If you are visiting for the first time, the Dublin train stations might surprise you in ways you don’t expect. The city isn’t the biggest capital, yet its railway story feels larger than life. Some stations are packed with commuters rushing to catch trains. But others have been turned into lively pubs, busy bus depots, or cultural spots that breathe new energy into old walls.
The busiest stations today can take you across Dublin and out toward different corners of Ireland. Then there are quieter ones that now stand almost like time capsules, still holding on to memories of the rail days, even though trains no longer arrive.
Discover Dublin’s train stations, both past and present. As you learn where to catch your ride and how they shaped the city’s transport network. Explore the stories that linger in their walls. By the end, you’ll not only know the train times but also the rich railway history that keeps Dublin moving.
Where It All Began – Pearse Station
Pearse Station, once called Westland Row, is where Dublin’s railway story truly began. Opening in 1834, it became Dublin’s first railway station, Ireland’s first city terminal, and even the world’s very first commuter railway. Back then, locals suddenly had a quick way to reach Kingstown, now Dún Laoghaire, and travel in the city was never the same again.
The station grew with the years. A big rebuild in 1891 allowed trains to pass straight through instead of reversing. Pearse soon became the headquarters of the Dublin and Wicklow line, later the Dublin South Eastern Railway. By the 1930s, after Broadstone closed, Pearse was carrying even more weight, welcoming services from Galway, Mayo, and Sligo and cementing its place in Irish railway history.
In 1966, it was renamed Pearse to honor the Pearse brothers, leaders of the 1916 Rising. The intercity trains may be gone, but it is still one of the busiest Dublin DART stations, with countless commuters passing through its platforms each day. I’ve always loved how the building feels both historic and alive at the same time. You get the sense of being part of a story that’s still unfolding. And if you are a film fan, you might recognize it in classics like Educating Rita and Michael Collins.
The Beating Heart of Dublin – Connolly Station
Connolly Station in Dublin, originally known as Amiens Street, first opened its doors in 1844. By 1855, after the Boyne Viaduct was built, it became the main gateway heading north to Belfast. That role continues today.
In 1876, it became the headquarters of the Great Northern Railway, and a few years later, in 1891, new through platforms connected Dublin to the south via Bray. Then came 1947 and the launch of the Enterprise Express to Belfast, a service that still runs under the same name more than 75 years later, making it one of the longest-lasting names in Irish train travel.
The station was renamed Connolly in 1966 in honor of James Connolly, a leader of the 1916 Rising. When the DART arrived in the 1980s, the station found a new role at the very center of the city’s rail system.
Today, Connolly remains one of the busiest Dublin rail stations, sending trains to Belfast, Sligo, Wexford, and Rosslare, as well as welcoming commuters from Maynooth and Dundalk. It even handles special services like railtours and match day trains, which always give it a lively feel.
I still remember heading through Connolly on a Friday evening trip to Belfast. The platforms were packed, the air full of that sense of weekend excitement, and it reminded me why this place is such a heartbeat of Dublin travel. With a Luas stop right outside and buses linking directly to the airport, it blends practicality with history in a way few stations manage.
Gateway to the South and West Dublin – Heuston Station
Heuston Station in Dublin has long been the grand gateway to the south and west of Ireland. First opened in 1846 as Kingsbridge, it became the headquarters of the Great Southern and Western Railway, sending trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kerry, and beyond.
The building itself always makes me pause. Designed by Sancton Wood, with a train shed by John MacNeill, it feels more like a landmark than just a station. The first time I stepped inside, the height of the roof and the sheer space made a big impression. My sister once said it felt like walking into a hall built for journeys rather than simply a stop for trains, and I could see exactly what she meant.
Over the years, Heuston grew. In the 1970s, new platforms were added, and in the 2000s, three more appeared to meet demand. For a short time, there was even a temporary Platform 10, linked to the main concourse by a shuttle bus.
One story I have always enjoyed about Heuston is its tie to Guinness. For decades, trains carried barrels of stout straight from St James’s Gate Brewery, rolling out through sidings at the station. That service ended in the 2000s, yet the thought that the world’s most famous stout once began its trip here adds real character to the place.
Renamed in 1966 after Seán Heuston, a leader of the 1916 Rising, the station remains the headquarters of CIÉ. Today, anyone heading to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, or Kerry will find their journey starting here. With the Luas Red Line stopping right outside, it is also one of the easiest stations to reach from the city centre.
For me, there is something special about knowing this historic Dublin train station is still the beating point for travel across the country. Whenever I think of Irish rail journeys, Heuston always comes to mind as the true starting point. It is no surprise that so many visitors consider it one of the most important railway stations in Dublin.
Lost but Not Forgotten – Broadstone Station
Not every station in Dublin still sends out trains, but Broadstone left a mark that has never faded. It opened in 1847 as the headquarters of the Midland Great Western Railway, sending services across the west of Ireland to Galway, Sligo, Westport, Clifden, and even Achill Island.
Broadstone once featured a locomotive roundhouse, something rare in Ireland, and you can still sense its scale when you see the building today. The first time I stood outside, what struck me most was how solid and commanding it still looked even without trains moving through. A friend of mine who passed it daily used to call it a sleeping giant, not awake anymore, yet never truly gone.
By 1937, passenger services shifted to Westland Road, and Broadstone closed its doors to the public. It carried on with locomotives for a couple more decades, but by the 1960s ,its railway chapter had ended.
Instead of fading away, the site found new roles. For years, it served as the headquarters of Bus Éireann, and more recently, the old alignment became part of the Luas Green Line. Watching the trams pass right by shows how Broadstone still holds a place in Dublin transport history. Even without trains, it stands as one of the most striking historic railway stations in Dublin and a reminder of how resilient the city’s story of travel can be. For anyone curious about Irish rail heritage, Broadstone proves that the past never fully disappears; it simply changes its tracks.
The Different History of Harcourt Street Station
Harcourt Street Station carries one of the most unusual stories in Dublin railway history. It opened in 1859 as the headquarters of the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway, sending trains to Bray, Wexford, and further south.
One story about Harcourt Street always gets attention. On Valentine’s Day in 1900, a train rolled too far and broke through the end wall of the station, leaving its engine peeking over Hatch Street. The scene was caught on camera, and those photographs still appear in history books today. My grandfather used to mention how locals talked about it for years, treating it as one of those moments that gave the city a story all its own.
Harcourt Street stayed active until 1958, when cost-cutting brought its services to a close. Thankfully, the building survived and avoided demolition. Today, it houses the Odeon Bar, a place full of nightlife energy. The first time I walked through the doors, it felt almost surreal to think that people were sharing drinks in what once was a bustling train terminus.
The railway line itself was not completely lost. In 2004, it became part of the Luas Green Line, and a stop named Harcourt keeps the memory alive for modern travelers. For anyone curious about historic Dublin railway stations, this is a place where the past and present mix in surprising ways, and it still feels like a piece of Irish transport history that continues to live on.
The Forgotten Terminal – North Wall
North Wall began life as a ferry terminal in 1861, linking Dublin Port with services to Britain. A dedicated passenger station followed in 1877, giving the site a more formal role in the city’s travel network.
Around the same period, the Great Southern and Western Railway introduced the “American Mail” trains from Dublin to Queenstown, now Cobh, where mail and parcels were transferred onto ocean liners bound for the United States. While these trains did not start at North Wall, the ferry and port connections there helped make Dublin part of a wider web of international travel.
I once stumbled upon an old timetable for this service, and it struck me how thrilling it must have felt to know your letter could reach the other side of the Atlantic thanks to a historic Dublin rail station.
Passenger services came to an end in the 1920s, but freight traffic kept the area busy for decades. The old building still stands by the quays, a quiet landmark that reflects Irish railway heritage.
I remember walking past it on a rainy afternoon while heading to a meeting nearby. For a moment, I stopped under my umbrella, looked up at the stonework, and thought about how many journeys had begun here. A friend of mine who works close by often says the same thing: that most people pass without a glance, not realizing they are right beside a piece of Dublin’s global history.
A Modern Addition – Docklands Station
After more than a century without a new terminus, Dublin finally welcomed Docklands Station in 2007. Built on the site of old goods yards, it was designed as a temporary fix to ease the pressure on Connolly.
Docklands is compact, with just two platforms, and mainly handles commuter services on the M3 Parkway line. What makes it stand out is its weekday-only schedule, perfectly suited to the business district around the IFSC.
I remember once heading there on a quiet Friday morning, and it struck me how different it felt from the city’s older stations. No grand halls or historic architecture, just a clean, modern space built with function in mind.
It may not have the presence of Pearse or Heuston, but Docklands is proof that the city keeps adapting. And with future plans to extend the Navan line, it could easily grow into a far more significant Dublin commuter station.
How Many Stations Does Dublin Have
Across the years, Dublin has counted seven mainline termini: Pearse, Connolly, Heuston, Broadstone, Harcourt Street, North Wall, and Docklands. If you include the short-lived Harcourt Road terminus, the total reaches eight.
What makes this list remarkable is that every one of these buildings still exists. Some are busy with daily traffic, others have taken on new lives as pubs or bus depots, and a few remain quiet landmarks. Together, they reflect a living archive of Irish railway stations, showing how Dublin expanded, connected with the wider world, and constantly reinvented its transport network.
Final Thoughts on Dublin’s Train Stations
For me, Dublin’s train stations are more than just bricks and platforms. Each time I pass one, I am reminded of the stories behind it. When I meet a friend at Connolly, I think of all the journeys that have begun there. Whenever I see the Guinness gates near Heuston, I picture the trains that once left full of stout for the rest of the world. And if I end up at Harcourt Street for a night out, I can’t help but smile knowing I’m standing in what was once a bustling terminus.
That’s why I love pointing them out to visitors. These stations are not just transport hubs. They are part of Dublin’s character, carrying memories of the past while still serving the city today.
If you are new here, I’d encourage you to look a little closer the next time you pass one. Behind every platform, every wall, and every name, there is a piece of Dublin’s story waiting to be noticed. I would suggest that explorers of all kinds visit Dublinz’s Facebook and Instagram pages. I’m sure your thirst for knowledge will be quenched with new stories and ancient histories!