Train Routes

Getting there- the best routes to Limerick

Limericks central location in the Midwest of Ireland makes it is easily accessible from all corners of the country.  In addition to its superb location, Limerick is well connected by public transport links.  Driving is also a convenient means of travel as the city lies along the path of many major Irish motorways.  In addition to this, Shannon International Airport is just a mere thirty minutes west of the city so you are spoilt for choice when it comes to convenient ways in which to reach Limerick!

By car

Limerick is situated at the crossroads of several of Ireland’s main motorways, so driving can be a practical mode of transport.  By taking the N7 from Dublin, this straightforward route will have you in the city in less than 3 hours. The N20 motorway connects Cork to the city in about an hour and a half, and when coming from Galway, take the N6 motorway to the N66 and then the smaller N19, which will take you straight into Limerick.

By rail

Irish Rail operate a high-speed commuter rail line from Dublin with seventeen trains running daily from Heuston Station.  Other towns can also be accessed from these hubs, including Rosslare Europort via Waterford, Cork and Tralee.

All trains arrive at Limerick’s Colbert Station, which is centrally located and is a 5 minute walk from the City Centre and also serves as the city’s main bus terminal.  Thomond Park and the Gaelic grounds are 20-25 minutes away. Bus Éireann provide a shuttle service from the City Centre to Thomond Park for all major fixtures.

For more information on train schedules and fares, contact Colbert Station (tel: +353 61 315555).

By bus

Bus Eireann provides bus services between Limerick and the other cities in Ireland. There are regular connections with Dublin (1 hour, 15 minutes), Tralee (2 hours), Cork (1 hour, 50 minutes) and most of the other main towns in the region. Bus Eireann also operates the bus service between Shannon Airport and the city centre.

All buses arrive at Limerick’s central bus terminal, Colbert Station, which is also the city’s train terminal. From Colbert Station, it is a five minute walk to the city centre. There are tourist information and currency exchange kiosks at the Bus Eireann information desk. For more information about bus schedules and fares, contact Bus Eireann (tel: +353 61 313333). 

By air

Access to Limerick by air is handled by Shannon Airport, the regional air hub.  Shannon International Airport is the gateway to the West of Ireland servicing many destinations throughout Europe and the US.  This modern and efficient airport has a single terminal, which handles all of its domestic and international flights.  Air travel from the UK is mainly handled by Aer Lingus and Ryanair which operate frequent flights from all the main cities. From the United States, Delta, Continental, US Airways and Aer Lingus operate regularly scheduled flights, while flights from Canada are looked after by Air Transat to Toronto.

The airport’s terminal has all the usual facilities which travellers might need. ATMs, four currency exchange offices and a branch of the Bank of Ireland can be found in the main terminal area as well as restaurants, a news-stand, gift shop and duty-free shopping. An airport information desk, open daily from 06:00 to midnight, is located in the Arrivals Hall to assist with any questions you might have (tel: +353 61 712000).

Shannon International Airport transportation

Shannon Airport Authority operates all car parks at Shannon Airport, offering both short term (less than 24 hours) and up to 5 long term car parks within the airport with over 5,000 spaces available in total.  All car parks are regularly patrolled by airport police.  There are separate Coach Parking facilities for the set-down of departing passengers and the pick-up of arriving passengers.

Bus Eireann provide connections from Shannon International Airport to all major Irish cities. These airport buses depart frequently from outside the terminal, taking passengers to Colbert Station, Limerick in approximately 30 minutes. The Bus Eireann desk is located in the Arrivals Hall, and is open from 08:00 until 16:00 (tel: +353 61 313333).

There is no train service from Shannon Airport. If you rent a car, simply follow the N19 from the terminal to the N18 leading into Limerick, which is well-signed and easy to navigate. 

If planning a visit to Limerick then please check out the free destination guide at http://limerickhotels.jurysinns.com/destination_guide

Visit Jurys Inn Limerick with great offers on limerick hotels and a heap of free information on what to do.

Monaco is opening a new facility for the upkeep and repairs of the world’s megayachts, and enhances Monaco’s already fabled image.
The shipyard, which has taken two years to build, will be the largest megayacht facility in the Mediterranean and is an impressive 35,000 square metres capable of taking fourteen 40 to 80 metre yachts.
Bearing in mind the size and weight of the yachts, the new facility can hoist and transfer one in half an hour.
The owners of the shipyard have invested 45 million Euros to make sure it is state of the art, and as well as major repairs can do painting and full servicing as part of its services.
The number of megayachts has increased dramatically in recent years, and Monaco has been quick to ensure that the wealthy owners, often nouveau riche, see her as in the same light as old money and the established European and US wealthy families, who frequent Monaco and the Monte Carlo casino.
Monaco ensured the attention of the yacht owners by cleverly staging the annual Monaco Yacht Show, the only one of its type, specialising in Megayachts, held in the principality each September.
As well as the legendary Monte Carlo casino, Monaco is a tax haven and home to the Monaco Grand Prix, F1’s most prestigious race in their calendar.
For a country with a long tradition of welcoming the wealthy, it comes as a surprise to many that Monaco is also in the forefront of the battle to save the environment.
Monaco Yact Show
The environment campaign began shortly after Prince Albert became Sovereign with the Monaco Yacht Show 2005, held each September, with the event successfully becoming carbon neutral. To encourage the thousands who commute to Monaco every day from neighbouring France and Italy the railway station is one of the best in Europe, with frequent and reliable services.
‘For those who work in Monte Carlo and travel in from Nice and her surrounding villages five days a week, it’s both cheaper and quicker to take the train – the trains are modern and comfortable and it’s rare for seats not to be available even during the rush hour’, claim a Monaco travel guide, ‘Once people are in Monaco the local transport service is equally quick and efficient. Virtually all routes are well planned and easy to understand, and the most you have to wait for a bus is ten minutes, often it’s just a couple of minutes – which isn’t exactly a hardship given the weather in Monte Carlo!’
With many major companies and the banks in Monaco also looking to see how they can improve their own environmental records the business community view the steps as prudent ones.
The routes are planned to incorporate tourist needs, with many passing by the Hotel de Paris in Casino Square and the Columbus in Fontvieille, two of the best known and popular Monaco hotels. Fares have been reduced to one Euro, making public transport in Monaco among the lowest priced, comfortable and frequent in Europe.
With the overall aim to increase bus usage by 20 per cent, the Principality is also funding five new duplex trains with a thirty per cent increase in train services, and in an innovative attempt to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home will provide free electric cycles at car park schemes.
‘The one time of year you might see fast cars being encouraged is of course for the Monaco Grand Prix in May’, conclude the guide for Monaco, ‘But overall it’s Prince Albert who will be able to claim the winners rostrum among European leaders for the environment.’

Monaco has launched a radical transport plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the first acts Prince Albert took when succeeding to the throne upon his father’s death in April 2005 was to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
Along with the USA and Australia, Monaco was one of the few countries not to sign up to the treaty intended to cut greenhouses gasses.
Included in Prince Albert’s campaign was an expedition to the Arctic to see for himself how global warming has begun to melt the glaciers, and shortly after his return he started a foundation to study rising sea levels and how to address what he sees as environmental challenges.
A Monaco travel guide notes that given the Principality’s position in the Mediterranean, concern at rising sea levels should come as no surprise.
‘There are plans at an advanced stage to build an island off Monte Carlo, which will change the map of Monaco, and the district of Fontvieille is largely reclaimed from the sea.’
The island is expected to be complete in ten years time, and will include the first new hotels in Monaco for some time.
Recently Prince Albert spent time with Britain’s fellow royal and campaigner for the environment Prince Charles.
‘Most notable of all’, comment YourMonaco, ‘Prince Albert chose a mansion in the Kalorama district of Washington D.C. to serve as Monaco’s U.S. Embassy – Monaco’s first independent embassy outside of Europe. Up to now it hasn’t been necessary for Monaco to have her own representation in the U.S. – France has always looked after Monaco’s interests. But it serves as a useful base for him to entertain politicans on Capitol Hill and get his environment message across. Expect to see more of Prince Albert in America in the coming months and years!’.
Transport System
With Prince Albert punching above Monaco’s weight abroad, he has been no less active at home to prove his green credentials, and a radical plan has been introduced to cut carbon emissions, and to reduce the number of cars on the streets of Monte Carlo.
The domestic campaign began with the Monaco Yacht Show 2005, held each September, with the event successfully becoming carbon neutral. To encourage the thousands who commute to Monaco every day from neighbouring France and Italy the railway station is one of the best in Europe, with frequent services.
‘For those who work in Monte Carlo and travel in from Nice and her surrounding villages five days a week, it’s both cheaper and quicker to take the train – the trains are modern and comfortable and it’s rare for seats not to be available even during the rush hour’, claim the guide. ‘Once in Monaco the local transport service is equally quick and efficient. Virtually all routes are well planned and easy to understand, and the most you have to wait for a bus is ten minutes, often it’s just a couple of minutes.’
The routes are planned to incorporate tourist needs, with most passing by the Hotel de Paris in Casino Square and the Columbus in Fontvieille, two of the best known and popular hotels in Monaco. Fares have been reduced to one Euro, making public transport in Monaco among the lowest priced, comfortable and frequent in Europe.
With the overall aim to increase bus usage by 20 per cent, the Principality is also funding five new trains with a thirty per cent increase in train services, and in an innovative attempt to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home will provide free electric cycles at car park schemes.
‘The one time of year you might see fast cars being encouraged is of course in May for the Monaco Grand Prix’, conclude the guide, ‘But overall it’s Prince Albert who will be able to claim the winners rostrum among European leaders for the environment’.

At one time, traveling by railroad was the best way for a first-class experience. Today, fewer people ride the rails, as it is often easier and more luxurious to fly. Did you know, though, that you can still find complete sightseeing vacation packages that have you travel via private railcar? These experiences can be quiet rewarding, allowing you to actually see the countryside and interesting tourist destinations without having to drive yourself. If you are interested in a private railcar journey, check out the following options for a unique travel experience:

The Orient Express

Contrary to its name, the famous Orient Express was actually a trans-Europe journey to the gateway of Asia: Istanbul, Turkey. You may be familiar with the romanticized tale of this famous journey from novels and movies such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Agatha Christie’s 1934 Murder on the Orient Express. Travellers could start in London, cross the English Channel and board the train in Paris, travelling through Munich, Vienna, and Budapest, Hungary. From Budapest they could choose the route from Belgrade (Serbia) to Athens, or alternately, through Bucarest, Romania, to Constantinople – what is now Istanbul, Turkey. From Turkey or Greece, world leisure travelers could opt to continue their journey by boat or other trains to destinations in the Middle East, India and beyond.

Today you can relive a taste of the past through at least one company that operates service along some of the same rail lines in restored vintage rail carriages. The Venice-Simplon Orient Express offers regular trips from London to Venice and less frequent trips between Venice and Istanbul. The same travel company also offers similarly-themed rail vacations in Malaysia/Thailand and across Australia.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

Another Europe to Asia rail journey is the Trans-Siberian Railway. This is the longest continuous rail line in the world, running over six thousand miles. You can start your seven-day journey in Moscow and see the countryside and a number of Russian and Asian cities on your way to Vladivostok, or you can opt for a much longer trip, with stops in locations like Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. Most people tend to think of a vacation as a trip to somewhere warm and sunny, but this railcar journey takes you into a beautiful winter paradise instead.

The Blue Train, Africa

Luxurious fine dining and unique African scenery come together on The Blue Train. Running through South Africa, this train is all about five-star luxury. The private cars are perfect for guests who like the finer things in life, and the dinner service, complete with fine local wines, is second to none. You can, of course, expect to pay more for a journey on The Blue Train, but overall, the experience is well worth the money.

Canada and the Canadian Rockies

VIA Rail of Canada likes to boast of “The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World,” and they might be right. If you choose the full cross-continent journey across the world’s second largest country, you will experience a wide range of terrains from forests and farmland, rolling prairies and lake sides, to the majestic Canadian Rockies. On some trips you sleep on the train, while others you ride the train by day and stop for land tours and then stay overnight in a luxury hotel. The full-blown Coast to Coast vacation is 16 nights and 17 days – but well worth it if you have the time. Canada offers a rich variety of natural wonders and hospitality as well.

South America and the Andes

PeruRail is one of the highest railroad lines in the entire world, and these routes take travelers to a variety of destinations, including Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, and the historic city of Cuzco. The spectacular views from your railcar alone are worth the trip, and if you love culture, this is a great way to explore the ancient world of the Incas.

Almost all countries in the world, including India, Canada, Spain, Mexico, and, of course, the United States, offer railway tours. While some, like the Tran-Siberian and others listed above, can take up your entire one to two week vacation, others are great for simple day trips, or even just afternoon trips. For example, the scenic Stroudsburg Railroad on the east coast of the United States takes you into Pennsylvania farm country over just a short afternoon ride. Opportunities like this are available around the world. So, even if you do not want to spend your entire time on a train, you can add a railcar journey as part of your vacation.

When booking a trip by rail, keep in mind that not all trains offer private options. If you plan to make this the bulk of your journey, make sure that the railcar you are booking will allow for you to have a bit of privacy with your travel companions. Some trains only offer traditional seating, which can be uncomfortable and cramped on longer trips. Also, make sure you check on the accommodations for sleeping and eating. Although many lines offer eating and sleeping facilities, for some, this is about function not comfort. If you want a luxury vacation, make sure you do your research and choose a true five-star option.

The world is changing. With our fast-paced daily lives, most people are looking for the quickest way to get from point A to point B. Sometimes, though, the actual travel is the best part of the vacation. Do not overlook rail travel when planning your next vacation. If you are not sure which rail journey is right for you, work with a travel agent. Although we typically think of a travel agent as someone who plans cruises and resort vacations, they can also help you book a private railcar journey. These train trips can help you make memories that last a lifetime.