My Surprising Trip on The Slow Train to Sligo, with Irish Rail

[@geraldadley6605]

I know this line well. In 1955 I took the train with my family from Westland Row, now Pearse to Dromod. We then took the narrow gauge line to Fenagh. This line closed in the late 1950s. The steam train to Dromod from Dublin took about 4 hours. The line has been seriously modernised in the intervening years. Brilliant video. Thanks a lot.

[@wesleytill1629]

Another great trip... and report Mark. You have wet my appetite for doing something similar next year. I look forward to your next video. Thank you. 😊

[@wjp555]

Yes very interested in seeing cycle facilities being reviewed on your travels.

[@fitzg002]

Very nice video, hoping to try this soon. Can't wait to see your trip to Tralee!

[@simondavey7787]

Ireland does seem to have some fascinating railway journies. I'm curious as to where your bus journey takes you!

[@GlasgowReports]

Very reasonable price. I have always found rail travel in Ireland to be great value - fully flexible ticket on the Enterprise to Belfast being only €15.99 being a prime example of that! Great video too.

[@gavindonnelly1605]

Really enjoyed the Dub-Sligo report. Being a Dub myself, have never done the Sligo rail trip . Will be now!! Thanks.👍👍👍

[@sheilam4525]

Train looked very comy, Mark and some beautiful scenery😊

[@-DC-]

Fab Channel you are an absolute natural at this Mark 👍

[@davidoliver1169]

Hi Mark. Another well produced video. Always a highlight of the KZbin week. Take care.

[@andyfreeman7441]

Really enjoyed this - great to see the old water towers and station buildings still in place and seemingly well looked after.

[@ericdunn555]

Good man yourself, Mark. Super video; loved every minute of it - even your mispronunciations were quite endearing (Maynooth = minnoof, btw). Go raibh maith agat.

[@alanbrown3015]

It's fine in my view to take a different seat to the one allocated, unless it's a busy service. I could discuss rail eticet re where to sit etc and my favourite re most people apparently needing toilet door training! Re cycling vlogs I think it's a great idea. Lots of beautiful scenery close to your location in Shrewsbury and why not consider linear rides to a destination and cycle to Shrewsbury or vice versa?

[@LaoiseDeBhruin]

Great video! I used to communute on the line & you gave great info i never knew! They used to have a trolley with snacks, sandwiches & tea etc up until covid & they never brought it back. Really miss it!

[@baseballfan99]

It’s certainly a sedately pace but plenty of time to look at the scenery and I agree the price is very good. I find it ironic that my job has me talking to people all over Ireland, I live in England, and dispatching drivers to them so I am very familiar with the geography yet I have never been there. I have been to a bit of Northern Ireland but that is all.

[@horsehollerer]

So much great railway architecture to gorp at. Cheers! Btw, I think the bike series is a great idea.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers HH. Yes a different angle for the channel but no less relevant. I’ve never tried it myself with a bike so I’m sure it’ll be entertaining 😊

[@bobtheman19]

Sligo train station was mined and set alight during the Irish civil war there is still shrapnel/bullet holes in the walls if you look closely a decision was made many years ago to leave it like that I agree with it very atmospheric.The branch line right before the station goes to Sligo port

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Oh I wish I’d have known that before getting there Bob, love stuff like that! I didn’t have long in Sligo this time but I will go back at some point. Sounds an interesting place. 👍

[@kenhughes5642]

Great film as usual. Well done.xx

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Ken and thanks for leaving a comment 😊👍

[@barrybennett2544]

That was really helpful as I'm thinking about going to the music festival in Sligo next year and that'd be the ideal way to get there from Dublin (Ryanair from Leeds Bradford then that train ) Also I think you should try doing some bike videos 🚲

[@johnmc3862]

Good man!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers John 😊👍

[@robertalan3214]

Excellent content as always Mark, I love Ireland, look forward to next one, cheers 👍

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Robert, same here. Hoping to get a few more train journeys in! 👍

[@TheEastAnglianSpotter]

Excellent video mark those trains look comfortable

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate, yep a perfectly comfortable ride this one. 😊👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

Enjoyed the video, Irish Railways are interesting and have some lovely scenic journeys.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate, I totally agree. I’m definitely going to do more of them. Tralee next 👍

[@walterfillingham]

Ironically just watched Johnny Hoover video of his trip on Irish Trains to Westport 😂 always enjoy watching videos of railways in Ireland, really excited by their long term plans and aspirations for their railways throughout the island on both sides of the border. They seem to have a long term island wide plan

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes and I know JH has been travelling extensively around Ireland and will have his own take on the Sligo line in a couple of weeks time. I’m definitely heading back over there too in December 👍

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Mark

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Paul, appreciate the comment and the watch as always mate 😊👍

[@MaureenKelly-p8d]

Very enjoyable and relaxing video, thank you 🙏

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thank you Maureen 😊

[@Robert-G4PYR]

Another excellent video. Thanks….

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Robert 😊👍

[@stevewareing8525]

Thanks for another great video. 👍.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Steve and thanks for watching 😊

[@simonboulton4490]

I believe your on a CAF unit which were part of the up grading of the Irish rail stock .

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Simon, I’m finding myself mainly on these units atm, yes. Tralee next so I’ll be interested to see if that’s the same 👍

[@davidrumbelow]

I really enjoy traveling with you. For 34 years i was a rep in grocery businesses and traveled all over our province by car ( Cape Province South Africa)) So when we went to England and Ireland on holiday we didn't have think of public transport except in major cities..Even.the i drove i London, Birmingham and Dublin to name a.few cities. Your videos show me what i missed not using public transport.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks David. I think we’re quite lucky to have an extensive rail network (even after the 60’s). Even living in Shrewsbury I can be at Manchester, Liverpool or Birmingham airports in 1.5 hours. I wish it was cheaper sometimes but hopefully some of my videos can show how to do it on a budget. 👍

[@jacquelineross5453]

GOOD VIDEO, THANK YOU👏😁

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Jacqueline 😊

[@petersp63]

much less of a grumpy chops this time LOL Great Video Thank you

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Haha, I’m certainly not getting the same amount of hate in the comments!

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

I'll be heading off to visit Dublin next year, Love Dublin when I was last there.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I do like Dublin. Definitely take a look at the Premier Inns, they’re pretty cheap out of season. 👍

[@29brendus]

The junction at Sligo goes to Sligo Quay, still in use mainly for wood shipments.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Ah thanks mate - great info 😊👍

[@martinryan2370]

I actually did cork to Sligo this year in one day and returned To Dublin and train. To thurles The problem there is no trolley service That track goes from Sligo to claremorris to join the the west coast line closed in the 70s But will be reopened I. The next 5/7 years

[@trevormegson7583]

Please take your bike on a train. I'd love to take mine on one but it looks such a faff that it's put me off. Would be great to see your experience and observations. Would be need to remove the Pannier bags during transit etc.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It might well be a faff Trevor tbh, I don’t know. I am quite keen to find out though and it’d save me walking to the station for once!

[@James-Power82]

Excellent video Mark, the branch just before Sligo goes to the Quay. Of note, Video 125 did a cab ride along the Sligo line a fair few years ago too. Deffo worth watching if you ever get the chance 👍

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers James, I’ll give that a watch. Thanks for the comment mate, appreciated 😊👍

[@Carolinemortimer-x2g]

There was a catering trolley on this train but because of covit and there are trying to get it again sligo is lovely place to stay I lived in Dublin now live in letterkney

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes I think that was probably the case for a few of these trolley services. I hope they return but I think the vending machines might be cheaper to install unfortunately.

[@enricomonti156]

I did travel to Tralee last year by a direct train from Cork (although most trains actually terminate at Mallow) and the section of the line that passes through Killarney National Park is absolutely impressive. Tralee Casement Station is also line. I had some great train experiences in Ireland this year including the line you just travelled on, only in the section between Mullingar and Longford. Most of the branch line you saw in Mullingar is now the Mullingar-Athlone greenway, of which I walked 11 km and has still actual railway tracks on it

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I’m flying into Cork so I presume it’s a train out to Mallow and then over to Tralee. I have been to Tralee before when I used to hitch around Ireland. Just as a way of getting out to the Dingle peninsula really 👍

[@enricomonti156]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I went to Tralee to see a friend of mine who lives there. It is a lovely town indeed, and I also went to the Dingle peninsula as well. I would also recommend you visit the seaside cliff village of Ballybunnion, from where the first Transatlantic radio signal was sent. Also, if you happen on that side but during the spring-summer, you can visit the Lartigue Monorail Museum in Listowel. The volunteers rebuilt parts of that monorail which once connected Listowel to Ballybunnion

[@kevinellis8869]

Are you and Johnny chasing each other around Ireland?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

He’s chasing me 🤣 No seriously he spends much more time over there than me - I still have to work for a living!

[@irishmark2180]

great video, if you wanna see some country sites id head towards co kerry, the kerry mountains the views from there are great you will love it there, thank you for a great video of ireland,

[@irishmark2180]

you will love tralee ive been there many of times nice town

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Mark. I have been to Kerry back in my ‘hitchhiking around Ireland’ days. They were some great times. Got over to Skellig Michael once - that place is awesome! So many good memories, I always enjoy going back 😊👍

[@irishmark2180]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I lived in a village called listowel and I had ballybunion seaside 10 Mins away from my cottage I’ve got there. Kerry is a fantastic place to be in.

[@davidrumbelow]

A place you might like to explore sometime in the future. Island of st Helena, mid Atlantic Ocean.... no trains yet

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I’d love to David. Just need to start earning a bit more money first!!

[@timbounds7190]

Didn't like the most exciting trip in the world! Not terribly fast either! But at €17, I guess no-ones going to complain that much!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It’s certainly not fast but I knew that and was really surprised by the variation in the stations and the scenery (Lough Owel for example). Really enjoyed it 😊👍

[@twozerouk]

Did this trip in the late seventies in 1930's rolling stock and I seem to recall it took about five hours! The guard at the time told me the slow speed was due to worn out track. I suppose the hand outs from the EU brought about improvements. Surprised to be told the Irish gauge is approx 5' 2".

[@NedNew]

1600mm is the Irish Rail Gauge to be exact, not sure what that would be in old measurements.

[@twozerouk]

@@NedNew 5 feet 2 inches I think.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

5 hours is quite some mph average!! Bet it was a fantastic train though - totally atmospheric 😊👍

[@DarrenMaile]

Why did you not show anything of Edgeworthstown station ? You went from Mullingar straight to Longford

[@peterdean8009]

Why did you make the same comment *four* times?

[@DarrenMaile]

⁠well it wasn’t intentional - KZbin wasn’t uploading comment

[@rosemariesmith349]

More than once booked seats on train and someone else sitting in it and they refuse to move , its disappointing 😔 and puts you off

[@yyyfffff33333]

If the trains not busy then no problem moving around ! The problem I notice with seat reservations is how many people under 30 don't know how they work ! Not forgetting Americans on holiday in Europe .

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, good point 👍

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

Irish trains in general in my experience do not dash anywhere!!!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

No I agree! But I was kind of glad of that this time round. 😊👍

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

did you get a Guinness?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I got several!

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

Mullingar home to Mullingar pewter

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I didn’t know that. I did throw in a song title though I’m surprised no-one’s picked up on that yet!

[@djburland]

Interesting but too slow for me.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It’s definitely not a quick train but I wasn’t in a rush and really enjoyed the scenery 👍

[@jwilloughby6175]

1st

[@mikemainer3009]

You should have not to apologize for taking an unassigned seat. Irish Rail does an extremely poor job in allowing passengers to manually select their seat. T There is absolutely no indication on their seating pages what direction any of the seats face. Moreover, it is not clear on their seat selection pages if you are booking an airline verses table seat. Quite frankly, this is a problem with far too many rail companies. And don't get me started on these companies with poorly aligned seating that sticks unwary passengers with a bulkhead verses a window view.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, it is an issue quite common with most TOC’s and as you will have seen on this one, there was just a number on the display so whilst you would assume it’s been reserved it is not clear where it’s reserved from (or to).