Assurances on train schedules welcomed by Louth's Ó Murchú

Louth TD, Ruairí Ó Murchú, has welcomed assurances from the Head of Corporate Communications at Iarnród Éireann, Mr Barry Kenny, that “the additional peak express services – and indeed all the additional services associated with the hourly Belfast service will be maintained”, following Iarnród Éireann's decision to change some of its train timetables for the third time in three weeks, following what has been described as “commuter chaos”, after a new timetable was introduced recently.

The Sinn Féin TD had contacted Iarnród Éireann in relation to the matter, after receiving representations from those travelling to Belfast and Dublin from Dundalk, about the proposed changes to the timetable, which have come about following complaints to Irish Rail from commuters in the capital using the Dart service, which has been affected by the introduction of the new hourly train from Dublin to Belfast.

Deputy Ó Murchú said he had received an email from a woman who works in media in Dublin who outlined how she will be affected by the latest round of changes to the timetable.

He said: “This commuter who travels three times a week to Dublin from Dundalk for work has told me: ‘As someone who commutes to Dublin three times a week for work, the introduction of the 7:13am train has made a significant improvement to my daily routine.

‘This new service allows me to reach Connolly Station in under an hour, arriving before 9am, which is ideal for my work schedule, making Dundalk such a good commuter town. However, if Irish Rail reverts to the old timetable with the 7am service, it would take 1.5 hours to reach Dublin, which would not only impact my punctuality but also make the journey considerably longer and more stressful.

'The current timetable has provided much-needed reliability and efficiency for many commuters like myself, and I strongly urge you to support maintaining the new schedule. Reverting to the old timetable would be a step backward and negatively impact numerous people who rely on this service’.”

Deputy Ó Murchú, told the Dundalk Democrat of other representations that were made to him in relation to the changes, and that he “raised these issues with Irish Rail in an effort to highlight the constituents’ concerns.”

In his response to the Dundalk TD, Mr Kenny said that “The changes to be introduced next Monday, 14th October, will maintain the delivery of the hourly Belfast service. However, they will address the disproportionate impact our original timetable has had on commuter service punctuality, which has affected thousands of customers daily.

“There will be moderate timing changes on a small number of morning Belfast services, but the service will still offer an additional peak express service when compared with the pre-26th August timetable.”

Mr Kenny said that the local change are: “Current: 07:13hrs from Dundalk, arrives Dublin Connolly 08:15hrs; From 14th October: Departs Dundalk 07:09hrs, arrives Dublin Connolly 08:23hrs.

“Current 08:13hrs from Dundalk, arrives Dublin Connolly 09:13hrs From 14th October: Departs Dundalk 08:14hrs, arrives Dublin Connolly 09:20hrs. Evening peak express: No changes”

Deputy Ó Murchú said that he was “glad of the promises made” by Mr Kenny in relation to the changes, adding that “we need to make sure that the follow through happens.”