Mayo Senator calls for expansion on train timetable for Christmas commuters

Irish Rail must increase services between Dublin and other non-commuter regions nationwide in the run up to Christmas, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Mark Duffy said that the many commuters across the country need extended train times during the Christmas period.

Senator Duffy said: “People right across the country depend on public transport at Christmas and many have to change or cancel plans to fit around public transport options. It’s great to see Irish Rail extend train times for commuter services for weekends in the lead up to Christmas, but we need to see even more services included in this.

For Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights leading up to Christmas, trains are running until 2am to Maynooth and Kildare, and 1:30am to Dundalk. Right now, the last train on a Saturday before Christmas from Dublin to Castlebar is 7:35pm, to Cork or Limerick it's 9pm, and to Galway the last train is 8:30pm.”

The Ballina based Senator stated “We all have events that require us to travel to Dublin over the Christmas period, from Christmas shopping, to parties, to seeing family and friends. These events don’t always fit in with the normal train schedule. Adding just one additional train at night for intercity services would ease the concerns of those traveling.

People shouldn’t have to cut plans short for fear of missing their only way home. We need to see a public transport system that can adapt to fit people’s needs, and Christmas is a time where people need more options to get home.”

“Extending train times would help people spend time with their loved ones, attend Christmas events, and help keep our roads safe by encouraging people to take public transport. “We need to see Irish Rail expand what they’ve done for commuter services and extend their hours right across the country,” concluded Senator Duffy.

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