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Easter weekend
Buses are back and a bit of rain: Here's how to get around this weekend
A few things are different about this year’s Easter weekend.
THE EASTER WEEKEND is finally here, the Bus Éireann drivers are back and the weather looks alright.
But just to make sure you’re caught up on the travel updates – here’s a quick catch-up on what’s flagged to happen.
Also keep a look out for Cruinniú na Cásca events, which will begin this weekend for the first time. The culture festival is part of official Easter celebrations, and might explain some of the big crowds or city centre traffic delays this weekend.
BUS STRIKES
Bus Éireann strikes are off for the weekend, thank god (literally). But there are delays and limited services due to the Easter weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
Bus Éireann
Good Friday: Normal Friday services will operate including the following nightrider services: 101N, 109N, 126N.
Saturday: Normal services will operate in all areas.
Easter Sunday: Normal services will operate with the following alterations:
Easter Monday: Normal Sunday services will operate with the following alterations:
Other Buses
Dublin Bus, Dublin Coach, and Aircoach services will operate as normal, and Citylink‘s routes to Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork aren’t affected.
Cork‘s suburban bus network is run by Bus Éireann, so it has no services. Nor does Galway or Waterford.
Kilkenny, Nenagh, Thurles and Clonmel are still being served by Bernard Kavanagh and Sons’ private bus.
Limerick’s EuroBus service is unaffected by the strikes. Bus Feda will be operating between Donegal and Galway while Wexford Bus will be running as usual from Wexford. City Direct will be running across Galway city.
None of the country’s 36 rural transport schemes have been affected.
RAIL
From 7pm today until close of business Sunday, the lines between Connolly and Howth/Malahide/Skerries will be closed for essential line works.
Full service arrangements for Northside Dart, Northern Commuter and Enterprise are available here.
Today, Good Friday
- Intercity services will operate to a Friday schedule (with some alterations).
- Dart and Northern Commuter will operate to a Saturday schedule until 7pm
- Maynooth/M3 Parkway services will operate to a Saturday schedule with the addition of the 6.15 Longford-Pearse and 5.15pm Connolly-Longford services
- Docklands Station is closed on this day
- Portlaoise/Kildare/Newbridge Commuter services will operate to a Friday schedule with some alterations. There will also be a limited peak Newbridge/Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock service
- Cork Commuter services will operate to a Saturday schedule
- Luas: Saturday service: 6.30am–0.30am.
Saturday
-
Intercity Heuston Alterations:
- A normal service will operate until 13.00hrs approximately.
- From 1pm onwards, the line will be closed between Hazelhatch and Sallins for the remainder of the day due to line improvement works. Full service information is available here
- Sligo and Rosslare trains to/from Connelly will operate to a normal Saturday service
- Connolly to Greystones Dart will operate to a normal Saturday service
- Northside Dart, Northern Commuter and Enterprise services: the line will be closed between Connolly and Howth/Malahide/Skerries for essential line works. Full service information is available here
- Maynooth/M3 Parkway services will operate to a normal Saturday schedule
- Cork Commuter will operate to a normal Saturday schedule
- Luas: Saturday service: 6.30am–0.30am.
Easter Sunday
- Intercity (excluding Enterprise) will operate to a Sunday service with some time alterations, and some cancellations, and bus transfers up to 9.30am
- Dart will operate to a Sunday schedule between Connolly and Greystones only.
- Connolly to Greystones Dart will operate to a normal Sunday service
- Northside Dart, Northern Commuter and Enterprise services: the line will be closed between Connolly and Howth/Malahide/Skerries for essential line works. More information here.
- Maynooth/M3 Parkway services will operate to a normal Sunday schedule
- Portlaoise/Kildare/Newbridge Commuter services will operate to a Sunday schedule with some alterations
- Cork Commuter will operate to a normal Sunday schedule
- Luas: Sunday service: 7.00am–11.30pm.
Easter Monday
- Dart services will operate to a Sunday schedule
- Northern Commuter, Maynooth/M3 Parkway Commuter, Kildare/Portlaoise commuter will operate to a Sunday schedule with minor revisions
- Cork Commuter will operate to an hourly service on Cork/Cobh and an hourly service on Cork/Midleton approximately
- Sligo and Rosslare services operate to a Sunday schedule
- Heuston Intercity routes will operate to a Monday schedule, with a significant number of alterations
-
Enterprise services will operate to a Monday service, except for:
- 6.30am Newry to Connolly is cancelled
- 7.35am Connolly to Belfast includes a bus transfer from Connolly to Drogheda.
- Luas: Sunday service: 7.00am–11.30pm
DRIVING
With an increase in the number of motorists on Irish roads expected between now and Monday, motorists are advised to be extra careful particularly as many motorists will be travelling on routes they’re not used to.
“Any time we have a long weekend we tend to see changes in certain people’s driving behaviours.
“Not only do we see an increase in drink-driving levels, but we also see an increase in irresponsible driver behaviour as people rush to try to reach their destination as quickly as possible,” according to Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs.
The Easter weekend also coincides with the gardaí launching new roadside drug testing for cannabis, cocaine, opiates (like heroin and morphine) and benzodiazepines (like valium).
“Long weekend or not we need to keep our roads safe and there is no excuse for driving while drunk or failing to drive carefully.”
WEATHER
According to Met Éireann, today will be a dull day starting with some patchy rain eventually spreading southeastwards.
The rain will clear later and it will become mostly dry with clear spells developing on Friday night. It will turning cooler and winds will fall light leading possibly to some grass frost.
Saturday is likely to be dry with some sunny spells, says Met Éireann, but scattered showers may affect the north.
The influence of the high pressure to the south of Ireland may extend into Easter Sunday with mostly dry conditions over the south but outbreaks of showery rain may push into the parts of the northwest and north.
But the high pressure may weaken by Easter Monday with some patchy rain likely at times.
Top temperatures will range again from 10 to 13 degrees.
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