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Common questions

Commuting to Dublin

The three main ways Hawk's Bay residents get to Dublin for work — driving the N11/M11, the 133 bus, or the train from Wicklow Station — with rough journey times and costs.

A lot of residents commute to Dublin for work, so here's a rundown of the three main ways to get there.

1. Drive via the N11/M11

  • Journey time: around an hour in normal traffic (roughly 50km to Dublin city centre) — budget extra at peak rush hour, particularly getting into the city itself.
  • No tolls on this stretch of road.
  • If you're not driving all the way in, there are Dublin Bus and Luas park & ride options further up the N11 (e.g. around Bray/Cherrywood) worth considering to skip city traffic and parking costs for the last leg.

2. Bus Éireann Route 133

Dublin (Busáras) ↔ Wicklow via Rathnew, Ashford and other towns along the N11.

  • Journey time: around 1 hour 35 minutes end-to-end (longer than driving since it makes stops along the way).
  • Operates: daily, from around 05:00 up to roughly 23:00–23:15 — much later into the evening than a typical commuter service, with departures every 30–60 minutes for most of the day.
  • Fares: Leap Card accepted — check current fares on the Bus Éireann fare finder.
  • Full timetable: buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/133 — check this directly for exact times, or use the TFI Journey Planner app for real-time departures.

3. Train from Wicklow Station

Wicklow Station is about a 30-minute walk from the estate, or a short drive if you'd rather not walk both ways.

  • Frequency: infrequent — only a handful of direct services a day each direction, so it's worth planning around the timetable rather than turning up on spec.
  • Journey time: roughly 56 minutes to Dublin Pearse; Pearse is reached before Connolly on this line, so add a few more minutes if Connolly (via Tara Street) is your stop.
  • Fares: Leap Card is now accepted on this line, as well as standard Irish Rail tickets.
  • Parking: pay-and-display car park at the station, €3.60/day.
  • Timetable: irishrail.ie/en-ie/station/wicklow for current departure times — check both directions before you commit, given how infrequent the service is.

Comparing the three

OptionTypical timeNotes
Drive (N11/M11)~1 hourFastest door-to-door; watch peak traffic; no tolls
Bus 133~1h35Most frequent public option; Leap Card accepted
Train (Wicklow Station)~1 hour (Connolly)Fastest public option when it runs, but infrequent; 30 min walk to station or €3.60/day parking

A few practical tips

  • Check live departures on the TFI Journey Planner or Irish Rail app before heading out — especially for the train, given how few services there are.
  • Set up a Leap Card (or Leap on the TFI app) if you'll use the bus or train regularly — it now works across both.
  • Carpooling is worth organising informally with neighbours doing the same commute, given the drive is the fastest option but priciest per person if done alone every day.
  • Details can change — the times, fares and frequencies above are correct as of mid-2026; always check the live timetable before travelling.

Compiled from publicly available transport information and local knowledge — if you spot anything out of date here, let a committee member know so we can update this page.