Dundalk Rail Services Suspended This Weekend for Major Engineering Works
Rail Services Suspended
Travelers in Dundalk and surrounding areas face significant disruptions to their weekend travel plans as Irish Rail announces a complete suspension of train services between Malahide and Belfast. This disruption, which will affect services from Saturday through Monday, is due to essential engineering works on the rail line stretching from Malahide/Drogheda to Belfast/Newry.
The planned maintenance work aims to improve the rail infrastructure, but it will temporarily halt all train operations along this busy route. This is expected to impact thousands of passengers who rely on these services for both commuting and leisure travel over the bank holiday weekend.
For passengers utilizing Enterprise services, which connect Dublin and Belfast, Irish Rail has arranged alternative transportation. A fleet of buses will operate between Dublin Connolly Station and Belfast, stopping at Drogheda, Dundalk, and Newry along the way. Those traveling to Portadown should note that they will need to transfer at Newry to continue their journey.
Northern commuter services between Dundalk and Drogheda will also be disrupted. Specifically, the following stations will be closed to train services during the affected period: Dundalk, Drogheda, Laytown, Gormonston, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush & Lusk, and Donabate. This closure will likely impact daily commuters and travelers heading to and from these stations.
To mitigate the impact on passengers, a limited bus transfer service will be available. This service will connect Drogheda and Dublin Connolly Station, stopping at Balbriggan, Donabate, and Drogheda. Additionally, another bus service will cover the route between Skerries, Rush & Lusk, and Connolly Station, ensuring that passengers can still reach Dublin despite the train service interruption.
Passengers are strongly advised to plan ahead and check for the latest updates regarding rail services and bus transfers. Irish Rail’s website here provides the most current information, and real-time updates can also be found on their Twitter feed at @IrishRail.
Irish Rail has expressed its apologies for the inconvenience and appreciates passengers’ understanding as they work to enhance the rail infrastructure. The temporary disruption is part of ongoing efforts to ensure a more reliable and efficient rail network in the future.