It's a bit crazy though that the stations aren't connected. If you want to go from Galway to Belfast you have to go across the city from Heuston station to Connolly. Very annoying with baggage even though these days there's the Luas. And there is actually a rail connection between the two stations (going up to the north from just before Heuston). They could have a quick service between the two. A bit like the dart in the east.
Dublin would be so much better off with a real metro. The bus service is terrible, the Luas only has two lines and focuses a lot on the suburbs.