Irish Rail has announced significant service disruptions this weekend, with the complete closure of the rail line between Connolly Station and Dún Laoghaire affecting thousands of commuters during the June bank holiday weekend.
The closure, running from today through Monday June 2nd, is due to major engineering works between Connolly and Blackrock stations, which will also impact Rosslare Intercity services. The disruption coincides with several major Dublin events including the Bloom festival and the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon.
Alternative Transport Options Available
Irish Rail has confirmed that rail tickets for affected routes will be valid on Dublin Bus services during the closure period. DART services will continue to operate on reduced sections, running between Malahide/Howth and Connolly, and separately between Dún Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones.
A revised timetable will be in effect throughout the weekend, with Monday’s services operating on Sunday schedules for both DART and commuter services.
High Demand for Festival Travel
The railway company is urging passengers to pre-book tickets for intercity services, particularly those heading to Heuston Station for the Bord Bia Bloom festival in Phoenix Park. Several Dublin-bound trains from major cities including Galway, Limerick, Cork, and Waterford are already fully booked.
To accommodate the surge in demand, Irish Rail will operate additional trains from Cork and Galway. Extra early services from Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow will also run to serve crowds attending the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Bus Services Adopt Weekend Schedules
Bus Éireann announced that all services will operate on Sunday schedules throughout the weekend, affecting Expressway routes to major destinations including Ballina, Cavan, Donegal, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Tralee.
The company strongly advises passengers to pre-book tickets and allow extra time for journeys to and from Dublin Airport, where holiday travel is expected to cause significant delays.
City Centre Disruptions Expected
Dublin Bus will also operate Monday services on a Sunday schedule, while its Nitelink service will run today but will be suspended tomorrow. The company has warned passengers to expect traffic diversions across the city center to facilitate the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon.
Bus Éireann has urged travelers to check service updates on its website for the latest information regarding road closures and route changes related to the marathon.
Travel Advice for Weekend Commuters
Transport authorities are advising all passengers to plan journeys in advance, book tickets early where possible, and allow extra time for travel. The combination of major events, engineering works, and bank holiday travel is expected to create significant pressure on the public transport network.
The disruptions highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing essential infrastructure maintenance with public events and holiday travel demands in Dublin’s busy transport corridor.