Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said he has received representations from those travelling to Belfast and Dublin from Dundalk about the proposed changes to the timetable, which have come about following complaints to Irish Rail from commuters in the capital using the Dart service, which has been affected by the introduction of the new hourly train from Dublin to Belfast.
The TD said he had received an email from a woman who works in media in Dublin who outlined how she will be affected by the latest round of changes to the timetable.
He said: “This commuter who travels three times a week to Dublin from Dundalk for work has told me: ‘As someone who commutes to Dublin three times a week for work, the introduction of the 7:13am train has made a significant improvement to my daily routine.
“This new service allows me to reach Connolly Station in under an hour, arriving before 9am, which is ideal for my work schedule, making Dundalk such a good commuter town. However, if Irish Rail reverts to the old timetable with the 7am service, it would take 1.5 hours to reach Dublin, which would not only impact my punctuality but also make the journey considerably longer and more stressful.”
The Dundalk commuter continues: “The current timetable has provided much-needed reliability and efficiency for many commuters like myself, and I strongly urge you to support maintaining the new schedule. Reverting to the old timetable would be a step backward and negatively impact numerous people who rely on this service.”
And a healthcare worker who travels from Dundalk to work in the NHS told the Louth TD: “As a commuter who has been driving from Dundalk to Belfast every working day for the past three years, I had placed great hope in this new service that was finally set to address the needs of those traveling North.
“To hear that this service may now be scrapped at the last moment, based on complaints from commuters in Dublin, is deeply disheartening.
“This service is a crucial link that benefits commuters who rely on efficient travel options.”
The healthcare worker added: “Reverting this change shows a lack of understanding for the real-life impact this has on workers, businesses, and communities outside of Dublin.
“Commuters like myself have waited for years for better connectivity to Belfast, and scrapping this initiative at the final hour would be a significant step backward.”
Deputy Ó Murchú said: “I have raised these issues with Irish Rail in an effort to highlight the constituents’ concerns. Irish Rail have been looking at these improvements for a long time and it is deeply disappointing that they have not been able to get it right for all those who use the train services, not just those in Dublin.”
