We found some free seats in another carriage of the Irish Rail Intercity train to Sligo. You might call me narrow-minded, but I still consider many of the other passengers to be ruthless. Five people were playing videos on their speakers independently of each other, and a group of people were smoking cigarettes. Otherwise, it's a beautiful journey through the Irish countryside. I know that my future self will enjoy better Irish train trips. #BlankSpots
Over the next few days, I will be taking different buses on day trips. Taking a bus is very different to what I am used to at home. If you don't have a TFI Leap Card, which is a card for fare collection in Ireland offering reduced prices, you have to pay for your ticket in cash. The distances between official bus stops in the countryside are huge. It's perfectly normal to just go to the front and ask the driver to stop at the next intersection. #BlankSpots
The peak of my astonishment comes on my return trip with the TFI Local Link service from Sligo. The fare for my single ticket (paid in cash, of course) is collected in a personal cardboard box or tin, whereas the same route costs €3 one way and €5 the other way. I didn't receive any type of receipt or ticket. Other than that, the bus barely sticks to the speed limit on very narrow roads, but the views are stunning. #BlankSpots
Ireland's rail network consists primarily of radial lines leading to Dublin and Belfast. There are only a few additional lines in the south. Consequently, it is rather difficult to make round trips by train only. This is why we have to take the bus to our next destination, Galway. It's another beautiful bus ride. #BlankSpots
I am taking Bus 424 to Carraroe, in the west of Galway. The scenery is stunning.
This area is part of the Gaeltacht, where the majority of the inhabitants speak Irish. Most signs are in Irish only. #BlankSpots
We're returning from Galway to Dublin by train, of course. This time, it's a quiet and comfortable journey. It's an Irish Rail Class 22000 again, which apparently operates most Intercity services from Dublin (but not to Cork or Belfast). However, these Intercity trains lack a gastronomic service and even a first-class carriage. Only a few trains in Ireland offer these services. #BlankSpots
Dublin has two tram lines (with some shorter branches each) that form a cross in the city centre. If you need to change between intercity trains, you can take a tram between Dublin Heuston and Connolly stations, as we did. #BlankSpots
Dublin Connolly station is served not only by long-distance trains, but also by suburban trains (#DART : Dublin Area Rapid Transit). These run every 10 minutes along the coast to the Irish Sea, north and south of Dublin. Most of the rolling stock was built in the 1990s. Some of the newer models date from the early 2000s. #BlankSpots
In Dublin city centre, the #DART runs on an elevated line with stops every 600–1,000 metres. In some places, the trains pass apartments that are just two metres away. Sometimes, a commuter or intercity train with fewer stops comes between the DART trains. However, they are no faster than the DART trains, because overtaking is not possible. #BlankSpots
The southern section of the #DART network (with additional Commuter and Intercity trains) follows the coastline to the Irish Sea spectacularly. 😍
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lars' transport world