HOURLY ENTERPRISE SERVICES between Dublin’s Connolly Station and the new Belfast Grand Central Station will commence from tomorrow.

Fifteen services will operate in each direction between Dublin and Belfast from Mondays to Saturdays, up from eight each way previously, and eight each way on Sundays, up from six each way previously.

“This increased level of service will offer more choice and flexibility for customers between the two cities and for those that travel to/from interim stations,” a statement from Iarnród Éireann said.

The cross-border intercity service is supported by €25 million of funding provided by the government’s Shared Island Fund and the Department of Transport.

All trains serve Dublin Connolly, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Portadown and Belfast Grand Central. 

From Mondays to Saturdays, the services will be as follows: 

Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central: 05:50, 06:50, 07:40, 08:50, 09:50, 10:50, 11:50, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 15:50, 16:50, 17:50, 18:50, 20:50

Belfast Grand Central to Dublin Connolly: 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 21:00

Services on Sundays will be as follows: 

Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central: 08:50, 10:50, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 16:50, 18:50, 20:50

Belfast Grand Central to Dublin Connolly: 08:05, 10:05, 12:05, 14:05, 16:05, 17:05, 18:05, 20:05

The expanded service will be operated by the existing Enterprise fleet, trains from Iarnród Éireann’s expanded Intercity railcar fleet, and trains from Translink’s Regional Train fleet.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, said that he was “delighted” to see the expansion of the service, saying that it “has been a priority for both jurisdictions on the island” and a goal that both Iarnród Éireann and Translink have been working hard to deliver over the last year.

He said that the doubling of the service will help people to choose the train more often and strengthen economic and social connections “right along the corridor”.

“This is the start of our all island rail transformation.”

Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure John O’Dowd MLA said: “The introduction of the hourly Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin will be another huge boost for public transport, the economy and it will improve linkages not only between the two cities but connections along the entire north south rail corridor.

“I am keen that we continue to be ambitious around our rail network and look forward to a future where people across this island, in particular those in rural areas, have greater access to rail travel.”

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade, added that the new services mark the biggest expansion in the Enterprise service since the existing service and trains were launched in 1997.