Trip Report! | Dublin Connolly to Belfast Lanyon Place in FIRST CLASS! (100 Subscriber Special)

[@AGalin-nb6dl]

Great video thank you for sharing

[@andyfreer1343]

Enjoyed this video I know the route well as I live in dublin and love travelling on trains as iam retired

[@garykuipers2696]

Being a retired railroad conductor (USA, NJ Transit) I enjoy viewing the varied transportation systems around the world. I liked your choice of back round music. Your format reminds me of Simply Railway. Very good presentation.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thank you very much Gary!

[@davidcorbett62]

@@IrishTransportGuy I travelled on it last year on a free ticket but didn’t need to do that so it may be something brought in recently

[@dougmccoy100]

A lovely and informative video which was well constructed and very nicely edited. Thank you for doing it and puttering it up on KZbin! 👍

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thank you very much Dougal! 😀

[@simondavey7787]

Thank you for a great trip report.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

You're most welcome Simon! Thanks for your kind words!

[@fulsomekitten2585]

Thanks for posting! Keep it up! :)

[@IrishTransportGuy]

You're most welcome! Thanks for the kind words!

[@henryhannon9055]

Hi Newry is in Co Down and not Co Armagh as stated, enjoyable vlog

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thank you! The city of Newry is in fact split, with most of it being in Down, however the station is in County Armagh.

[@mrinmoysengupta9548]

Awesome…I would be moving to Belfast soon by Oct. Hope to catch this ride soon.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

It's a lovely, scenic trip, so make sure you do when you move there! Just one tip: Don't go when it's too hot, as the interiors can get pretty warm!

[@barrygeary1890]

Im so looking forward to this trip on Wednesday im going from Midelton to cork cork to dublin dublin to newry love your vidios ❤

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks! Enjoy your trip!

[@Er.Sunil.Pedgaonkar]

North Ireland is spectacular

[@jerrybarnes6611]

All of Ireland is

[@przemyslawzarembski8866]

Great trip report well done!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks very much! 🙂

[@lisburnclaret]

Done it about a week or two ago from Portadown to Connolly, its an amazing trip there and back.

[@bonnieboy190]

Commuted 4 days a week between Balbriggan and Connolly for 12 years, loved watching the seasons roll by. Coming home the Mountains of Mourne after Skerries station was a delight when snow capped

[@musicmastermind6165]

so many years ago i got to go in the drivers conmpartment part of the enterprise in lanyon place it was very cool

[@oscyk]

Amazing video, well done!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thank you very much!

[@arconnelly5365]

Dude, I didn’t know there was a train station named after me.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

😂

[@arconnelly5365]

Btw, how much was the first class ticket?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I believe the prices have changed since I made this video, so you can check on irishrail.ie for online fares and times.

[@geraldwalsh6489]

It isnt......its named after one Billy Connolly

[@paulbelfastlimerick]

A great video. Thanks for posting. I used to do that journey a lot in the late 1990s and early 2000s between Limerick and Belfast. We used to stop for long periods at, or crawl through the Kilwilkie Estate in Lurgan on many occasions. It's hard to believe that the the DD sets are now 25 years old and in some respects they are timeless. Irish Rail have done very well with their new blue signage (apart from at Drogheda) but NIR would want to improve their signs now. I think that Dublin Connolly and Limerick Colbert were the first two stations to get those huge LED departure boards and Cork Kent has one now as well.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks for the comment Paul! It really does feel like the DD's are brand new, and also I believe Heuston also has the large LED board, with many stations around Dublin having the smaller versions that are also seen around Heuston and Connolly.

[@OscarOSullivan]

I prefer coaches to railcars

[@davyfella]

Congrats on your 100 subscribers. I've just become #135 I lived in Belfast for 10 years but never got around to using the train to Dub. Ive been living in Oz for 15 years now and have just ticked off one of my Bucket list items of catching the XPT (Similar to the UK HST) overnight sleepers from Melbourne to Brisbane. That's one 10 hour leg followed by another 14 hour one. You need to get over here soon and try that route as the XPTs are due to be retired shortly and the sleeper couchette service will go with them.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks! That's some trip, and I'd love to do it myself, but it would take some saving to try and get over to Australia, so sadly I'll probably never get to go on that service, but it does sound quite cool!

[@davyfella]

@@IrishTransportGuy Watch Rory Ding's report on the XPT sleeper service. Although he only did the short leg from Sydney to Melbourne. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaO7hplmhpyji68

[@dale9706]

Thanks for an informative video. Your seat looks great. Where do you stow large cases? Is it closer to the main door? I'll be taking this journey April '24

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks for the kind words! You can keep large luggage at the end of each seating area, which is indeed near enough any of the doors.

[@PC-vg8vn]

Were you able to book a specific seat in first class or were you allocated one? I would rather sit where you sat rather than sitting opposite someone for 2 hours.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

If you book online you can book your seat for free, so if a single airline style seat suits you, just check to see if there's one available and book it!

[@evangerrish6983]

Great tour of the train! Were you able to see if there was a luggage compartment?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thank you Evan! By compartment, what do you mean?

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

Living in Manchester and being nearest to Liverpool Birkenhead ferry terminal and also Liverpool John Lennon Airport, I’d consider going by ferry or flying to Belfast and getting the train to Dublin Connolly

[@IrishTransportGuy]

It is a lovely experience on the Enterprise so I would recommend that! Sounds like a great trip!

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

I have noticed that the price for 1st class has started to go back up close to what it used to be, before 2020. The price was about €33, I when I was looking on the Irishrail website.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I've noticed this slight increase too. I believe this is the cause of rising fare costs in NI as in the Republic prices have been cut severely over the last few months.

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

@@IrishTransportGuy Of course, they may have cut the price of the ticket to encough people back on to the train again.

[@Sam-pv7bd]

Are there charging outlets at Connolly Station? The website says there isn’t. And I emailed customer support and was told that staff could charge devices. I find it surprising that a modern country like Ireland wouldn’t put charging outlets for passengers at one of the main Train Stations in the capital city. Also, are there shops at Connolly Station to buy drinks and snacks? The website doesn’t show a whole lot of options. Finally, do you recommend buying a ticket for the Enterprise before traveling to Dublin or just buying a ticket at the Station?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

There are no official charging outlets, but you should find a few plug sockets dotted around the station if you need to charge your phone. There is a Starbucks, a pub, an Italian restaurant, 2 cafés, a coffee stand and a small shop if you want to grab a bit of food. And to answer your third question, I would recommend prebooking a seat on the Irish Rail website for free, but buying your ticket in the station as I have found that prices in the station seem to be cheaper than online, but it's up to you!

[@SebaZero]

Don't you have the risk of losing your prebooking? How is that they keep your reservation until last moment?

[@dgattenb]

i got that train in the late 90s .. it was awesome then !!! try and get a camera / phone with video stabilisation ... most modern phones have this feature

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I currently record on mobile (I'm planning to switch to camera soon) and sadly my 14 month old phone doesn't have it, so I'm going to try and look for a camera with that feature! Thanks! 🙂

[@DART25]

Exciting!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy it! 😀

[@DART25]

@@IrishTransportGuy I’d say I will

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@DART25 Good to hear!

[@davidohara24]

Connolly really is a great station. My local station (Drumcondra) has frequent trains that take less than 5 miniutes to get to Connolly! I've seen people talk badly about it because of the area but. With a wide range of frequent departures, access to basic facilites and It's located in a great place (for a station) theres really nothing to complain about station-wise!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Indeed, it must be handy living in Drumcondra because you're practically in the city centre already! A variety of bus routes and rail services there.

[@davidohara24]

@@IrishTransportGuy Hundred percent, I am travelling to Newry on Enterprise in First Plus in March and am very excited to make a trip report on that!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@davidohara24 Cool, I suppose I'll keep an eye out for it then!

[@dubIinaviation]

Well emmmm in my opinion for connolly, it's a bad station,dirty and small and the doors are allways open letting birds in

[@GracelaGjoka]

Prezzo di biglieto dublin belfas ?grazie

[@fredfredburger5150]

Is the train as quiet as your video suggests or did you edit the sound?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Despite the coaches being made in the 90s, they are quite quiet and I didn't edit the sound.

[@Salty3439]

New sub!

[@brianwhelan5382]

You might have mentioned that anyone wishing to take this train to Belfast who has free travel should go over to the manned offices on the right coming into Connolly station to get a piece of paper signed off on, if its a Sunday get the piece of paper and fill in what you can as the office is unmanned, I had to do this recently

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I wasn't aware of this, but thanks for the new information!

[@Luce306]

You can book first class online for this train and it’s 16 euros for it as I have it booked for 12 of April 2022 for half 9 am looking forward to it watching this the night before I get this train between nice video

[@kevinobrien8545]

first of your videos I've seen. Congratulations on reaching the centennial (centenary?) milestone. Constructive criticism -- I don't remember any sentence in your narrative ending in a full stop -- they all seemed to end with the exclamation point! More: every time I read "layed," I believe I should have been reading "laid." Sorry, my "inner proofreader" came out to play on your video.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks very much Kevin! And apologies for maybe using too many exclamation marks, but I'm just trying to make the video as positive as possible!

[@paulodonoghue7478]

Travelled on 1st class once before. Train was behind a Dart so did not get up to soedd until after Howth Junction. Had a breakfast which I can honestly say was the worst breakfast I ever had!! Need to improve standard. Will give it another go soon and see if any improvement!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I have noticed the Darts being problematic for faster trains, and it's a pity there isn't a passing loop until Clongriffin! I haven't tried the breakfast myself but I hope if I ever do it's better than what you were served.

[@pellertransportguy]

Nice video

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks mate!

[@SebaZero]

A few questions: 1. What's the official site for booking seats online for this train? 2. Do you know if they serve lunch or just snacks?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

You can book online at Irishrail.ie and they do full meal service for lunch and breakfast.

[@eprohoda]

Irih,like it, interesting ,see you later~😇

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks!

[@SizzleBacon]

I’ve been on both standard at first plus and I thought it was very good indeed. I got a monthly standard ticket from Portadown to Dublin costing around £35 I think

[@IrishTransportGuy]

What's your opinion on Standard Class?

[@karries6608]

Hello from Arizona... I was wondering how long was the trip?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Hello from Dublin! 😀 In total it took about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

[@jerrybarnes6611]

A train between "two countries" ?!

[@JamesKearnsbkk]

You really need to invest in a gimbal for your phone or camera with stabilization

[@oscyk]

Gimbals are very expensive James.

[@Flymochairman1]

Bha sin fìor mhath, air an trèan bho Bàile Atha Clìath gu Beal Feirste. Mòran tainge airson an film snòc. Chí mi 'rìthist thu anns filmachan èile, tha mi'n dòchas. Slàn leat! Tìoradh! (Tha mìse fir Albannaich!)

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Go raibh míle maith agat! Tá Gaeilge na hAlban an-suimiúil, go raibh maith agat (arís!) as é a úsáid! Seo cúpla focal Gaeilge duit!

[@Flymochairman1]

​@@IrishTransportGuy Hallo! Tainge mòr agad air freagart Gaeilge bhuat. Sgoineall. Luaghadh mi air do bhidìo, do bheachd air am 'bòrd-cheann' gun Gaeilge air an trèan, ach feumaidh sìnn Beurla air ùsaid, tha mi'n dùil! A-rìthist, tha mi'n dòchas air coimhead bhidìoan èile bhuat! Tìoradh an-drasta. (Thanks for the reply in Gaeilge and coping with my rough Gaelic! Cheers!)

[@robmiller2811]

Newry is in Co Down not Co Armagh...

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I believe the town is separated between the two counties, most of it being in Down, yes, but the train station is on the Armagh side.

[@itsme-sn5gi]

I'm from county Antrim, and I must say anytime I visit the republic the Irish language seems so forced! It's in your face all time time, really imposed! This video reminded me of it. Don't get me wrong I don't mind the Irish language and anyone who wants to learn it should go right ahead! But to make every child learn it, have it on every road sign, every town sign... Everywhere! It's too much

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I understand your point, and as a Secondary School student, Irish isn't my favourite subject, but I do like hearing it around and seeing it on the signs, it just seems quite nice in my opinion! But you do have a good point, and thanks for the comment!

[@gallowglass2630]

Our national language that is hardly spoken is hardly forced.The government are infact doing the bare minimum.I do agree that in schools it is kind of rammed down pupils throats and more needs to be done to make it a fun subject and more emphasis on conversational language,but having signs in irish is the bare minimum given that it is the first official or just official language the state is obligated to treat it as such.You cold argue that it doesn't need official status ,i don't agree but while it is there no point if its not going to use it officially .

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@gallowglass2630 I don't think it's that they don't care, but I feel like unless you genuinely pump loads of money and effort into it like Hebrew, it's impossible to fully revive it, and yes, I really agree that how Irish is taught is not harnessing its true potential as a subject. I study Spanish, and if Irish was taught in a similar way to Spanish I would love it.

[@itsme-sn5gi]

@@gallowglass2630 I guess its treated differently down south. I was pointing out, living in Northern Ireland where it's not seen all too much that It's very strange seeing it around every corner. Honestly I think here it's better, because if you want learn it you can, and not because you have to, or society expects it.

[@gallowglass2630]

@@itsme-sn5gi The language though obviously not the lingua franca of the country,has huge symbolic importance to the state and one of the reason to why it is an independent state.Yes there is some merit to what your saying,but its like splitting the Dublin GAA ,its sounds eminently sensible on paper,but for reasons of identity and history its not really a goer.

[@henryhannon9055]

Apologies I stand corrected

[@michaellaudahn]

Thanks for the video. Please use the metric system, you can still add traditional measures in brackets; and the notation for speed is km/h, not anything other - end of sermon .) Regarding the gauge: It can only be hoped that the irish government will find the wisdom to see the usefulness of gradually converting the network to standard gauge. The spanish/portuguese example shows that this can indeed be done, most of all through the gradual introduction (during routine maintenance) of dual-gauge sleepers. The advantages are evident: You could buy cheaper standard rolling stock on the global market, train ferries could be introduced, and if ever there is a rail tunnel built, the infrastructure would be in place.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks for the comment Michael! Sorry if you prefer to use km/h, I understand this is a correct way to say it, but kmph is also correct. And don't worry, I don't use imperial very much, I just use it for my videos as that is how speed and distance for railways is Ireland is measured. Regarding the gauge, it would be very hard and expensive to convert about 5,000km of track on the island to standard gauge, let alone buy new rolling stock, so although it might seem like a good idea, I don't think it will happen any time soon, unless a high speed line is built on the island, in that case, Standard gauge would probably be used.

[@michaellaudahn]

@@IrishTransportGuy Gauge: A few decades earlier, iberians would have said the same. Yet their gradual conversion will certainly take decades. Ultimately it's a matter of one's mindset, I guess .) Speed: The officially preferred version is km/h. Just pay attention to what the old metric nations do, and you will find this confirmed. I understand that the p in 'kmph' reminds you of mph, but no real need to introduce something new, as the status is globally well established and accepted.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@michaellaudahn As far as I know, a lot of local lines in Iberia are keeping Iberian gauge for the foreseeable future. Also, I'm not "introducing" anything by simply putting a P instead of a / to represent the word per.

[@michaellaudahn]

@@IrishTransportGuy Like I said: decades. Also, Portugal trails behind Spain, yet they are committed too, which is shown by their use of the dual-gauge sleeper. And as a video presenter, you have a kind of influencer function - like also radio/tv speakers who keep pronouncing wrong foreign names, simply because they are lazy and complacent, haven't learned about the Great Vowel Shift and what it means for native english speakers .) Bye!

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@michaellaudahn How could you compare a small KZbinr who spells an acronym a different, but still correct way to a "lazy radio presenter who gets pronunciations wrong"?

[@MrJckDoo]

@Irish Transport Guy You really need to have some commentary on these to get your numbers up.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

I'm afraid I wouldn't really want to do commentary now, but I'm sure I'll start doing it at some point!

[@MrJckDoo]

@@IrishTransportGuy Pity, it would add greatly to your high Quality video. But I understand.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@MrJckDoo Thanks for understanding, and I too also understand that it would make the videos of higher quality, but as I said I won't be doing voiceovers for the next while.

[@conorbrown5996]

You don't need to do voice overs. Might be some people's preference but I like the way it's done. Channels like TheRelaxingEnd prove you don't need voice overs to be big

[@M124M]

Keep doing what you do.😊 Get so tired of commentary as well as their own face on every scene

[@Paul-te8mz]

Thank you for your video, Look forward to doing the trip. Actually, Drogheda is in the country called Ireland. Look at the currency the passports or the stamps. The Republic of Ireland is the name of a fairly mediocre soccer team.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks for the comment Paul, but I feel like it was more correct to use Republic of Ireland in this case.

[@ak6866]

u need a better camera

[@PS-ru2ov]

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom not "technically part of the UK" have you ever read the good Friday agreement?

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Sorry if I caused offence to you, but I really don't mean any. I do understand that N.I. is part of the UK and again apologies for my wording, but I don't think I was incorrect in saying what I said.

[@PS-ru2ov]

@@IrishTransportGuy but its not technically part of the UK , it IS part of the UK, the irish government recognises it as such so should you

[@IrishTransportGuy]

@@PS-ru2ov Long time no see! Sorry if I misphrased it, I understand it's part of the UK, it just doesn't feel like an international journey to many travellers so I was just reminding the viewers that it is.

[@jackmason7823]

A good review, but could you not try and do something a little different to all the other train reviewers on KZbin? Honestly, the format is a carbon copy of a few other channels and it would be good to see something new.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Thanks for the comment, and I'm sorry that my video ideas are unoriginal, but at this stage, there are so many creators on the platform that it's virtually impossible to come up with an idea, and plus, this video has now got over 6,000 views, which I honestly didn't think I'd ever get when I started this channel, so sorry, but I am hoping at some stage that I can try and make an original, and maybe popular video type in the future.

[@bobbarnett4926]

There are 3 who make me nuts

[@rogerholloway8935]

𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙢

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

Should not food be complimentary in first class. At least there is something you can buy unlike the train to Cork.

[@IrishTransportGuy]

As much as I'd like food to be complimentary, the fares are already quite cheap and don't forget about the orange juice!

[@PlaygroundProsFC]

I get it free so I can go first class anytime

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Oh wow! That's pretty cool!

[@mtek334]

Awful shaky camerawork - seriously get a go pro and hold it steady

[@AlexP__]

Dude so mean🥹

[@dublindavepoker]

had to mute the music, it sucked

[@IrishTransportGuy]

Sorry you don't like my choice of song, it was the best one I could find.

[@oscyk]

dublin dave will you fight ben from dublin to see who is the better dub

[@dublindavepoker]

@@oscyk 7 days a week and twice on Wednesday