Replying To letsgetgoing: "To clarify a couple of things re train transportation near Croke Park.
Drumcomdra railway station is on the Sligo/Maynooth line heading for Connolly Station. This line passes Croke Park behind Hill 16. This line has served Croke Park for years and there is often a long Q on match days at Drumcondra Station. (Well managed by CIE with safety barriers)
There is a second railway line at the Canal end of Croke Park that comes from Heuston Station and the tunnel under the Pheonix Park. There is no railway station very near Croke Park for this line. The only place the two railway lines are in close proximity to each other is at the far end of Whitworth Road (near Des Kelly's/ Brian Boru Pub) where a new and very large Metro Station will hopefully be built. It would be expected that many GAA supporters would arrive at this station in the future from several directions.
It would make a lot of sense to have a frequent railway shuttle service from this metro station to Croke Park or Drumcondra station on match days whenever it is built, as it is a long (wet?) walk for older people. They might have to open a new station near the Canal end for this shuttle service, so there would not have an ongoing impact on the Sligo railway line. Don't think this idea was discussed in the metro planning?
If they can open a new railway station for a few days of the Ryder Cup why not also for Croke Park (Ongoing Match days/concerts/conferences etc) Sorry for being do long winded."
Well, at least that explains the original query of why there's no service between Heuston and Drumcondra on match days.
Long story short is that there's no line between both places.
Replying To Pikeman96: "Will admit I didn't realise they use that sort of queueing system at Drumcondra Station on match days. I've only ever been there at "ordinary" weekday times.
Doubt though that there are many there to wait for a train just to Connolly. That's where the Wexford terminates, and I often land in there myself on All-Ireland days (but sadly, no Wexford team involved in them!). The walk to Croke Park is just 20 minutes, and particularly if you want to stop into a shop or a pub along the way, people are far more inclined to just walk it rather than look for another train.
Would be the same on the way back - may as well just walk down to Connolly rather than queue at Drumcondra to get a train for just one stop, and then queue again to get on another one.
But anyway - have been dragged down some odd rabbit holes since I first started posting on this site, but never found myself thinking about train stations and railway platforms before. Maybe time to leave it so!"
Connolly can be a good alternative after some games where it can be a long wait for supporters queuing for the Maynooth train. You're pretty much guaranteed a seat too. Can be a bit mad queuing in Drumcondra to get into the station and up on the platform. The trains to Croke Park from Maynooth can be too packed, especially for older people and if you're bringing children. Not sure why or how they manage to squeeze people in at some stages after Confey. Doesn't look safe.
Replying To Pikeman96: "Well, at least that explains the original query of why there's no service between Heuston and Drumcondra on match days.
Long story short is that there's no line between both places.
Thanks for the info."
There's IS a direct route from Heuston to Drumcondra and vice versa.
A commuter train goes from Dublin Connolly via Drumcondra & Heuston to Hazelhatch and vice versa during the week. It doesn't explain why there's no service on matchdays, much like in the same way you can't get a train to the Docklands at the weekend either. The gas thing is that there would be plenty of space for a station at the back of the handball alley which, if used with Drumcondra, would be a game changer. Whether it would be financially viable to have a station is one thing as it would require a serious level of engineering to make it work but it would be possible. If the DART underground ever sees the light of day, it might be worth doing but I can't see it happening unless a bigger project gets the go ahead.