Date: 28 April 2021
Green Party TD, Steven Matthews has received confirmation from Irish Rail that DART services will return to a full timetable on all routes including to/from Greystones on Tuesday, May 4th. Delays, inaccurate timetables and overcrowding on carriages have all been flagged as concerns with Deputy Matthews in recent weeks and he has welcomed this response to public concerns. Discussing the news, Deputy Matthews said:
“I want to first commend the employees of Irish Rail who have worked throughout the pandemic to ensure that front line workers have been able to access public transport. Their efforts cannot and should not be diminished. I accept that the reduced service reflected demand, which even at this stage is 20% of what it was pre-Covid. However, some of the logistical issues in terms of inaccurate timetabling could have been avoided and I have asked that these issues are reviewed.
“Many of the issues with the reduced services really came to a head after the full return to schools after the Easter Holidays. I am in frequent contact with Irish rail and to their credit they did immediately increase the number of DARTs at peak school times after some serious teething issues on the first Monday back.
“The return to a full service is a reflection of the increased demand brought about not only by schools but also the loosening of the travel restrictions, the improved weather and the cautious reopening of our economy that is seeing more people travel to work such as the construction sector. I would ask that if possible, people using DART services avoid using them at peak school times so that social distancing measures are possible and that any risk with regards transmission is minimised. I would also urge the importance of continuing to follow health guidelines, not only using masks but wiping down surfaces where possible, keeping your distance and washing your hands after touching contact points like handrails.
“I hope that the return of a full timetable is another signal of a cautious reopening of our economy as we face into the summer. I would ask that any DART users who are still experiencing any issues with regards to the service after May 4th get in touch with me. I meet regularly with representatives from Irish rail and I will feedback any concerns directly, concluded Deputy Matthews.
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