Rathdrum train station
South Eastern Commuter · Ráth Droma · Co. Wicklow
About Rathdrum
Rathdrum’s first station was not quite here. A terminus called Rathdrum (Kilcommon) opened on 20 August 1861 and lasted less than two years: when the line was extended southwards the present station took over on 18 July 1863. The Irish name is Ráth Droma.
It is a two-platform station with a passing loop and a water tower still standing at the south end of one platform — a reminder of steam working that outlasted the engines. A tunnel lies immediately south of the station and a viaduct to the north, which makes the approach from either direction unusually dramatic for a commuter railway. There used to be a third platform and a goods yard; the yard is now a small industrial area. The station is unstaffed, and is served by both commuter trains and the InterCity services running between Dublin Connolly and Rosslare Europort. It is the last station inside the Dublin City and Commuter Zone, so the fare structure changes beyond here.
First and last trains from Rathdrum
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last | Bank holiday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Eastern towards Dublin Connolly | 06:17 – 22:49 | 06:17 – 22:49 | 07:18 – 19:42 | No service | No service |
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 Rathdrum: South Eastern towards Dublin Connolly, about one train every 193 minutes at the busiest times (6 departures on a weekday).
Some of the 6 weekday departures are worked by trains that continue as InterCity services beyond the commuter zone. They run to Rosslare.
Next stops from Rathdrum
Running times to the adjoining stops, from the operators’ own timetables.
| Line | Next stop | Time |
|---|---|---|
| South Eastern | Wicklow | 12.2 min |
Connections and interchange
- 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
This station is not staffed.
Station Booking Office
This station does not have a booking office. Tickets can be bought online or from the ticket machine. A leap card can be used in applicable locations.
What is near Rathdrum
Rathdrum town is about ten minutes’ walk from the platforms, up the hill from the station, and the Parnell National Memorial Park is roughly 260 m away. This is the gateway station for the Wicklow uplands: Avoca, the village used as Ballykissangel, is about four miles off, and buses timed to meet the trains run from the station to Glendalough and Tinahely. The valley of the Avonmore runs below the viaduct just north of the platforms.
| Place | Straight-line distance from the station |
|---|---|
| Parnell National Memorial Park | 260 m |
Named places from OpenStreetMap within 400 m of the station. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route.
Frequently asked questions
The first station for the town, opened on 20 August 1861 as a temporary terminus while the line was being built southwards. When the extension was completed the present Rathdrum station replaced it on 18 July 1863, and the earlier one closed.
The line passes through a tunnel immediately south of the station, and crosses a viaduct a short distance to the north. Both are part of the original Dublin and South Eastern route through the Wicklow hills, and they give the station its enclosed, valley-bottom setting.