Connolly Station is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. Situated on the north side of the River Liffey, the station provides intercity and commuter services to the north, northwest and south of the country. The north-south Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) service also passes through the station. The station also contains some of the offices of the Irish rail firm, Iarnród Éireann.

History

Parent article: History of rail transport in Ireland

The station was opened on 29 November, 1844 by the Dublin & Drogheda Railway Company as Amiens Street Station, after the street on which it is located. Originally the station only served a single mainline to Drogheda, and only in 1853 did through services to Belfast commence. In 1891 the City of Dublin Junction Railway connected the station with Westland Row Station (now Dublin Pearse Station) on the city's south side. This allowed services to run from Amiens St., through to Westland Row, and onwards to Rosslare and the Southeast. Services to Sligo were transferred to the station in 1937, with the closure of Broadstone Station by CIÉ (see also MGWR ). Services to Galway and Mayo also originated/terminated at Connolly Station after 1937, running via Mullingar and Athlone. This was discontinued in the 1970s in favour of running services out of Heuston Station on the better quality Cork line. Passenger running between Mullingar/Athlone ceased completely in 1987.

In 1966, the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the station's name was changed to Connolly Station after Irish patriot James Connolly. At the same time, several other main stations in the Republic were renamed after patriots executed for their roles in the Rising.

During the late 1990s, Connolly Station was completely renovated and partially rebuilt. An entirely new station hall was built, the roof over Platforms 1-4 was replaced, and a new bar/cafe and shops were installed. The former DART/Suburban station entrance and the secondary station hall built with the DART (further north on Amiens St) were closed, but a new entrance on the International Financial Services Centre side was opened. In 2004, the Luas Red Line (to Tallaght) began serving the station. As part of the preparation for this, the ramp which had been a bus terminus was demolished and replaced with a 2-platform tram station.

Services

Connolly has both terminal platforms, for trains approaching from the north, as well as some through platforms for services from the south, or passing through to the south. There are seven platforms in total; four terminal (1-4) and three through (5-7).

There are three Intercity routes served:

• The Enterprise service to Belfast (intermediate stops, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Portadown)
• Sligo (some main stops, Maynooth, Mullingar, Longford)
• Rosslare Europort, via Pearse Station and the "loop line" bridge (selected stops, Arklow, Gorey, Wexford)

Suburban services run on the same routes, as far as Drogheda, Maynooth and Arklow. The aforementioned DART service uses some of the platforms equipped with overhead electrics (Platforms 5, 6, and 7).

Connections

While Connolly connects Dublin to the east coast of Ireland and Sligo, Heuston Station serves the south and west of the country. Connolly station is connected to Heuston via the Luas tram system. Rail links also exist connecting the two stations passing through a tunnel under the Phoenix Park. Passenger services seldom use this section, with its main purpose being the transfer of rolling stock and locomotives (the main service depot for Iarnród Éireann is at Inchicore, just outside Heuston).

References

• Johnson, S. (1997). Johnson's Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland, Midland Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85780-044-3.

• O'Connor, K. (1999). The Great Northern Railway in Ironing the Land, The Coming of the Railways to Ireland, pp. 23-45. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 0-7171-2747-8. (see also RTÉ TV series of same title)

External link

• Iarnród Éireann - official website