A direct rail link to Limerick as well as commuter services between the city and towns in South Galway will finally open at the end of the month.

In what will bring some relief to commuters, the service will begin with five trains each way Monday to Saturday and four services each way on Sundays.

The journey between Galway and Limerick will take two hours – at least a half hour longer than the same journey by car because of the huge number of level crossings on the line.

The first commuter train from Gort to the city leaves at 7.33am and arrives in Galway at 8.25am. The same train leaves Ardrahan ten minutes later, 11 minutes later from Craughwell and 11 minutes after that from Athenry.

The most popular return journey for commuters will be the 5.25pm train from Galway, pulling into Gort at 6.14pm.

Fares range from a €177 monthly commuter ticket between Gort and the city, which will cost €13.70 for a daily return. To commute from Athenry, it will cost €123 a month and €11 for a daily return ticket. A day return ticket to Limerick will cost €20, with the monthly return costing €36.

The line will begin full services on March 30 following the completion of the line between Ennis and Athenry, and the receding of recent flooding between Limerick and Ennis.

After a gap of over 30 years since the last scheduled services on the line, the €106.5m new route will be officially launched the day before.

The rail line had been completed last year but the opening was delayed for some months as a result of the flooding.

The times of the train will be scheduled to meet commuter needs, serving Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, with new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell.

Read more in today's Connacht Sentinel