EXPLAINER: How these major changes to Irish Rail will impact commuters

Irish Rail have issued major updates to its services in the Greater Dublin Area and Cork which will come into affect from Monday, April 28 and onwards.

Changes will include a new Dublin Commuter Zone which will replace the Short Hop Zone (SHZ), and extend out significantly further.  

Dublin and Cork passengers are reminded to tag their LeapCard on and off so that changes can apply.

Irish Rail said that while Cork area fares will remain unchanged, the LeapCards touch-on maximum fare will increase, so touching off is important.

Fare prices are set to increase or decrease depending on your location and travel destination, with some ticket types being discontinued as well.

LeapCards will now be valid over a greater area, including:

• Northern Commuter – Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Balbriggan to include Gormanston, Laytown and Drogheda
• Western Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Kilcock to include Enfield
• SouthWestern Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Sallins & Naas to include Newbridge and Kildare
• SouthEastern Commuter - Dublin Commuter Zone will increase from former SHZ limit of Kilcoole to include Wicklow and Rathdrum

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Rail fare adjustments from Monday 28th April
- Extended Dublin Commuter Zone for @LeapCard
- Maximum touch-on fare increasing in Dublin & Cork: remember to touch off
- Some ticket types ending
- Some fares reducing, some increasing, full info https://t.co/QiCbpMKXAf @TFIupdates pic.twitter.com/sKdgDyCCrA

— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) April 24, 2025

Irish Rail have also issued a change in fare prices which will apply across adult, young adult/student and child fares from various travel destinations:

• Single (ePurse and cash) and day return (cash only) fares for journeys starting or ending in Dublin Commuter Zone 3 and 4 will be reduced, as will monthly and annual ticket prices for Zone 3 and 4 upon next renewal
• Reduced fares to/from Drogheda, Laytown, Enfield, Newbridge, Kildare, Wicklow and Rathdrum
• Single (ePurse and cash) and day return (cash only) fares for journeys starting or ending in Dublin Commuter Zone 2 will be see a mixture of increases and reductions, as will monthly and annual ticket prices for Zone 2 upon next renewal
• Increases between Dublin and: Balbriggan, Skerries, Kilcock, Sallins & Naas, Greystones and Kilcoole, as well as some other intermediate journeys
• Reductions between Dublin and Gormanston
• Single (ePurse and cash) and day return (cash only) fares for all journeys within Dublin City Zone 1 will be unchanged, as will monthly and annual ticket prices
• The daily and weekly Leap Cap applies to the Dublin City Zone only

A number of ticket types are being discontinued from Monday 28th April:

• Adult and Student and Child Weekly and Monthly Tickets
• Off Peak fares from Drogheda, Laytown, Gormanston, Newbridge and Kildare

More information can be found here.