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Dublin: 11 °C Saturday 18 May, 2013

Transport between Ireland and UK disrupted as general strike begins

Bus and train services to the North are among those affected by the action, with delays expected at UK airports.

Image: James Horan/Photocall Ireland

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE travelling between the Republic of Ireland and the UK – including Northern Ireland – are facing severe disruptions today as a general strike hit bus, rail and air services.

Irish Rail has announced that all its cross-border services are suspended, with trains running north from Dublin only as far as Dundalk. The rail operator in the North, Translink, is among the organisations taking part in the strike.

There are also disruptions expected to bus services running across the border. Bus Eireann advised passengers to only travel if necessary, saying it would aim to operate its cross-border services – which are jointly run with Translink – but there could be last-minute changes. Several services have been cancelled.

Passengers flying internationally to the UK have been advised to expect delays at immigration, as airports struggle to staff border controls. The BBC reports that the strike by UK Border Agency officials could mean passengers waiting for “hours” at London Heathrow.

However, Aer Lingus said it hoped its passengers would be largely unaffected as the Common Travel Area arrangement means travellers from Ireland do not have to pass through border controls.

Read more: Bus, rail and air travel disruptions expected during UK strike>

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Comments (10 Comments)

  • Really? Landed in Gatwick an hour ago. Slight diversion from gate to exit but quicker than usual if anything!

    Reply
  • Definitely agree with the people here who are expressing democratically earned human rights. There is obviously an exception for The Master Debater, who, as his (or her ?) name suggests is getting off on their own… Pity one should be so inarticulate as to need to repeatedly use such basely vulgar vocabulary to express the simplest of views. Please, dear Master Debater, remember where the freedom of speech came from. In days gone by you would have been silenced for public outrage ; )

    Reply
  • God I hate unions.

    Reply
    • Why? They have the right to strike. All this was avoidable if government listened!

      Reply
    • I’m not saying they don’t have the right to, I’m saying it’s not Britain in the 1800’s and there’s really no need for this Marxist bullshit any more. Their pay and conditions are far better than those of the private sector, notwithstanding their high level of job security, they should really shut the fuck up and appreciate what they have instead of fucking up the commute for actual hard working people.

      The government isn’t there to give into any and all demands made at the behest of the trade unions either, AnneMarie. That’s part of what got us into our mess, that cozy relationship between FF and the trade unions. Led to a total loss in competitiveness.

      Leeches of the state, hope they all eventually get the boot from their jobs and find out what it’s like down here in the real world.

      Reply
  • Yvonne M 30/11/11 #

    Fair play to them. It’s not as if they didn’t give adequate notice of the strikes. The entire country (except for a lot of the public service, transport, emergency services etc..)shut down for the royal wedding and everyone rejoiced.

    Reply
  • I agree with Eoin as I head to Stansted.
    So much for this being a PUBLIC ‘servants’ strike!! Any excuse for a day off? I’m pleased to say the private rail companies in the England appear to be running normally. This one day strike by public sector workers is costing the UK public (80% of whom are not public sector workers) at least 500 million – shooting yourself in the foot comes to mind!

    Reply
  • Bazza 30/11/11 #

    “travelling between the UK – including Northern Ireland”

    What does that mean ????

    How could the UK *not* include Northern Ireland ??

    Reply

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