Co Kildare commuters to experience disruptions to services as Irish Rail announces major works during Easter weekend
By Kim O'Leary
As the preparations get underway for the Easter, hundreds of Co Kildare commuters could be affected by disruptions in services as Iarnród Eireann has today announced that it will undertake "major works" at various locations across the network over the Easter weekend.
The company is also facilitating Kildare County Council in road underbridge works at Sallins with Iarnród Éireann constructing a new bridge under the railway just south of Sallins Station on behalf of Kildare County Council. The bridge is on the route of the Sallins Bypass scheme, currently under construction, and the precast concrete bridge units have been constructed and will be installed over the Easter weekend.
These works will result in bus substitutions on some services for Co Kildare commuters.
Dublin Heuston to Waterford - Upgrading of signalling system at Kilkenny, Friday 30th March to Monday 2nd April inclusive
Bus transfers will be in operation between Dublin Heuston and Waterford to a revised schedule for all services from Good Friday 30th March to Easter Monday 2nd April inclusive, due to major resignalling works in Kilkenny Station and Sallins bypass works.
It is understood that full services on this route will resume on Tuesday 3rd April.
Dublin Heuston to Newbridge/Kildare - Sallins road bypass works, Friday 30th March to Monday 2nd April (12.30hrs) inclusive, although bus transfers will be operation between Heuston and Newbridge from Good Friday 30th March to 12.30hrs approximately on Easter Monday 2nd April. Services will operate to a revised schedule as follows:
Dublin Heuston to Cork/Limerick/Kerry: bus transfers will operate between Heuston and Newbridge, with a train service between Newbridge and Cork, Limerick and Kerry
Dublin Heuston to Galway/Westport:bus transfers will operate between Heuston and Kildare, with a train service between Kildare and Galway and Westport
Dublin Heuston to Hazelhatch commuter services will operate to a revised schedule.
Full services on these routes will resume from 12.30hrs on Easter Monday 2nd April.
Northside DART, Northern Commuter and Belfast Enterprise - track works, Saturday 31st March and Easter Sunday 1st April
Track improvement works will take place between Connolly and Rush & Lusk on Saturday 31st March and Easter Sunday 1st April. Services will operate as follows:
DART services will not operate between Howth/Malahide and Dublin Connolly. DART services between Connolly and Bray/Greystones will operate. Dublin Bus will accept rail tickets on northside routes during this time.
Belfast Enterprise services will operate as a bus transfer between Dublin Connolly and Drogheda, with a train service between Drogheda and Belfast. Northern Commuter services will operate to a limited schedule between Drogheda and Skerries, with a bus transfer between Dublin Connolly and Skerries.
Full services on these routes will resume on Easter Monday 2nd April.
Full details of service arrangements are available at www.irishrail.ie and customers are advised to check times on all routes over the Easter weekend.
A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said “while the vast majority of our works take place overnight or at times of minimal impact, the scale of some projects do cause unavoidable impact on services.As we work to ensure we avoid impacting on weekday commuting at all times, the four-day period over Easter does provide an opportunity to progress larger scale and complex projects."
"Resignalling of Kilkenny and its approaches; the completion of underbridge works for Kildare County Council; and significant track renewal at two sites on Dublin’s northside will be delivered in a concentrated time period, ensuring the works can be delivered efficiently and effectively. We apologise for the inconvenience for what are essential works.”