Belfast to Dublin by Cross Border Bus and Trains

Cross-border public transport services on the island of Ireland mostly link Belfast and Dublin, Ireland’s largest cities.

If you need to get from Belfast to Dublin (and vice versa) via public transport, your best bets are either the Buses or the Trains.

Note: This page covers Cross-Border services between Belfast and Dublin.  For information on trains in Northern Ireland and intercity trains in the Republic of Ireland, visit our dedicated info pages for traveling by train in Northern Ireland and traveling by intercity trains in the Republic of Ireland.

Buses

Dublin and Belfast are linked by various cross-border buses.  You have a choice of buses operated by Translink NI, or buses run by private operators.

Cross-border buses run by Translink carry the “Goldliner” branding and route numbers carry an “X” prefix.

The Goldliner branding is also used for intercity bus routes in Northern Ireland.

Goldliner buses from Belfast

Translink runs the following Goldliner services between Belfast and Dublin:

X1: Belfast > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Sprucefield, Banbridge, and Newry)

*Average journey time is at least 2 hours.

Goldliner buses from Derry/Londonderry

If you are connecting from Derry/Londonderry, the following options are available:

X3: Derry/Londonderry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Strabane, Omagh, Ballygawley, Aughnacloy, Monaghan, and Ardee)

X4: Derry/Londonderry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Dungiven, Maghera, Castledawson, Cookstown, Dungannon, Moy, and Armagh)

*Scheduled end to end journey times are between 4 hours to 4 hours and 40 minutes.

Goldliner buses from Newry

If you’re connecting from Newry, here are your options:

X5: Newry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras

*The X5 only runs once a day everyday in only one direction between Newry and Dublin. The sole departure is the 0525am from Newry Buscentre, and puts you in Dublin Busáras at 0655am.

Timetables

To view the timetables for Translink’s cross-border Goldliner bus services, please use the Timetables search function on Translink’s Timetables webpage.

I am departing fromI board the bus at
Belfast | Béal FeirsteThe new Belfast Grand Central Station.
Derry /
Londonderry | Doire
The Buscentre on Foyle Street by the Guildhall; or the North West Transport Hub on Waterside east of the River Foyle.
Newry | An tIúrNewry Buscentre on Soho island in town.
Dublin | Baile Átha CliathBusáras – Connected to Luas Red Line and walking distance to Dublin Connolly station.

Read about the Goldliner X1 service to Dublin

Other operators

As of December 2023, there are two non-Translink operators on the Belfast – Dublin route. These are Aircoach and Dublin Express (a National Express company).

Aircoach buses from Belfast

Aircoach runs the following services between Belfast and Dublin:

705X: Belfast > Dublin Airport (both terminals) > Dublin City Centre (Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street)

Click here for the 705X timetable.

Click here for Aircoach’s website.

Where do I board my Aircoach 705X bus?

I am departing fromI board the bus at
BelfastGlengall Street next to the former Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street, beneath the Europa Hotel.
DublinOpposite the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street – Connected to Luas Green Line.

Dublin Express buses from Belfast

Dublin Express runs the following services between Belfast and Dublin:

785: Belfast > Dublin Airport (both terminals) > Dublin City Centre (Burgh Quay) > Dublin City Centre (Westland Row)

Click here for the Dublin Express website

Where do I board my Dublin Express 785 bus?

I am departing fromI board the bus at
BelfastGlengall Street next to the former Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street, beneath the Europa Hotel.
DublinSouth Westland Row (connections to Pearse DART); Custom House Quay.

Trains – the Enterprise service

Enterprise is the flagship cross-border service jointly operated by NI Railways and Irish Rail.  It runs on specially branded locomotive-hauled carriages in a 2-class configuration.

While generally reliable, I remember the branded trainsets as having a tendency to be subject to relatively frequent service issues. In those scenarios, the branded trainsets are replaced by regular Irish Rail or NI Railways units which may or may not have First Class.

Nevertheless, the Enterprise remains the most comfortable way to travel between Belfast and Dublin. There are no other train services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Where do I board the Enterprise?

I am departing fromI board the Enterprise at
Belfast | Béal FeirsteLanyon Place Station, formerly named Belfast Central Station.
Portadown | Port an DúnáinPortadown Train Station
Newry | An tIúrNewry Train Station
Dundalk | Dún DealganDundalk Clark Station | Stáisiún Dhún Dealgan Uí Cleirigh
Drogheda | Droichead ÁthaDrogheda MacBride Station | Stáisiún Droichead Átha Mac Giolla Bhríde
Dublin | Baile Átha CliathDublin Connolly Station | Stáisiún Uí Chonghaile

How do I purchase Enterprise tickets?

I am departing fromI buy my tickets from
Northern Ireland (Belfast, Portadown, and Newry)Translink NI website
Republic of Ireland (Dublin, Dundalk, and Drogheda)Irish Rail website

Enterprise Timetables

To view the timetables for the Enterprise services, please use the Timetables search function on Translink’s Timetables webpage, or the Timetables page on Irish Rail’s website.

Read about the Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin