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Iarnród Éireann Introduces December 2025 Timetable with Direct Mallow to Midleton and Cobh Services Plus Network Adjustments

Posted on December 8, 2025

Reading time: 6 minutes.

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A recent announcement from Iarnród Éireann describes changes to the national train timetable, taking effect from Sunday, 14th December. Introduced following approval from the National Transport Authority, the revised schedule offers a mix of direct connections, revised timings and the end of autumn-specific operations that had been in place since late September.

At the heart of the December timetable revision is the introduction of direct services running between Mallow and Cobh/Midleton, operating through Cork via the newly established platform six at Kent Station. The platform, which opened officially in April 2025, represents a significant addition to rail infrastructure in the region and enables the through-running services that commence with this timetable change.

For regular commuters and occasional travellers alike, these changes affect travel routines whilst forming part of ongoing investment in rail services.

Direct Services Transform Cork Commuter Routes

The new services see direct departures linking Mallow with Cobh and Midleton at key times across the morning and evening, benefiting anyone travelling across north Cork towards the east and harbour towns.

The most immediate impact lies in the consolidation of services that previously would have required a change in Cork. The 06:50 Mallow to Cork and the 07:15 Cork to Midleton have been combined into one, departing from Mallow at 06:48 and travelling directly to Midleton. This pattern repeats throughout the day, with similar through services at 07:48 and 08:48 heading for Midleton, as well as new direct evening services from Cobh to Mallow.

The morning services combined are:

• 06:50 Mallow to Cork and 07:15 Cork to Midleton become 06:48 Mallow to Midleton
• 07:50 Mallow to Cork and 08:15 Cork to Midleton become 07:48 Mallow to Midleton
• 08:50 Mallow to Cork and 09:15 Cork to Midleton become 08:48 Mallow to Midleton

In the opposite direction, evening departures from Mallow are merged with onward services to Cobh:

• 17:27 Mallow to Cork and 18:00 Cork to Cobh become 17:30 Mallow to Cobh
• 18:25 Mallow to Cork and 19:00 Cork to Cobh become 18:30 Mallow to Cobh
• 19:25 Mallow to Cork and 20:00 Cork to Cobh become 19:30 Mallow to Cobh

Additionally, three new evening services run from Cobh to Mallow at 16:30, 17:30 and 18:30, reducing the need for connections when travelling between these points.

These combined services improve flexibility and cut connection times, whilst supporting modal shift, one of the stated strategic goals for the Irish rail network. By making time savings and removing the need for changes, the system becomes more competitive against private car use.

Timing Adjustments Across the Network

The new timetable also affects routes throughout the country, with changes to departure times reflecting the operational requirements of managing a national rail network.

Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Portlaoise

The Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Portlaoise lines see journey times and intermediate station departure times revised. The earliest Portlaoise–Heuston service now departs a few minutes earlier at 05:30, whilst later services shift marginally.

Key changes include:

• 05:33 Portlaoise to Heuston now departs at 05:30
• 08:12 Portlaoise to Heuston now departs at 08:13
• 09:19 Portlaoise to Heuston now departs at 09:20
• 09:43 Hazelhatch to Heuston now departs at 09:44
• 10:26 Newbridge to Heuston now departs at 10:27
• 12:26 Newbridge to Heuston now departs at 12:25

On Sundays, the morning train departs at 11:30 instead of 11:25, whilst some evening trains at the weekend now depart earlier, with the 16:33 Portlaoise to Heuston now departing at 16:25 and the 18:50 service moving to 18:25.

Dublin–Waterford

Those using the Dublin–Waterford line will notice the 16:10 Friday Heuston departure leaving five minutes earlier at 16:05, and the 13:05 Waterford–Heuston service being nudged back to 13:00. In the evenings, the 20:20 Waterford–Heuston run has seen certain stops between Hazelhatch and Parkwest dropped, meaning a faster journey for longer-distance travellers but affecting those using these intermediate stations.

Limerick Routes

Limerick routes see adjustments including the 08:10 Limerick Junction to Limerick service now departing at 08:11. The Galway–Limerick 18:48 Galway to Ennis service moves to 18:50.

Dublin–Galway

On the Dublin–Galway line, the early morning Tullamore–Galway service now departs at 07:28, whilst in the opposite direction the Athlone–Heuston departs at 05:15.

The 17:20 Galway–Heuston service now skips Kildare and Newbridge, with alternative commuter trains from Portarlington serving these stations. The Sunday 17:00 from Galway calls at both stations.

Dublin–Westport

On the Dublin–Westport line, adjustments include Ballina connecting services at Manulla Junction. Several Athlone–Westport departures move forward by a few minutes:

• 07:08 Athlone to Westport now departs at 07:10
• 09:10 Athlone to Westport now departs at 09:15
• 21:08 Athlone to Westport now departs at 21:09

The evening Westport–Heuston journey now departs at 18:30.

Dublin–Maynooth–Longford

The Dublin–Maynooth–Longford stretch receives adjustments including the earliest Longford to Pearse service now continuing to Grand Canal Dock. The 08:04 Pearse–Maynooth starts from Grand Canal Dock at 07:59.

A new stop at Broombridge has been added to the Connolly–Longford service. The evening Maynooth–Connolly train now departs at 20:15 instead of 20:10.

Return to Pre-Autumn Schedule

For those depending on the DART network, the autumn timetable comes to a close, replaced by the pre-autumn schedule. The autumn timetable, which ran from 22nd September, was introduced to make time allowances for the impact of leaf fall in the DART and commuter area, the first time such a seasonal adjustment had been implemented on Ireland’s rail network.

Autumn leaf fall causes low rail adhesion, with leaves, especially in damp and wet autumnal conditions, creating a greasy layer on the rail that is the equivalent of black ice on roads. The autumn schedule allowed extra margin for slower running conditions and is now being withdrawn.

With the return to the pre-autumn timetable, adjustments have been made to some Greystones-bound runs leaving Bray. Services from Howth to Greystones see their departure from Bray running a minute or two later:

• 11:55 Howth to Greystones departs one minute later from Bray
• 13:55 Howth to Greystones departs two minutes later from Bray
• 15:56 Howth to Greystones departs one minute later from Bray
• 18:25 Malahide to Greystones departs one minute later from Bray
• 21:47 Howth to Greystones departs three minutes later from Bray

Network Development and Context

The changes are intended to smooth operations, reduce delays and ensure smoother connections. They reflect a return to normal running now that autumn and the associated issues of leaf fall are drawing to a close, particularly relevant on DART and commuter lines where track contamination can cause time losses and schedule drift.

Within the ongoing context of investment in rail, including infrastructure upgrades such as the new Kent Station platform, these changes support longer-term reliability and operational flexibility. The altered schedules over the festive season and into the New Year period are already open for booking.

The timetable revision streamlines and interconnects services, reflected in the new direct travel between Mallow and the Cork harbour towns. Previously, passengers would have had to change at Cork, often with waits and the risk of missing onward connections. Now a trip from Cobh to Mallow can be completed directly.

Looking Forward

The rollout of new infrastructure like Kent Station’s platform six forms part of ongoing network development. Improvements such as new through services from Mallow, revised timings at intermediate stops and the withdrawal of the autumn timetable work towards higher reliability in rail travel.

The success of these changes depends on how they bed in, both for operational staff and for users adjusting to new train times. These steps represent ongoing efforts to create a service that is easier to use, more integrated and more consistently dependable.