions on service, with many reviewers describing it as very poor and a reflection... See more

Staff

Customers had ambiguous experiences with staff, with many praising their helpfulness and kindness, especially... See more

Location

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about location, with some highlighting specific stations like Heuston,... See more

Booking process

People report negative experiences with the booking process, often encountering issues with double-booked... See more

Facilities

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of facilities, with many expressing disgust over the cleanliness of... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Reserved 7 seats in the train from Dublin to Kilkenny and back. Outward journey was great even with rain and storm outside. Inward journey was made a hell of an experience by 4 people having thei... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The smell of urine from the carrage was unacceptable. The toilets were in a disgusting state. And you could see on the mat outside that they were leaking. These carrages are not cleaned properly, as t... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Apart from the major delays, the tickets are still really expensive, considering the travels from Portlaoise to Dublin. It's much cheaper to go by car if you have one. No wonder there is so much traff... See more

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Travelled the Cork dublin return last weekend train was packed. Had seats booked luckily. Train was ontime girl checking tickets very helpful and pleasant. Only thing was train stopped way outside st... See more


Company details

  1. Train Ticket Agency
  2. Transportation Service

Information provided by various external sources

Iarnród Éireann, also known as Irish Rail in English, is the operator of the national railway network of Ireland.


Contact info

2.2

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

343 reviews

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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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2.2

All reviews

(343)

84 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Top class customer service

At Limerick Junction getting off the Limerick train to change to Cork Train for a meeting - stupidly I got on the Dublin train and off I went - totally in the wrong direction. When I realised - the Irish Rail team were absolutely superb. They Checked with the driver for our best option, came back with options and they looked after us so well. Credit where credit is due - top class service thank you so much.

July 8, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

terrible service

Very upset on Monday while trying to travel with Irish Rail. My son who is 2 months of age and I were travelling from Dublin to Thurles on the 12pm train. I purchased ticket at 11:35-11:40am so was down at the platform with plenty of time. Loads of people came after me and got a seat on the train. When I got on the train and met the Irish Rail worker he was most unhelpful and told me the train was full that I would have to stand, I said I couldn’t stand as I had a baby who I would need to feed etc. He told me to wait until the train was about to leave and he would see if there was any spare seats. The man then went off to assist people who wanted to be upgraded to first class. I waited out on platform for 15 minutes watching so many come after me and get seats. The man/worker never came near me again and the doors were closed and off the train went and I left on the platform.

Surely I could have been treated better. Not good enough at all.

July 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I travelled on the 12 noon train from…

I travelled on the 12 noon train from dublin to cork today ie wed 26th June. It was a pleasure dealing with the lady serving the teas/coffees. She was so positive and pleasant dealing with customers, a joy to see. She radiated sunshine that is sadly lacking in a turbulent world that we are sadly experiencing presently. The ladies name is Antonio (Portuguese). I trust my sentiments will be passed on to her. Pleasure as always travelling with Irish Rail.

June 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Forgot my leap card but had my ticket

Forgot my leap card but had my ticket
Forgot my leap card but had my purchased ticket with me on the train and I showed evidence of my account to him and he still fined me but told me to appeal and it shouldn't be a problem to remove the fine. It took them 3 weeks to get back to me and they rejected my appeal and now I have to pay €100 as a student even though I showed evidence of my leap card student account via email. The employees are rude and intimidating and forceful and the services are slow and not helpful whatsoever.

May 12, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgraceful

Disgraceful. The train was 25 minutes late. Pig ignorant carriage staff. Totally condescending and just plain rude. I would never use this service again.

June 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I was attacked in the train station in…

I was attacked in the train station in cork last week and the security man the only man wearing a high vis yellow vest was on his phone the whole time it happened as I shouted for help he walked as slow as he could and didn’t hang up his phone call untill it was too late the boy was gone who attacked me by time he even got to me afterward he laughed smirked and giggled at me with his colleague as I waited for the guards the other security guard who was wearing orange with a ginger beard and ginger hair told me to “shut my mouth” or I’d have to leave as I was telling my mom what happened crying because I was scared didn’t know this was how you treat a teenage girl

May 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First of all the ticketing process is…easy

First of all the ticketing process is easy. Then, we had to change routes at the last minute because of line maintenance and Irish Rail made it very easy. Lastly, when my son left his cpap on the first leg of a 2leg trip, the staff recognized the need for it and forwarded it along so he could pick it up in Dublin. I can't thank them enough.

May 10, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent helpful staff

Dublin to Galway train which I use frequently Guards and Inspectors very very helpful, attentive to elderly passengers who needs extra help and also bike users ( remember to book your bike online first), Customer Service excellent and often not in easy conditions , thank you !

April 14, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The green commuter train from Dublin to…

The green commuter train from Dublin to Rosslare is stinking! Tge table trays are filthy, as are the windows, the floors and a sour smell. Irish rail doesn't employ cleaning staff it seems. Serious improvement needed. A lot of tourists on and it's embarrassing

April 6, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Coffee service

I was waiting on coffee trolley and our seats were next when the teatrolley person took it herself to skip over about 3 rows of seats nd move to next carriage despite me shouting excuse me as she disappeared. I found her later in another carriage and she said she had to go as the train was stopping and wasnt coming back! No rhyme or reason very annoying..especially as i was next to be served and then the teatrolley flew by skipping 3 rows of people

April 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The InterCity train service from Dublin…

The InterCity train service from Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort is a terrible service. Why ?
Because the train frequency is an absolute disgrace, with only 4 trains to Rosslare Monday to Friday and only 3 on Saturday and Sundays.
Even secondary branch lines in the UK get a better timetable and more than 4 trains a day.
No facilities at stations with toilets locked, Kilcoole has no toilets, no shelter from the weather and only received a ticket machine in January 2024 after waiting years for it to be installed.
Everyday when I get on the train I will find a person sat in my reserved seat, and the hassle of asking them to vacant my seat.
I have to use the train because of necessity, not because of a fantastic service.
Irish Rail needs to be privatised and maybe we might get a train down to Wicklow and beyond to Wexford say every 2 hours which in 2024 isn't to much to ask for !

March 8, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No 0 rate

No 0 rate, so I must chose an option. They are the worst train company in Europe for sure. Not even the first train of the day arrive punctual. Trains are always late, and they manage to get 5-10 mins late on a 40 minutes route. An addition they "advertise" in huge banner their punctuality is 9x% *5 or 10 mins and 99% operated as planned. Well, if they planned to operate the train will late, I think it is 100%. (Date of experience =always)

March 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don't buy a return ticket with Irish Rail

Bought a flexible return ticket which irish rail would not allow me to change the return time for my journey home. They would not allow as the ticket was already printed and so it could not be changed. In other words if you purchase any flexible return ticket and want to change it on the return leg then they will not..such arrogance from an organisation that is state supported. Don't get screwed like me and make sure to purchase tickets separately online and only print when you need to before each journey.. this treatment of people who depend on rail service is not acceptable.. horrible attitude shown by IR staff.

March 4, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Overpriced and rude

Ignorant workers overcharging people would give a 0 if I could. Can’t understand why a student card isn’t valid verification for a student ticket.

March 2, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Please do not rely on Irish Rail

Please do not rely on Irish Rail, they are absolutely terrible. The trains are always suspended and I have no other public transport option available, therefore I must book a taxi to get to work or home. I pay thousands for my taxi fares at this stage and none of it was ever refunded as they always have an excuse. All they say is "sorry for the inconvenience"- @Irishrail do you really think that your sorry is enough after all these years dissapointing your customers? I'm so frustrated.

February 9, 2024
Unprompted review

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