May bank holiday travel chaos feared as Bray and Greystones Dart stations to close

Bray is due to host its international jazz festival in the town and Greystones across the three days

Social Democrats local election candidate Aaron McCallorum at Bray station.

thumbnail: Dart at Bray station. Stock image.

thumbnail: Social Democrats local election candidate Aaron McCallorum at Bray station.

Tom Galvin

Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 07:30

There have been calls for Irish Rail to postpone engineering works scheduled to take place for the May bank holiday weekend, over fears the closure of Bray Dart Station will leave the town “isolated” on a weekend which will see hundreds of visitors coming to the town for the annual Bray Jazz Festival, as well as hundreds more needing transport to attend Croke Park for the Champions Cup rugby semi-final.

Customers have been advised that disruptions to services are to take effect on Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6, when there will be no train service between Grand Canal Dock and Bray.

Social Democrats local election candidate Aaron McAllorum has now called on Irish Rail to postpone the works, given the impact it will have on local businesses, rugby fans, as well as the festival goers who flock to Bray on that weekend.

“I have called the timing Irish Rail’s rail improvement works into question repeatedly,” he said. “Bray Jazz Festival takes place over the May weekend and I feel inbound visitors and town businesses will be at a loss without the rail connection on what should be a very busy time.

“The addition of a huge rugby match in Dublin to the social diary is compounding the decision by Irish Rail to close the line,” he continued.

“The train from Bray/Greystones and South Dublin to Croker is the most obvious direct mode to get to the match. Leave the car at home we are always told – Irish Rail are pushing people to use private cars to get to Bray for music and to get to/from Dublin for the match.

“Irish Rail need to look at the passenger data and identify the least busy periods and do the works around that. Irish Rail really need to engage meaningfully with stakeholders and rail users.”

Meanwhile, Irish Rail has advised that there will be further disruptions to services on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, June 9.

DART services will operate between Howth/Malahide to Grand Canal Dock and between Grand Canal Dock to Howth/Malahide only. There will be no train service between Grand Canal Dock and Bray. Dublin Bus/Go-Ahead Ireland will accept valid rail tickets on services between closed stations. The following stations will be closed for train services on the above dates: Lansdowne Road, Sandymount, Sydney Parade, Booterstown, Blackrock, Seapoint, Salthill amd Monkstown, Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove and Glasthule, Glenageary, Dalkey, Killiney, and Shankill.