Howth Junction and Donaghmede train station
DART and Northern Commuter · Gabhal Bhinn Éadair agus Domhnach Míde · Dublin
About Howth Junction and Donaghmede
This is where the Howth branch leaves the Dublin–Belfast line, and the junction is the reason the station exists. It opened on 1 October 1848, long before the suburbs around it, and the two DART routes — Malahide to Greystones and Howth to Greystones — come together here, which makes it the key exchange point on the northern side of the system. Northern Commuter trains from Drogheda call as well.
The name is a compound and so is the station. One entrance is in Donaghmede and the other in Kilbarrack, and the official title, Howth Junction and Donaghmede, is not what you will hear: the automated platform announcements say Howth Junction and the onboard announcements say Howth Junction Donaghmede. In Irish it is Stáisiún Ghabhal Bhinn Éadair agus Dhomhnach Míde. Both platforms are served by stairs and lifts, there is no car park at all, and bicycle lockers are available. Staffing covers the whole operating day on weekdays but only the middle of the day at weekends. Malahide lies beyond on the main line.
First and last trains from Howth Junction and Donaghmede
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last | Bank holiday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DART towards Bray (Daly) | 06:06 – 00:04 | 06:06 – 00:04 | 06:54 – 00:07 | 09:11 – 00:03 | 00:04 – 23:44 |
| DART towards Howth | 06:40 – 00:07 | 06:40 – 00:07 | 06:35 – 23:59 | 09:54 – 00:08 | 09:54 – 23:44 |
| Northern towards Dublin Connolly | 06:37 – 22:53 | 06:37 – 22:53 | 07:09 – 22:54 | 08:29 – 22:47 | 08:29 – 22:47 |
| Northern towards Drogheda (MacBride) | 08:14 – 00:01 | 08:14 – 00:01 | 07:37 – 00:03 | 09:25 – 00:00 | 09:25 – 00:00 |
Departures from this station in the NTA’s published timetable for a representative week. A day type with no departures is shown as no service rather than filled in from another day.
From Howth Junction and Donaghmede: DART towards Bray (Daly), about one train every 10 minutes at the busiest times (99 departures on a weekday), DART towards Howth, about one train every 10 minutes at the busiest times (95 departures on a weekday), Northern towards Dublin Connolly, about one train every 61 minutes at the busiest times (8 departures on a weekday) and Northern towards Drogheda (MacBride), about one train every 50 minutes at the busiest times (9 departures on a weekday).
Some of the 211 weekday departures are worked by trains that continue as InterCity services beyond the commuter zone. They run to Rosslare.
Next stops from Howth Junction and Donaghmede
Running times to the adjoining stops, from the operators’ own timetables.
| Line | Next stop | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DART | Bayside | 2 min |
| DART | Clongriffin | 2 min |
| DART | Kilbarrack | 1.9 min |
| Northern | Clongriffin | 2.1 min |
| Northern | Dublin Connolly | 12.7 min |
Connections and interchange
- Change here between the DART and Northern Commuter, on the same station.
- Iarnód Éireann timetables for the routes serving this station are published on its own station page.
Facilities
From Iarnód Éireann’s own station record. A facility that the operator does not list is left out rather than marked as absent.
Open for all services
Station Staffing Hours
Monday to Friday: 05:45 - 00:21
Saturday: 12:00- 18:00
Sunday: 12:00- 18:00
Station Booking Office
This station does not have a booking office. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket vending machine or a leap card can be used in applicable locations.
What is near Howth Junction and Donaghmede
The station straddles two districts rather than sitting in either, with one entrance opening into Donaghmede and the other into Kilbarrack, so the walk-in catchment comes from both sides of the tracks. Baldoyle Training Centre, about 210 m away, is the only named neighbour listed nearby. There is no car park, which means nearly everyone arrives on foot, by bicycle or off a bus, and the bicycle lockers are the only parking of any kind.
| Place | Straight-line distance from the station |
|---|---|
| Baldoyle Training Centre | 210 m |
Named places from OpenStreetMap within 400 m of the station. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route.
Frequently asked questions
It serves two places at once, with an entrance in Donaghmede and another in Kilbarrack. Announcements have never fully settled: Iarnród Éireann’s automated platform announcements call it Howth Junction, while the onboard announcements use Howth Junction Donaghmede. The published name keeps both halves.
The line to Howth leaves the Dublin–Belfast route here. It is also the point where the two DART routes meet: trains from Malahide and trains from Howth both run on from here towards Greystones, which is what makes the station an exchange rather than just a stopping place.