Heritage Diesel Railtour Dublin Heuston - Kildare - Portarlington - Galway - Ennis - Athlone - Portarlington - Dublin Heuston.

Saturday 8th August 2026

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is delighted to announce the "Cú na Mara" Diesel Railtour.

The tour will depart from Dublin Heuston at 09:25 with our Big GM 071 Class loco immediately powering off from the capital as it makes its climb out of Dublin. This journey will recreate the journey from the 70s, 80s & 90s as you travel on our 1960s built carriages which have been beautfully restored and maintained by our volunteers and are hauled by an 1976 built 071 class locomotive.

The journey out of Dublin will be a fast one along the mainline, passing through The Curragh of Kildare and then for a pickup at Kildare (10:00) and Portarlington (10:12).

We will then branch to the right and head across County Offaly and then Westmeath to Athlone. After crossing the River Shannon, we are into the West of Ireland. We contine across into County Galway heading due West to the brand newly restored Ceannt Station for a 12:32 arrival.

After a short one hour break to service the train, we leave Galway behind and make the short trip out to Athenry. Here we will run around our engine and then head South along the Western Rail Corridor to Ennis with some photo stops along the way.

Ennis will be as far as we will be travelling today on this route. Here we will run around our locomotive for the final time today, with a short break here.

We will then retrace our steps to Athenry and then continue on back across the country, no West to East with our 071 class locomotive making a fine sound through the countryside at the head of our train.

We will have set down stops at Athlone (17:55), Portarlington (18:55), Kildare (19:12) and terminate at Dublin Heuston for 19:55

The train will be made up of our Cravens coaching stock complete with usual facilities of snack car serving a variety of hot and cold items throughout the day alongside our renowned bar car with draught and bottled beverages available all day. We now accept debit / credit cards on board as well as cash payments.

Requested haulage - IÉ 071 Class locomotive hauling the RPSI Cravens carriages. N.B. IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: ONLINE TICKETS

Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE once purchased.

If travelling as part of a group - you MUST make one booking to be seated together. Seating requests cannot be made after.

You will receive your tickets by email as soon as your booking goes through. These are you tickets which you must print off or have QR code available for inspection on the day.

Seating allocations will be emailed, no later than 2 days before departure. Please check your emails.

Children aged 2 and under can travel free of charge on their parent's lap.

Child Tickets are valid for 3 - 18 year old's inclusive.

We have seats for sale in the carriage opposite the guards van and in the bar carriage for the day. Please note that these are ONLY available as adult tickets.

Confirmed Timings:

09:25 Dublin Heuston (Depart)

10:00 Kildare

10:12 Portarlington

11:10 Athlone

12:32 Galway (Arrive)

13:45 Galway (Depart)

14:25 / 14:45 Athenry (Arrive / Depart)

15:52 Ennis (Arrive)

16:15 Ennis (Depart)

17:55 Athlone

18:53 Portarlington

19:11 Kildare

19:55 Dublin Heuston (Arrive)

Description supplied by the event organiser.