Saturday 15th June 2024
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is delighted to announce the "201 @ 30" Diesel Railtour.
In June 1994, the first of 34 201 class GM locomotives landed in Ireland by Antonov AN-124 cargo aircraft, being one of the heaviest airlifts in history. Exactly 30 years on, we are running a special railtour to mark the 30th anniversary of mainline service by the 201 Class.
The tour will depart from Dublin Heuston station at 08:05 where the class can still be found working the Intercity MkIV trains to Cork and proceed to Kildare. We have requested a loco change at Kildare. From Kildare we head back to Dublin, with photo stops at Hazelhatch and a first loco hauled stop at the newly opened Kishoge station in West Dublin. We will then proceed via the Phoenix Park line to Dublin Connolly.
If you wish, you can join the tour at Dublin Connolly at 10:30. From here we will operate the first ever booked 201 class locomotive passenger service (in their 30 year history) from Dublin to Rosslare Europort throughout. Our route to the very South East corner of Ireland will take us along the very scenic DSER line.
We will run through Dublin's Southside, passing the tech hub at Grand Canal Dock, under the Aviva stadium, hug Dublin Bay, Killiney, Bray head, race along the Irish Sea between Greystones and Wicklow, climb inland to Rathdrum, pass Avoca, Arklow and follow the River Slaney between Enniscorthy and Wexford Town with photo stops along the way.
On arrival in Wexford for 14:15, you may alight here for an extended break to enjoy this friendly Irish provincial town. Or stay on board and enjoy the unique street running through Wexford. We will have a drop off at Rosslare Strand for the beach or continue to the very end of the line at Rosslare Europort - the new station which has only seen a handful of loco hauled steam operations since opening and a first diesel tour to this station (the 3rd Rosslare Port station). Arrival at 14:55, depart 16:10.
Our return journey retraces our outward, with pick ups at Rosslare Strand (16:20) and Wexford 16:45. The tour will terminate at Dublin Connolly station with a scheduled arrival time of 19:40.
As with previous diesel railtours this one is sure to very popular and will sell out quickly so don't delay and get your booking in as soon as possible.
The train will be made up of our Cravens coaching stock complete with usual facilities of a snack car serving a variety of hot and cold food & drinks throughout the day alongside our renowned bar car with draught and bottled beverages available all day. We accept debit / credit cards on board as well as cash payments.
Route:
DUBLIN HEUSTON - KILDARE (PICK UP/REVERSE) - KISHOGE - ISLANDBRIDGE JUNCTION - GLASNEVIN JUNCTION - DUBLIN CONNOLLY (PICK UP) - BRAY - KILCOOLE - WICKLOW - RATHDRUM - GOREY - ENNISCORTHY - WEXFORD - ROSSLARE STRAND - ROSSLARE EUROPORT (REVERSE) - ROSSLARE STRAND - WEXFORD - ARKLOW - GREYSTONES - DUBLIN CONNOLLY.
Requested haulage - IÉ 201 Class locomotive hauling the RPSI Cravens carriages throughout.
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 - 15 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.
