DUBLIN/NATIONAL – Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) has announced significant disruptions and a revised timetable for rail services nationwide this upcoming October Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday, 25 October to Monday, 27 October, to facilitate major essential engineering works.
The disruptions are concentrated in the Greater Dublin Area, Louth, and Galway, and will impact DART, Commuter, Intercity, and Enterprise services.
Key Service Interruptions:
- Northern Line Closure: There will be no DART services between Connolly Station and Howth/Malahide. Additionally, no Commuter rail services will operate between Dublin and Drogheda.
- Alternative Services: A limited bus replacement service will operate between Dublin Connolly and key stops including Donabate, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Rush & Lusk, and Skerries.
- DART: DART services will continue to operate between Connolly and Greystones.
- Ticket Acceptance: Dublin Bus and GoAhead services will accept valid rail tickets on affected routes.
- Enterprise Services: All cross-border Enterprise services will operate on a revised timetable, with bus transfers operating between Dublin and Drogheda.
- Galway Line Works: Due to the ongoing redevelopment of Ceannt Station, including the commissioning of the new Platform 5, all Galway/Dublin, Galway/Limerick, and Galway/Athlone services will include bus transfers between Galway and Athenry in both directions, operating to a revised schedule.
Advice to Travellers:
All services across the country will operate on a revised timetable over the Bank Holiday period. Iarnród Éireann strongly advises all customers to check the latest train times on its website or mobile app before beginning their journey, and to book Inter-city tickets in advance due to potential capacity restrictions.
Additional Services for Major Events:
To accommodate attendees for high-profile weekend events, Iarnród Éireann will be running extra services:
- Aviva Stadium Matches: Extra DART services will run after the Ireland vs. Belgium UEFA Women’s Nations League game on Friday and the Leinster vs. Zebre URC game on Saturday. Note: DART services will not serve Grand Canal Dock immediately following both matches due to crowd control measures.
- Cork Jazz Festival: Additional late evening services will run between Cork and Cobh/Midleton on Saturday and Sunday.
- Dublin Marathon: Extra services will operate on Sunday between Maynooth and Dublin Pearse and Greystones and Dublin Connolly to facilitate participants and spectators.