Heuston railway station

Heuston Station (/ˈhjuːstən/ HEW-stən; Irish: Stáisiún Heuston; formerly Kingsbridge Station) also known as Dublin Heuston, is one of Ireland's main railway stations, linking the capital with the south, southwest and west. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ), the national railway operator. It also houses the head office of its parent company - Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ).[3] The station is named in honour of Seán Heuston, an executed leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, who had worked in the station's offices.

Not to be confused with Euston railway station or Houston station.

Dublin Heuston Baile Átha Cliath Stáisiún Heuston
The station in late 2006
Location	St John's Road West Dublin 8 D08 E2CV Ireland
Coordinates	53.3465°N 6.2925°W / 53.3465; -6.2925
Owned by	Iarnród Éireann
Operated by	Iarnród Éireann
Platforms	9
Bus routes	67 67A 67X 90 145 747
Bus operators	Dublin Bus
Connections	Luas Red Line
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	Yes
Architect	Sancton Wood (terminal) John MacNeill (train shed)[1][2]
Other information
Station code	HSTON
Fare zone	Suburban 1
History
Opened	4 August 1846 (1846-08-04)
Electrified	No
Original company	Great Southern and Western Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Southern and Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Southern Railways
Key dates
1846	Station opened as Kingsbridge Station
1966	Renamed as Heuston Station
1998, 2004 and 2005	Station refurbished and partially rebuilt
Services Preceding station   Iarnród Éireann   Following station Terminus   InterCity Dublin-Cork   Newbridge or Kildare or Portlaoise Terminus   InterCity Dublin-Waterford   Newbridge   InterCity Dublin-Limerick via Thurles   Terminus   InterCity Dublin–Galway   Hazelhatch & Celbridge Terminus   InterCity Dublin–Westport/Ballina   Kildare or Newbridge Terminus   InterCity Dublin-Tralee   Portlaoise Terminus   Commuter South Western Commuter   Park West & Cherry Orchard Preceding station   Luas   Following station Museum towards Connolly or The Point   Red Line   James's towards Tallaght or Saggart   Proposed   Terminus   Commuter South Western Commuter   Heuston West

Dublin to Cork
Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Dublin Connolly & The Point Dublin Heuston Luas Red Line to Tallaght & Saggart Inchicore Works Park West and Cherry Orchard † Clondalkin/Fonthill † Kishoge proposed Lucan (south) 1947 Adamstown † Hazelhatch and Celbridge † Straffan 1947 Sallins and Naas † Newbridge Curragh Racecourse 1977 Curragh Mainline 1999 Kildare Dublin–Waterford Line Monasterevin † Portarlington Dublin–Westport/Galway line Portlaoise to Kilkenny 1962 Laois Traincare Depot Mountrath 1976 Limerick–Ballybrophy line Ballybrophy Lisduff 1963 Templemore Thurles Goold's Cross 1976 to Cashel 1954 Dundrum 1976 Limerick–Rosslare line Limerick Junction Limerick–Ballybrophy line Limerick–Ennis line Limerick Colbert Emly 1963 Knocklong 1977 Kilmallock 1977 Charleville Buttevant 1977 Mallow Mallow–Tralee Line Mourne Abbey 1963 Rathduff 1976 Blarney (GSW) 1963 Cork Kent Cork–Cobh/Midleton line † Not served by services from Dublin–Cork

Dublin to Galway/Westport
Year closed Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Dublin Connolly & The Point Dublin Heuston Luas Red Line to Tallaght & Saggart Inchicore Works Park West and Cherry Orchard Clondalkin/Fonthill Kishoge Adamstown Hazelhatch and Celbridge Straffan 1947 Sallins and Naas Newbridge Kildare Dublin–Waterford line Monasterevin Portarlington Dublin to Cork line Tullamore Horseleap Branch to Mullingar 1964 Clara Athlone Ballinasloe Woodlawn Attymon Western Railway Corridor to Limerick Athenry Oranmore Galway Roscommon Castlerea Ballyhaunis Claremorris to Collooney Manulla Junction Exchange only Foxford Ballina Castlebar Westport to Achill 1937 Westport Quay 1978

Dublin–Waterford
Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Dublin Connolly & The Point Dublin Heuston Luas Red Line to Tallaght & Saggart Inchicore Works Park West and Cherry Orchard M50 motorway Clondalkin/Fonthill Kishoge Lucan (south) 1947 Adamstown Hazelhatch and Celbridge Grand Canal Straffan 1947 Sallins and Naas River Liffey Newbridge Curragh Racecourse 1977 Curragh Mainline 1999 Kildare to Cork and Westport/Galway M7 motorway Athy Mageney 1963 Carlow Milford 1963 Muine Bheag to Palace East River Barrow Gowran 1963 Kilkenny to Portlaoise Bennetsbridge 1965 Thomastown River Nore Ballyhale 1963 Mullinavat 1963 Kilmacow 1963 to Limerick to Mallow Waterford West goods yard Waterford Plunkett to Rosslare

South Western Commuter
Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Pearse or Grand Canal Dock Luas Red Line to Dublin Connolly or Point Depot Dublin Heuston Luas Red Line to Tallaght or Saggart   Inchicore Works   Park West and Cherry Orchard M50 motorway Clondalkin/Fonthill Kishoge (future) Adamstown Hazelhatch and Celbridge The Grand Canal Sallins and Naas The Grand Canal River Liffey Newbridge Kildare Dublin–Waterford Line to Waterford Monasterevin The Grand Canal River Barrow Portarlington Dublin–Westport/Galway Line to Westport or Galway Portlaoise Permanent way depot Conniberry Junction Togher Inland Port (future) Portlaoise Traincare Depot M7 motorway Dublin–Cork Line to Cork Kent

Luas Red Line
The Point Spencer Dock ( Docklands) Royal Canal Mayor Square-NCI George's Dock Connolly Busáras Green Line, southbound (Marlborough Street) Abbey St Green Line, northbound (O'Connell Street) Jervis Four Courts Smithfield Museum River Liffey Heuston James's Fatima Rialto Grand Canal Suir Road Goldenbridge Drimnagh Blackhorse Bluebell Kylemore M50 Motorway Red Cow Depot Kingswood Belgard Cookstown Hospital Tallaght Fettercairn Cheeverstown Citywest Campus Fortunestown Saggart

Interior of the station looking towards the track area in 2018

Ticketing area in 2018

History

The station opened on 4 August 1846 as the terminus and headquarters of the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR). It was originally called Kingsbridge Station after the nearby Kings Bridge over the River Liffey.[4][5] In 1966, on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, it was renamed "Heuston Station" in honour of Seán Heuston, a young railway worker who commanded a nearby post in the 1916 Easter Rising. Heuston was one of the 16 executed by the British after that Rising, and had previously worked in the station's offices.[5]

The passenger terminal and buildings were built to designs by London-born architect Sancton Wood, and the train sheds and infrastructure were designed by Irish-born railway engineer John MacNeill.[1]

When first constructed the station had only two platforms separated by 5 carriage lines. Two of the lines were subsequently replaced by a two-sided platform and the remaining carriage line also removed. An additional platform was created in 1872 on the south side of the station beyond the station roof, this was known as the "military platform" and was intended that military personnel could be kept separate from the rest of the station.[6] Due to the need to cater for increased demand and reduce delays, three new platforms were incorporated in August 2002 as part of a €170,000,000 development incorporating improved signalling and approach track-work.[7]

Since its renewal (by Quinn Savage Smyth architects and engineers Buro Happold)[8] it includes two branches of Eason's, a Marks & Spencer Simply Food store, as well as some dining facilities, including a Supermacs and a pub.[9]

A maintenance depot at the Inchicore railway works is located approximately three kilometres (two miles) away and, as with Heuston Station itself, was also opened in 1846.[10]

Operation

Rail services

InterCity

InterCity services from Heuston go to and from Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo, and Kerry.

Commuter

Commuter services stop at all stations to Portlaoise Mondays to Saturdays, and on Sundays at all stations to Kildare.

All services leave the station on a triple line as far as Inchicore, quadruple line until Hazelhatch, and thereafter only double line (one each way).

Heuston is the terminus for the main line to Cork, and there are key service and transfer points in the Cork-bound direction at:

• Kildare (for stations on the Waterford line)
• Portarlington (for routes to the west via Tullamore and Athlone)
• Portlaoise (end of commuter services from Heuston)
• Ballybrophy (junction for stations on the Limerick-Ballybrophy railway line),
• Limerick Junction (for transfer to Limerick and Ennis services, and Waterford via Clonmel)
• Mallow (junction for Killarney and Tralee, and the start of Cork commuter services).

Links to other main railway stations

Before 2016, the physical rail link between Connolly Station and Heuston via the Phoenix Park Tunnel was usually only used for freight and rolling stock movements. Once or twice a year special trains operated, usually from Cork to Connolly for Gaelic Athletic Association matches at Croke Park. A more regular service along this route began on 21 November 2016.[11]

The Luas light rail red line connects the two stations (apart from off-peak Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays).[12] Dublin Bus has a direct service to Connolly, but this operates as a special service for Dublin Airport so fares are not at commuter level.

Platforms

There are nine platforms: eight terminal platforms and one through platform. Platform 1 is an extension to Platform 2, and reachable only via that platform. Prior to Heuston's 2002-2004 upgrade, there were five terminal platforms.[13][14]

The through platform is numbered Platform 10 and is situated on the Phoenix Park Tunnel line, which connects to Connolly Station.[14] There is no platform nine.[14] Platform 10 is some distance from the main concourse and is not used for any regularly scheduled trains.

Proposed developments

A 2018 consultation paper for the proposed Dublin MetroLink project included a reference to a potential future station, labelled "Heuston West", with connections via the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Cabra.[15]

Other plans, first published in the 1970s,[16][17] suggested that a proposed DART Underground project would link underground stations at Heuston and Pearse Street via a tunnel.[18][19] As of 2015, these plans were subject to review,[19] and as of mid-2018, the DART Underground project was not funded.[20]

Passenger numbers

Years	Daily Passenger Boardings and Alightings	Change
2012	16,748[21]	-
2013	17,581[22]	833
2014	18,667[23]	1,086
2015	19,319[24]	652
2016	19,544[25]	225
2017	22,296[26]	2,752

Gallery

• 
  Facade in 2018
• 
  Cork-Dublin train at Heuston
• 
  Renovated roof
• 
  Heuston interior

See also

• List of railway stations in Ireland
• History of rail transport in Ireland

References

1. "1846 – Heuston Station, Dublin". Architecture of Dublin City. Archiseek. 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
2. "Rewind - Kingsbridge/Heuston Station". echo.ie. The Echo. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
3. "CIÉ Annual Report 2014" (PDF). cie.ie. CIÉ. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2015. The [CIÉ] books of account are kept in Heuston Station, Dublin 8 [..] Secretary of the Board [..] Heuston Station, Dublin 8
4. "Dublin Kingsbridge station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
5. Boyd-Hope, Gary; Beaumont, Jonathan (14 August 2017). "How The Railways Remembered Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising". Railway Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
6. Murray, K. A.; McNeil, D.B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Record Railway Society. pp. 170, 171. ISBN 0904078051.
7. "A New Improved Heuston Station 2002". rte.ie. RTÉ. 22 August 2002. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
8. "Heuston Station". quinnarchitects.ie. Quinn Architects. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
9. "M&S Simply Food Opens in Heuston Station". 98fm.ie. 98FM. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
10. "Inchicore Railway Works, Dublin 8, Dublin City". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
11. "Plans for four trains an hour in Phoenix Park tunnel next year". The Herald. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
12. "Luas - Red Line Frequency". luas.ie. Luas. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011.
13. "Heuston to have four new platforms". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2018. Iarnrod Éireann is planning four new platforms for Heuston Station [..] The four new platforms will be added to the existing five
14. "Heuston Re-development". irrs.ie. Irish Railway Record Society. 2002. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017.
15. "Metrolink Public Consultation Document" (PDF). data.tii.ie. Transport Infrastructure Ireland. 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
16. "Whatever happened to... An underground rail line through Dublin's city centre?". thejournal.ie. The Journal. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
17. "Could an underground Dart solve Dublin's traffic gridlock? It's being considered". thejournal.ie. The Journal. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018. the Dart Underground, previously known as the Interconnector [was] Originally conceived of in the 1972 Transportation in Dublin plan
18. "DART Underground Webpage". irishrail.ie. Irish Rail. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015.
19. DART Expansion Programme Business Case (PDF) (Report). Irish Rail. 24 April 2015. p. 46. On the basis of the issues raised [in 2008] during the design review, Iarnród Éireann [instead proposed] extending DART Underground to terminate within CIÉ lands at Inchicore as opposed to Heuston Station
20. "Office plan scrapped to facilitate shelved Dart Underground". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018. the [DART Underground] project having been shelved by the Government [in 2011, does] not have government funding [and] was not included in the 10-year National Development Plan published earlier [in 2018]
21. "Rail Census 2012" (PDF). nationaltransport.ie. 2013. p. 16. Boardings Heuston 8,650 [..] Alightings Heuston 8,098
22. "Rail Census 2013" (PDF). 2014. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2017. Table 10 Top ten stations by the number of boardings and alightings, 2013 and rank in 2012 [..] Boardings [..] Heuston 3. 8,662 (3) [..] Alightings [..] Heuston 3. 8,919 (3)
23. "Rail Census 2014" (PDF). nationaltransport.ie. 2015. p. 15. Heuston (3) 9,394 [..] Heuston (3) 9,273
24. "National Heavy Rail Census 2015" (PDF). nationaltransport.ie. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2017.
25. "National Heavy Rail Census Report 2016" (PDF). nationaltransport.ie. 2017. p. 21. Top 10 stations by number of boardings and alightings, 2016 (and rank in 2015) [..] Boardings [..] Heuston (-) 9,537 [..] Alightings [..] Heuston (-) 10,007
26. "National Heavy Rail Census 2017" (PDF). nationaltransport.ie. 2018. p. 19. Top 10 stations by number of boardings and alightings, 2017 (and rank in 2016) [..] Boardings [..] Heuston (-) 10,700 [..] Alightings [..] Heuston (-) 11,596

External links

• Irish Rail Dublin Heuston Station Website
• Luas Heuston Stop information