The DART train service is to face major disruption over this coming October Bank Holiday weekend, with seventeen stations set to be closed.
These train stations are to be closed between Saturday 24 October to Monday 26 October, due to engineering works between Grand Canal Dock and Bray, as well as between Howth Junction & Donaghmede and Howth.
No train services will operate on these stations, while DART trains will only operate between Malahide and Grand Canal Dock.
The stations affected and remaining closed over the weekend include: Bayside, Sutton, Howth, Lansdowne Road, Sandymount, Sydney Parade, Booterstown, Blackrock, Seapoint, Salthill and Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire, Sandycove and Glasthule, Glenageary, Dalkey, Killiney, Shankill, and Woodbrook.
In a statement, Irish Rail said: "The Leap card you use on Iarnród Éireann services can be used on all TFI public transport services in the affected area". They also said that most of their rail works will take place overnight, "or in a way that sees little or no disruption to services".
In some cases, disruption is unavoidable.
They added: "In particular, this will happen if we’re replacing or improving essential infrastructure like tracks, bridges, signalling, overhead lines, or helping third parties with major plans".
Elsewhere, DART and Dublin commuter rail schedules have also been preparing for the impact of autumn lead fall.
For this, customers have been advised by Iarnród Éireann that a revised autumn timetable will come into effect from Monday September 21, running until 12 December in the greater Dublin area.
Seasonal leaf fall can create low rail adhesion, with slippery pulp falling on the tracks when trains squash the leaves.
This will see morning and evening peak time services lead to DART and commuter rail being extended by one to three minutes. Commuters have been asked to note for earlier departure times on morning services. (All quotes according to DublinLive).
Back in September, Iarnrod Eireann had announced that Lansdown Road station would be closed during the UEFA Nations League match between the Republic of Ireland and Austria, in order to prepare for future sporting events at the Aviva Stadium. More on this from Nova here.
