Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) has reminded customers traveling during the May Bank Holiday weekend to check times before traveling for service alterations.
Customers are also advised to book Intercity travel in advance via the website or Iarnród Éireann app.
Major works are resulting in the line being closed between Grand Canal Dock and Bray from Saturday to Monday inclusive.
Irish Rail confirmed that bus operators WILLIAM accept rail tickets to and from the affected area with additional capacity in place on Saturday afternoon and evening to accommodate the Leinster v Northampton in Croke Park.
DART customers on the affected routes can use their tickets on Dublin Bus and Go Ahead — both of whom will introduce significant additional capacity for the rugby match.
Limited supplementary bus services will operate from Bray and Dun Laoghaire Stations to Grand Canal Dock before the match and back following the match.
This additional bus capacity is limited.
For customers traveling from Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europost, a bus transfer will operate between Connolly and Bray for all services in both directions.
The works taking place are across multiple sites and include track renewal; overhead line renewal and train protection systems.
Irish Rail said: ‘While the vast majority of our works take place overnight without causing disruption, certain major works do unavoidably involve service impacts, in this instance with track being replaced, overhead lines being replaced and new TPS systems being installed.’
They added that ‘up to just over two weeks ago’ no major sporting fixture was taking place, and the works have been scheduled since December 2023.
‘There is a very significant number of events throughout the summer, including Taylor Swift, Coldplay, P!nk concerts, Malahide Castle/ St Anne’s events, All-Ireland series, Bloom and others that mean we do very few disruptive works throughout the summer .’
Deferral of works after learning of the Leinster rugby match would have cost a significant €500,000.
Irish Rail have liaised with the NTA (National Transport Authority) and fellow public transport operators and extra services will operate on the following bus routes:
- Dublin Bus 7 Route Dun Laoghaire to Mountjoy Square
- Dublin Bus 155 Route Bray Station to O’Connell Street
- Go Ahead 45A Route Bray Station to Dun Laoghaire Station
- Supplementary buses running from Bray to Dun Laoghaire stations to Grand Canal Dock pre-match and from Grand Canal Dock to Bray and Dun Laoghaire post-match. Limited capacity.
Sunday, May 5 and Monday, May 6 will operate on a revised timetable with Irish Rail urging travelers to check here for updated travel times.
