Ireland: Dart closed every weekend until June 2004

News forwarded FYI - Alan (in Brussels)

Off the rails: Dart closed at weekends for 18 months

Irish Independent - 7 Oct. 2003 - (free registration required)


http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...&issue_id=9883


THE Dart rail network will be shut every weekend for the next year and a
half.

The public is being given just four days warning of the extraordinary move
which will disrupt the weekend travel plans of thousands of Dubliners and
visitors to the city.

The big closure comes in two phases.

The first, starting on Saturday, involves the entire Dublin southside Dart
line from Pearse Station to Greystones. It will be closed every weekend
until next June at the earliest.

After that the northside and city centre Dart sections will be closed for a
further nine months as part of an upgrading programme costing ?176m.

The public, already reeling from Luas and the 'Mad Cow' roundabout chaos, is
only being given four days notice of the massive disruption. The shutdown
was approved by the board of CIE last January - but the news will only be
released this morning.

Amazingly, no provision has been made for special buses to run from the
closed Dart stations, as transport chiefs prepare for the Christmas
gridlock.

SNIP to end

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:
News forwarded FYI - Alan (in Brussels)

Off the rails: Dart closed at weekends for 18 months

Irish Independent - 7 Oct. 2003 - (free registration required)



http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...&issue_id=9883


THE Dart rail network will be shut every weekend for the next year
and a
half.

The public is being given just four days warning of the extraordinary
move
which will disrupt the weekend travel plans of thousands of Dubliners
and visitors to the city.

The big closure comes in two phases.

The first, starting on Saturday, involves the entire Dublin southside
Dart
line from Pearse Station to Greystones. It will be closed every
weekend
until next June at the earliest.

After that the northside and city centre Dart sections will be closed
for a further nine months as part of an upgrading programme costing
?176m.

The public, already reeling from Luas and the 'Mad Cow' roundabout
chaos, is only being given four days notice of the massive
disruption. The shutdown
was approved by the board of CIE last January - but the news will
only be released this morning.

Amazingly, no provision has been made for special buses to run from
the
closed Dart stations, as transport chiefs prepare for the Christmas
gridlock.

SNIP to end

from www.irishrail.ie :

".. Dublin Bus will double the number of buses operating on routes adjacent
to the DART on the Southside (Routes 7, 45, 46A, 59 and 84). Provision will
also be made for weekly and monthly DART/Commuter Rail Only season ticket
holders for travel on scheduled Dublin Bus services at weekends."

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:

THE Dart rail network will be shut every weekend for the next year and a
half.

The public is being given just four days warning of the extraordinary move
which will disrupt the weekend travel plans of thousands of Dubliners and
visitors to the city.

Have they been taking advice from Network Rail?

Brian Rumary, England

http://freespace.virgin.net/brian.rumary/homepage.htm

No they are primarily a commuter line and prefer to not inconvenience
their primary customers when they have a major reconstruction. If they
consulted network rail they would shut down from 6 am to 10 am for the
next 5 years to get the necessary work time. FFM

B.Rumary wrote:

Alan (in Brussels) wrote:

THE Dart rail network will be shut every weekend for the next year and a
half.
The public is being given just four days warning of the extraordinary move
which will disrupt the weekend travel plans of thousands of Dubliners and
visitors to the city.

Have they been taking advice from Network Rail?
Brian Rumary, England