Irish Rail announces major changes to fares coming next week

Dublin Live

24-04-2025

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Irish Rail has announced that there are major changes coming to fares for its services - and it begins on Monday.
A new Dublin commuter zone is being introduced as part of the changes. As a result there will be a number of fare changes across the network beginning next week.
Irish Rail said: "The new Dublin Commuter Zone will replace the Short Hop Zone, and extend significantly further than the Short Hop Zone (SHZ) also. The Dublin Commuter Zone is broken down into the Dublin City Zone 1, and then Zones 2, 3 and 4, based on distance from Dublin city centre. As well as changes to fares, this means that ePurse LeapCards will now be valid over a greater area."
These zone changes include:
Northern Commuter – Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Balbriggan to include Gormanston, Laytown and Drogheda
Western Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Kilcock to include Enfield
SouthWestern Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Sallins & Naas to include Newbridge and Kildare
SouthEastern Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Kilcoole to include Wicklow and Rathdrum
A lot fares across Dublin are due to change from April 28. An exact, accurate fare calculator for your journey is available at the Irish Rail fare calculator.
These changes will entail:
Single (ePurse and Cash) and day return (Cash only) fares for journeys starting or ending in Dublin Commuter Zone 3 and 4 will be reduced, as will Monthly and Annual ticket prices for Zone 3 and 4 upon next renewal.
Reduced fares to/from Drogheda, Laytown, Enfield, Newbridge, Kildare, Wicklow and Rathdrum
Single (ePurse and Cash) and day return (Cash only) fares for journeys starting or ending in Dublin Commuter Zone 2 will be see a mixture of increases and reductions, as will Monthly and Annual ticket prices for Zone 2 upon next renewal.
Increases between Dublin and: Balbriggan, Skerries, Kilcock, Sallins & Naas, Greystones and Kilcoole, as well as some other intermediate journeys
Reductions between Dublin and Gormanston
Single (ePurse and Cash) and day return (Cash only) fares for all journeys within Dublin City Zone 1 will be unchanged, as will Monthly and Annual ticket prices
The daily and weekly Leap Cap applies to the Dublin City Zone only.
The maximum tag-on fares will increase as follows:
Adult ePurse maximum tag-on will increase from €4 to €7.50
Student / Young Adult maximum tag-on will increase from €2 to €3.75
Child maximum tag-on will increase from 65c to €3.75
Irish Rail said: "As a result, all LeapCard ePurse customers are reminded to tag-off at the end of your journey to ensure you are charged the correct fare. Please note this includes both Dublin and Cork LeapCard ePurse customers: while Cork area fares are unchanged, the Leap ePurse touch-on maximum fare will increase, so touching off is important."
The changes will also include the reduction of the Intercity Luas Add On to zero. For Adult fares, the minimum balance on LeapCard ePurse will now be €1 for Dublin City Zone journeys, and €2.50 for Dublin Commuter Zone 2, 3 and 4 journeys. For Young Adults and Children, the minimum balance on LeapCard ePurse is 1 cent.
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