24 August 2009
New service will benefit peak hour commuters
Green Party TD and Minister of State Trevor Sargent has welcomed Irish Rail’s decision to provide a daily direct bus service from Balbriggan to Dublin City Centre from tomorrow (Tuesday, 25 August 2009).
Following Friday’s collapse of the rail viaduct outside Malahide and after discussions today with Iarnrod Eireann’s CEO Richard Fearn, Minister Sargent was pleased that the transport needs of people living in or near to Balbriggan are being better met.
Minister Sargent said: “From tomorrow Balbriggan commuters will be able to make use of a new, express bus link to Dublin city centre. It became clear today that using existing scheduled services was not going to be an option for anybody needing to reach the city centre at peak hours. I am relieved that CIE have been able to introduce the new arrangements.
“The rail replacement service that is running from Drogheda is a specific station to station service. However, commuters from the most northerly towns of North County Dublin such as Balbriggan were not getting such an efficient service. Balbriggan commuters were required to take an additional journey of 10 kilometres to use the bus service running from Skerries in order to make the commute into the City Centre. This is adding up to 25 minutes to their daily commute.
Minister Sargent continued: “It is urgent that we get all of the rail replacement services running efficiently as they may be in place for quite a lengthy period of time while repairs to the viaduct at the Broadmeadows estuary are being carried out. Additionally, the loss of the rail service to commuters in the North County has now highlighted what an inadequate rail service we have had for a number of years. For this reason we must ensure that Metro North is delivered as soon as possible to afford commuters an alternative mode of travel in the future.”
Minister Sargent, who himself is a regular commuter, has been in regular contact with Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann officials since the collapse of the viaduct at the Broadmeadows estuary. Both he and his officials are working on solutions to alleviate the pressure on commuters travelling from Dublin North to the City Centre.
“I reiterate my hope that repair works to the viaduct can be expedited to alleviate the pressure on Dublin North commuters. I also call on the commuters from this area that intend to travel by car to consider car pooling. This will reduce pressure on the roads, be a benefit to commuters without cars, and of course, also benefit the environment.
“I have had a special section added to my website http://trevorsargent.ie to allow fellow commuters make contact with each other if they wish to carpool into areas of the city from North County Dublin.”
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For further information on carpooling, please log onto trevorsargent.ie or call the Green Party constituency office in Swords on 01 890 0360.
Notes (from irishrail.ie):
From Tuesday 25th of August, a special direct bus service will operate between Balbriggan Station and Dublin Connolly station via The Dublin Port Tunnel commencing Tuesday, 25th August for the morning and evening peak. Rail tickets will be accepted on this service.
Balbriggan – Dublin Connolly: 07:00hrs, 07:30hrs, 07:45hrs, 08:00hrs, 08:30hrs
Dublin Connolly (Sherrif St. Lower) – Balbriggan: 17:00hrs, 17:30hrs, 17:45hrs, 18:00hrs, 18:30hrs
