Aircoach and Enterprise Line from Dublin to Belfast

Last update: June 2026

Many visitors to the island of Ireland will have the island’s two capital cities, Belfast and Dublin, on their itinerary. Luckily, there are easy ways to travel between these two cities with both trains and buses departing frequently and conveniently.

For those wanting a rail adventure, the Enterprise rail service, which is jointly operated by Translink and Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), is the way to go, while for those who prefer to travel by bus, the Aircoach (705X) service conveniently operates between Dublin and Belfast.

Belfast Grand Central Station, Credits: kanpoan.net

Tickets and Times

The easiest way to buy a ticket for either the train or the bus is directly on the website. For Aircoach, since the service also stops at Dublin airport, make sure you select the city centre (O’Connell Street) pickup location (Upper O'Connell Street, outside Ned Kelly's Casino) . For the train, you can book via either Iarnród Éireann or Translink webpages; however, if starting the journey in Dublin, it is generally recommended to book via Iarnród Éireann as Translink is a Belfast-based company.

• Fares for the train vary, ranging from around €13 to €40, but you are more likely to get a bargain booking online as walk-up tickets are often a higher price point.
• Again, Aircoach tickets do vary depending on time of day and popularity, but you can expect to pay between €11 and €20 for a one-way journey.

The coach is incredibly frequent, running 15 services a day on most days of the week between Dublin O’Connell Street and Belfast Grand Central, so you are likely to find a time that works for you. However, do keep in mind that even with this many services, if there are events on in Dublin or Belfast, they do tend to book up. If you are not at the stop to board at least 10 minutes before the departure time, the driver may sell your ticket spot to a walk-up ticket buyer.

While it can be dependent on traffic, the bus journey generally takes around two and a half hours.

The train journey, on the other hand, leaves Connolly Rail Station in Dublin and arrives at Belfast Grand Central. Trains depart at 10 to the hour every hour between 5.50am and 8.50pm from Monday to Saturday, and at 10 to the hour every two hours between 8.50am and 8.50pm on Sundays. Customers can expect to be on the train for just over two hours.

Crossing an International Border

While you are remaining on the island of Ireland, the journey from Dublin to Belfast does cross from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland (UK). While these countries enjoy an open border with the Common Travel Area, so there are no cross-border checks, do keep in mind that you are crossing an international border, and as such, international travellers do need to have the proper visas and permissions to do this legally.

Luggage and Food Options

For those travelling with luggage, you will be responsible for this on both journeys as there is no checked luggage service. For the coach, you will be required to place large luggage items in the luggage space under the coach. Smaller items can be kept with you on board. What luggage can be taken into the seating area of the coach is at the discretion of the driver. Aircoach allows up to two suitcases plus one small item of hand luggage; anything the driver cannot lift will be refused.

On the Enterprise trains, you can find dedicated luggage storage sections at the end of the coaches to store larger luggage items for the duration of the journey. Space in these bays is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

When it comes to food options, there are convenience style stores at Dublin Connolly station, as well as cafes and an Irish pub/restaurant for more sit-down meals. Food is also available for purchase on the train from an onboard bistro, which offers light snacks.

For the bus, it is recommended to eat before you board, as food and drinks (water bottles are fine) are not permitted on board. On occasion, small, pre-packaged snacks may be permitted, but this is entirely at the driver’s discretion, and you may be refused boarding with these. For eating beforehand, O’Connell Street and the surrounding area offers a wide variety of food options, including restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores.

Selecting your Seat and Coastal Views

On the Aircoach buses, seats are not pre-selected but are on a first come first serve basis; however, there is no significant difference between the seats on the bus, so your experience is likely to be similar regardless of your seat. Seats do come with power sockets; however, these are not always working, so don’t count on them.

When booking online for the Enterprise train service, you can select either manual or automatic seat selection. If selecting your seat manually, be sure to select a window seat on the right of the train in the direction of travel, as this will give you some stunning views of the Irish coastline.

Arriving in Belfast Grand Central

Both the bus and train journeys conclude at Belfast Grand Central Station, which acts as the main bus and train station for Belfast. If you take the train journey, make sure you have your ticket ready as you will need to scan it at the ticket barriers to exit the station. Belfast Grand Central is within walking distance of most of the main areas of Belfast city centre, and it is also the main station for any regional Northern Ireland buses. To get anywhere else in the city, there are cabs available, or you can take the short walk from Belfast Grand Central to Donegall Square, which is the main hub for most Belfast city bus services.

From Belfast Grand Central you can continue onward — for example by ferry to Liverpool, or north to Derry and the Causeway Coast at Portrush.