From Yesterday, St. Patrick’s Day, all senior tourists (aged 66 or more) are entitled to travel on the Irish Rail Network completely free of charge.
The scheme, known as the “Golden Trekker” applies to train travel in Ireland on the Iarnród Éireann (Irish rail) network.
Golden Trekker Tickets take the form of a four-day Trekker ticket, or a sequence of four-day tracker tickets for longer stays, providing senior visitors with unrestricted rail travel within the republic of Ireland. Each four-day Trekker ticket is worth at least €100 ($140) per person.
The scheme makes Ireland vacations even more affordable for seniors. Any of our selfdrive Ireland vacation packages can be purchased excluding the rental car and you can get around using your free rail pass and take a bus or taxi to your hotel.
Alternatively choose from our list of hotels near Irish train stations to make that vacation even more convenient.
To get your Golden trekker ticket you must contact your local Tourism Ireland representatives:
For visitors from the USA the process is:
Call Tourism Ireland on 800 SHAMROCK (1-800-7426-7625) at least 48 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland, and provide the following information:
– First and last name
– Date of birth
– Passport Number
– Date you wish your Golden Trekker Pass to commence (each pass is valid for four days. If you intend to travel for longer periods, you have to apply for more than one pass.)
– Country of residence
– Email address and/or Postal address
– Origin of first rail journey
Once you have provided this information, your Tourism Ireland agent will process your application for a Golden Trekker, and a confirmation will be delivered to you in time for your trip to Ireland.
For visitors from other countries visit www.discoverireland.com for details.
I would like to help 2 u.s. citizens to apply for four day free travel in ireland in July 2011.
Can you tell how to go about it.
Many thanks
helen
Hi Helen,
From the USA you can call Tourism Ireland on 800 SHAMROCK (1-800-7426-7625) at least 48 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland, and provide the following information:
– First and last name
– Date of birth
– Passport Number
– Date you wish your Golden Trekker Pass to commence (each pass is valid for four days. If you intend to travel for longer periods, you have to apply for more than one pass.)
– Country of residence
– Email address and/or Postal address
– Origin of first rail journey
There are some more details of the info you must provide here from the Irish Government’s Tourism Body. Fáilte Ireland:
http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteCorp/media/FailteIreland/documents/Press%20Releases/Note_editor_Free_Rail_Scheme_for_Older_Visitors.pdf
I would like to apply for the golden trekker pass for the 4 day free rail travel for my husband and me . We apparently are not able to contact the Irish tourist office as the # is for USA citizens only. We live in Manitoba, Canada. Can you advise where we should apply? Thank you , I await your reply.
Eileen Baxter