Second train running to FAI Cup final from Dundalk

Dundalk FC have confirmed that a second train will be running to the FAI Cup final against Cork City on Sunday November 8^th after the initial train sold out.

The train, which costs €15 return per person, will leave Clarke Station in Dundalk at 11.50am and will arrive at Lansdowne Road at 1.05pm. Kick-off on the day is at 3.30pm.

The train is scheduled to return from Connolly Station at 6.40pm, or 7.40pm if the match goes to extra-time. The price of the DART from Lansdowne Road to Connolly Station is covered in the cost of the return ticket.

The €15 price applies to everyone and no free travel passes will apply. Tickets are on sale from Oriel Park from today during office hours and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Irish Rail running train from Dundalk to the Aviva for FAI Cup final

Irish Rail have confirmed they will be running a train from Dundalk to the Aviva Stadium for the FAI Cup final on Sunday November 8^th.

The train, which costs €15 return per person, will leave Clarke Station in Dundalk at 11.50am and will arrive at Lansdowne Road at 1.05pm. Kick-off on the day is at 3.30pm.

The train is scheduled to return from Connolly Station at 6.40pm, or 7.40pm if the match goes to extra-time. The price of the DART from Lansdowne Road to Connolly Station is covered in the cost of the return ticket.

The €15 price applies to everyone and no free travel passes will apply. Tickets are on sale from Oriel Park from today during office hours and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

5.40am Dundalk to Pearse train to run tomorrow morning as far as Connolly Station

Irish Rail have confirmed that the 5.40am Dundalk to Pearse train will run tomorrow morning.

Doubts about the service had emerged after Irish Rail drivers announced they would be striking from 6am to 9am.

The 5.40am service from Clarke Station will run but only as far as Connolly Station though. This service will also stop at the normal intermediate stations.

No other commuter services will operate prior to 10am.

Full details on the strike can be found here.

Local rail commuters facing disruption due to drivers’ strike tomorrow

Local rail commuters are facing major disruption tomorrow.

Threatened industrial action by Irish Rail drivers will affect rail services in the morning.

The drivers are going on strike from 6am to 9am. As a result, no commuter services will operate prior to 10am, with disruption possible until noon.

Irish Rail also insist that Intercity services cannot be guaranteed prior to 2pm, although there may be a limited service between 9am and 2pm.

Rail tickets will not be valid on services of other transport providers during the strike.

A similar disruption is also planned for Friday November 6^th.

Further details on www.irishrail.ie

New 7.55am direct train from Dundalk to Dublin launching this Monday

A new direct train service from Clarke Station in Dundalk to Dublin Connolly will launch on Monday morning.

The new 7.55am train will leave from Dundalk train station, with a stop off at MacBride station in Drogheda the only stop en route to Dublin.

Irish Rail estimate that the total journey will take 63 minutes, with passengers expected to be in Connolly Station for 9.03am.

This is to compliment the existing Enterprise service, which leaves from Belfast Central and usually arrives in Dundalk around 8am. This train will still stop in Clarke Station.

This ‘additional’ train is only covering a period of time where there will be significantly reduced capacity on the usual train as the Enterprise is being replaced by a smaller train as part of the Enterprise refurbishment. Regular train goers will be familiar with the already reduced capacity on the 8am train from Dundalk.

Travelling from Dundalk to Dublin Airport via rail could be a possibility in the next few years

David Franks, chief executive of Irish Rail

People could soon be able to travel to Dublin Airport from Dundalk train station.

That’s if an ambitious Irish Rail plan to link the airport with Cork, Galway and Belfast comes off.

The proposed new line was revealed by Iarnrod Éireann chief executive David Franks in an interview with The Irish Independent.

While the line would cost in the region of €300m, it would open the entire rail network to air passengers and boost tourism. Dublin Airport is one of the few major airports in Europe without a rail link to its city centre.

“One of the biggest contributions we can make to the economy is moving people over long distances and into city centres fast,” the chief executive told the Irish Independent.

“My vision is more a Manchester Airport connection where you can go all over the country using diesel trains.

“You could gain access to Cork, Galway or Belfast. We think it could be done for about €300m, but that’s very rough and ready.”

Irish Rail might run intercity services direct to the airport, or else link the airport and city by DART before switching to intercity trains.

The ambitious plan would involve building a spur line to the airport from Clongriffin.

This is already being considered by the Department of Transport, in the context of developing a new public transport option for north Dublin.

But the second part would involve a second line from the airport to Swords, before connecting back onto the main Dublin-Belfast line, which would also service commuters from Drogheda and Dundalk.

Trains could run every 15 minutes into the city, with the trip taking 20 minutes. As the line is underneath the flight path, no property would be affected.

Irish Rail believes it could be built in less than five years, and carry three million airport passengers. Research suggests that 24pc of people travelling through airports use a rail link.

The scheme would also be enhanced if the proposed DART Underground project goes ahead, which will link the main lines between Heuston Station and Connolly Station.

Late night trains from Dublin to Dundalk announced for Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Anyone planning a night out in Dublin over Christmas or New Year will be able to avail of late night trains to Dundalk.

Irish Rail have announced that the commuter line train will run after midnight at weekends from this Friday in the run-up to Christmas and after the New Year’s celebrations in the city.

On Friday and Saturday December 12^th and 13^th and Friday and Saturday December 19^th and 20^th, a 00.40am and 01.40am train will leave from Pearse Station, servicing Tara Street, Connolly Station and all other stations from Howth Junction to Dundalk.

Trains will also depart the same stations at 01.40am and 02.40am on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday December 31^st for those hoping to attend the New Year’s Festival Dublin concert.

Fares will be charged at normal commuter rates while weekly, monthly and annual season tickets will be valid for these services at no extra charge.

All late night services will have security personnel on board to ensure customer safety.

Matthews Coach Hire to increase annual commuter ticket price by 6%

The cost of commuting to Dublin for locals is set to increase in the New Year with Matthews Coach Hire set to put up the price of their yearly ticket from Dundalk to Parnell Street by 6%.

The increase will see the cost of a yearly ticket rise from €2,258 to €2,394.

One customer contacted Talk of the Town today to complain about the fare going up again but it still represents the best value for commuters with the same Irish Rail commuter ticket costing €3,340.

The latest Matthews increase will cost passengers around €2.60 extra per week or €11.30 per month.

When tax savings are taken into account passengers can make real savings by purchasing an annual ticket.

 

Bus substitutions in place on some Irish Rail services this weekend

Those travelling to or from Dublin or Belfast on Irish Rail services this weekend face a possible disruption to the service.

A bus substitution will operate between Dundalk and Drogheda on the 20:05 from Belfast and the 20:50 from Dublin on Saturday October 11^th.

Passengers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes as a result of the bus substitutions.

The 10am train from Dublin to Belfast on Sunday will also not depart Connolly Station until 10.30am.

600 without power following overnight storms

Around 600 homes are without power this morning in Kilsaran and Castlebellingham following storms over night.

Electric Ireland anticipate the matter will be resolved by 10.30am.

Commuters have also been affected with northern rail services terminating at Malahide due to overhead power lines being down at Raheny.

A number of roads in the area also have branches down and motorists are urged to be cautious.

A trampoline had earlier blown on to the Carrickmacross Road at Channonrock while Clermont Road in Haggardstown was impassable due to a fallen tree.

Another tree is down at Hoey’s DIY at Mansfieldstown but this can be passed.

The A1 Newry to Belfast road has also reopened in both directions following flooding in Newry overnight that had briefly closed it.