Updated at 12pm
IRISH RAIL HAS this morning advised customers that there will be significant disruption to its intercity rail services today, arising from picketing associated with the Bus Éireann strike.
Irish Rail spokesperson Barry Kenny told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that, in a number of locations, “there are pickets that [its] employees decided not pass”, adding that it had been hoped the company would have a far more extensive rail service today.
FULL SERVICES
- DART
- Dublin Commuter
- Cork Commuter
- Cork/Dublin
- Westport/Dublin
- Belfast/Dublin.
LIMITED SERVICES
There are limited services on the following routes:
- Dublin/Sligo: reduced timetable, with services operating between Dublin and Longford/Boyle only. Please note 17.15 and 18.05 Connolly to Longford commuter services will operate.
- Dublin/Waterford: reduced timetable, with services operating between Dublin and Kilkenny only.
- Dublin/Galway: reduced timetable will operate between Dublin and Galway.
- Dublin/Rosslare: reduced timetable will operate between Dublin and Wexford/Rosslare Europort. Evening commuters should note the only service scheduled to operate at this time is 17.36hrs Connolly to Wexford.
- Tralee to Mallow/Cork/Dublin: reduced timetable will operate
NO SERVICE
- Limerick to Limerick Junction (includes Limerick to Dublin direct services)
- Limerick to Galway
- Waterford to Limerick Junction
- Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh.
Demand is up
Higher demand is expected on the rail services that are operating today. Bus Éireann tickets will not be accepted as valid to travel on Irish rail services during the dispute.
Kenny said: “We apologise to customers for the fluid and quite sudden impact. We’ll continue to update customers throughout the day.
In a lot of instances our staff are in a very difficult position. Now our focus is on the morning peak. We will ensure that information is available as far as possible.
He advised that refunds will be given to customers who have booked tickets in advance, but Irish Rail would not compensate customers for the alternative journeys they may have to make as a result of these reduced services.
He added that workers who refused to pass the picket will not be paid.
Read: Good news: Temperatures could reach the high teens this weekend
Read: The Bus Éireann strike begins today – here’s how to get around
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