Dispute disrupts train services

FOURTEEN TRAIN services were cancelled over the weekend while a number of others were replaced by bus transfers due to continuing problems with rosters for train drivers. Further disruption will take place tomorrow.

Yesterday, four trains on the Dublin-Cork line were cancelled and there were also some minor alterations to other services on this route as well on the Tralee to Mallow line.

Over the weekend 10 services on the Dublin-Maynooth line were cancelled, while a number of scheduled services on the Dublin-Sligo, Dublin-Belfast and Dublin-Rosslare lines were replaced by bus transfers.

According to Iarnród Éireann, the disruption was due to "on-going operational problems associated with drivers' issues".

Talks between management and unions have so far failed to resolve a number of issues, one of the main ones being the number of "rest" days that drivers are being requested to work on. The problem has escalated since the introduction of the new timetable in January that has seen additional trains on several routes.

Meanwhile, the company has also announced that the following services will be cancelled tomorrow - 13.38 Connolly-Clonsilla; 14.10 Clonsilla-Docklands; 15.40 Connolly-Maynooth; 17.05 Maynooth-Connolly; 18.08 Connolly-Maynooth; 18.58 Maynooth-Connolly; 14.45 Pearse-Balbriggan; 16.16 Balbriggan-Connolly; 17.40 Drogheda-Connolly; 18.15 Pearse-Drogheda.

The 16.00 Dublin-Sligo and 17.00 Sligo-Dublin services will be replaced by bus transfers.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times