The changes will come into effect from Monday, September 16, for services on the Maynooth and Drogheda to Dublin lines.
The new timetable was introduced on August 26 and led to a lot of anger and frustration for commuters who complained of frequent overcrowding and “punctuality issues” on certain services.
A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the latest adjustments, effective from Monday, will “improve punctuality”.
“As with all major timetable changes, we closely monitor its implementation to identify any issues that may impact service performance,” they said.
“We apologise to customers for the punctuality issues since the implementation of the new timetable on Monday, August 26, with timing issues leading to congestion in the Connolly Station area.
“Having analysed these issues, and in consultation with the NTA, we will implement a number of time changes from Monday, September 16, which will improve punctuality for our customers,” they added.
These adjustments will involve changes, mainly of between 3 and 7 minutes, on a range of services on the Maynooth and Drogheda lines, with some minor changes on other routes to and from Connolly Station.
As part of the changes, some services that previously terminated at Grand Canal Dock will now terminate at Connolly. One Dart service currently operating to and from Malahide will change to operate to and from Howth. No other changes will be made to Dart times or services.
Minor changes will also be made to one M3 Parkway Commuter service, Sligo services, and an additional stop at Grand Canal Dock on one Rosslare service.
Earlier this week, Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee said the new Irish Rail Northern Commuter Line timetable was causing “upset and frustration for commuters” travelling from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, and Lusk.
Rather than improving matters, she said the new timetable had provided a “worse service” for the people of north county Dublin,
The Fianna Fáil Senator cited a range of issues, from heavily delayed trains and changes at Connolly Station, to dangerously crowded platforms and longer journey times.
“The new timetable for the Northern Commuter Line has resulted in chaos for commuters travelling from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, and Lusk,” she said.
“People who rely on trains to get to work and college each morning are facing delayed trains, the need to change to a connecting Dart, overcrowded trains and platforms, large gaps in service during rush hour, and trains that no longer align with school times for secondary school students.
“The stated aim of the new timetable is ‘to improve punctuality across the network, ensuring a more reliable service for daily commuters’. But according to those using the Northern Commuter Line, it has done the opposite.
“I have been engaging with commuters on issues ranging from late trains to fewer direct services and overcrowded trains and platforms,” she added.
