The train line between Dublin’s Connolly Station and Grand Canal Dock will close from December 26th until the January 5th.
Iarnród Éireann is to undertake a full track renewal of the country’s busiest section of rail line, the “loop line” between Dublin’s Connolly and Pearse Stations, over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Iarnród Éireann said the works on the line, which sees just under 100,000 train movements annually, sees its lowest number of passengers throughout the year during the Christmas/New Year period.
The works will see 4.2km of track fully replaced from Connolly Station through to Pearse Station.
The track works will be the first renewal of the line in 20 years, when similar works took place over Christmas 2004/New Year 2005.
As a result, the line will be closed between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock throughout this time, with limited exceptions between Pearse and Grand Canal Dock.
We’re replacing all the track on the busiest part of our network, last renewed 20 years ago, at the quietest commuting time of the year
🚨🚧Connolly to Grand Canal Dock closed 27th Dec to 5th Jan (with limited exceptions Pearse to GCD)
Full info: https://t.co/o5iOcUIwpA pic.twitter.com/GYcTwuJouk
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) December 26, 2024
There will be no services on Iarnród Éireann network on St Stephen’s Day.
From Friday, December 27th, to Sunday, January 5th, inclusive the following service alterations will apply:
- Line closed Connolly to Grand Canal Dock;
- Dart services will operate between Howth/Malahide and Connolly Station, and between Grand Canal Dock and Bray/Greystones;
- A limited shuttle bus will operate between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock Stations. Additionally, Dublin Bus will accept rail tickets for southside customers travelling to/from city centre;
- Intercity services between Dublin Connolly and Rosslare Europort will involve bus transfers between Connolly and Bray;
- All Northern/Maynooth Commuter services will operate to/from Dublin Connolly only.
Exceptions to these alterations are:
- New Year’s Eve from 11pm onwards: Line will be closed from Connolly to Pearse only, to facilitate those travelling home from city centre to southside locations on late night trains after Dublin’s NYE Festival events. Southside DART services will operate from Pearse to Bray/Greystones, with late night services for Howth/Malahide, Dundalk, Maynooth and Kildare operating to/from Connolly;
- Thursday 2nd and Friday January 3rd from 6am to 6pm inclusive: Line will be closed from Connolly to Pearse only, to facilitate those early returning commuters travelling between southside and city centre. Southside Dart services will operate between Pearse and Bray/Greystones.