Leinster send urgent bus and train notice to fans traveling to Croke Park for Northampton clash with DART lines CLOSED

LEINSTER Rugby has advised fans to use public transport to get to Croke Park for the Champions Cup clash against Northampton Saints.

Leo Cullen’s men host the English club on Saturday evening for the first club rugby game to be held at GAAHQ since 2009.

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The match is sold-out, with 82,300 supporters expected to pack out Croke Park.

However, fans will not be able to get to the stadium by rail, with Iarnród Éireann confirming that the northbound and southbound DART lines between Grand Canal Dock and Bray are closed.

Due to it being a Bank Holiday weekend, maintenance works will be carried out with 13 stations will be closed from Saturday to Monday inclusive.

Irish Rail defended the decision since Bank Holidays are the least disruptive times to carry out works.

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In addition to that, the move was arranged in December, months before it arose that Croker would be stepping in as a temporary host for such a huge match.

With very limited parking around the stadium, it has been recommended that public transport be taken to and from the game.

And with DART lines off the table, Dublin Bus and Go Ahead will accept rail tickets, and provide significant additional capacity.

DART services will operate between Howth/Malahide and Grand Canal Dock, and between Bray and Greystones.

For Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort customers, bus transfers will operate between Connolly and Bray for all services in both directions.

The following services will be available to fans over the weekend:

• Additional Dublin Buses will be provided on Route 7 and Route 155
• Full LUAS service on Red and Green Lines with additional services to support the event pre and post-match
• Additional Go-Ahead Ireland services on Route 45
• Additional buses will be dropped in on the network in busier areas
• There will be a limited supplementary bus service operating from Bray Train Station and Dun Laoghaire Train station to Grand Canal Dock. This service will run from 11am to 11pm. The buses will be outside Grand Canal Dock station post match to take people back to either Bray or Dun Laoghaire train stations.
• Additional Train services from Grand Canal Dock direct to Drumcondra before the game and return to Dublin Connolly post game.

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There will also be additional train services, namely:

• to Drumcondra/Dublin Connolly from Maynooth and return post game
• to Drumcondra/Dublin Connolly from Longford and return post game
• to Drumcondra/Dublin Connolly from Sligo and return post game
• to Dublin Connolly from Dundalk and return post game
• to Dublin Heuston from Athlone return post game

‘PRIVILEGED’

Leinster and Ireland winger James Lowe says he is well aware of the ground’s history and significance, and said he was privileged to get the chance to play there.

He said: “Ireland has been my home for a pretty long time now, I’ve been here watching a few football matches. And to get the opportunity to play a game of rugby here, only the second club rugby match to ever be played here, it’s pretty special and an absolute privilege and it’s going to be one heck of a day.

“I think everyone understands the history of what Croke Park represents to the Irish people and I’m sure there’s kids all around the country who dream of one day being able to represent their provinces here and their counties.

“I’m well aware of what happened here.

“It’s magnificent, when you stand in the middle of that pitch and look around, the sheer scale and size of it can be quite overwhelming.

“We’ve been here before, we’ve been in some pretty big arenas away from here, it’s just that this one is on our back yard and we get the opportunity to put in a performance and hopefully they invite us back if we do a good job.”