After the Broadstone terminus' closure in 1937, most trains on the line would be diverted to Westland Row (now Pearse).

From Dublin the route mostly bends alongside the Royal Canal to Mullingar along a fairly level gradient.

The closure of many stations in 1963 enabled the service to be speeded up with over an hour reduction in journey time.

Dublin Port can be reached by walking beside the tram lines around the corner from Amiens Street into Store Street or by Luas one stop to Busáras where Dublin Bus operates route 53 to the Ferry Terminal[9] or to take a taxi.

Passengers can change at Dublin Connolly for the Belfast–Dublin railway line for the Enterprise to east Ulster.

InterCity services have been operated by 22000 Class DMUs since December 2007, the Dublin-Sligo route being the first in the whole of Ireland to get the new trains.

121 and 141 Classes would often work in multiple on the heavy midday trains and latterly to achieve faster timetables.