[24-27/07/2009] Special Trains in connection with the U2 Concert at Croke Park

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=411 Special Trains in connection with the U2 Concert at Croke Park by Corporate Communications

In connection with the U2 concert at Croke Park the following special trains will operate:

Please note Intercity services can now be booked on www.irishrail.ie


Friday 24th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Friday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Friday nights concert)


Commuter

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Friday nights concert)

00.15 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Friday nights concert)


DART (After Friday nights concert)

00.15 Connolly to Bray

00.20 Connolly to Malahide

00.30 Connolly to Howth

00.30 Connolly to Bray


Saturday 25th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.15 Waterford to Dublin (Heuston) - **CHECK**

10.30 Westport to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick - (After Saturday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway and Westport - (After Saturday nights concert)

Commuter

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Saturday nights concert)

00.20 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Saturday nights concert)


DART - (After Saturday nights concert)

00.15 Connolly to Bray

00.25 Connolly to Malahide

00.30 Connolly to Bray

00.35 Connolly to Howth


Sunday 26th July

Intercity

11.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork

[ThomasJ]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=411

have seen this allright and came to the conclusion to this is an incomplete news item awaiting update

monday night services are not listed.

there was a complete list for sunday night where there is no concert on this has been updated and the sunday night list is gone now apart from one cork to dublin service. I reckon these were for the monday night.

The maynooth line services seem to be a bit earlier than normal. I reckon and hope this is because drumcondra will be open. If it is it will be very handy for maynooth line passengers.

[on the move]

Good to see that Irish trains can run overnight after all.

I hope they will just as accommodating to Dublin passengers looking to make their way home from Limerick after the football internationals in the coming months.

[Thomas Ralph]

Waterford passengers would have a decent claim to feeling hard done by, with no late train back there.

I'm sure we've already suggested the possibility of sending out a 2x3 22000 train and splitting it at Athlone, sending half to Galway and half to Westport. That should be a priority.

[ThomasJ]

The online irish rail timetable is telling us that on those dates of the u2 concerts on top of those extra maynooth line services the 23:10hrs pearse maynooth has been deferred as follows :

departs pearse 23:29hrs
departs tara street 23:31hrs
departs connolly 23:36hrs
departs drumcondra 23:45hrs
arrives maynooth 00:17hrs

[ThomasJ]

Online timetable telling us that on these dates of the u2 concerts the 23:20hrs connolly drogheda will be deferred to 23:55hrs with the dundalk connection also deferred to meet this train.

[Colm Moore]

apart from one cork to dublin service. Thats a "crawl out of the hotel / bar / chipper / bush" early morning train.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/general_news.asp?action=view&news_id=411 Special Trains in connection with the U2 Concert at Croke Park by Corporate Communications

In connection with the U2 concert at Croke Park the following special trains will operate:

Please note Intercity services can now be booked on www.irishrail.ie


Friday 24th July
Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)
10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)
01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Friday nights concert)
01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Friday nights concert)

Commuter

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth
00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Friday nights concert)
00.15 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Friday nights concert)

DART (After Friday nights concert)

00.15 Connolly to Bray
00.20 Connolly to Malahide
00.30 Connolly to Howth
00.30 Connolly to Bray


Saturday 25th July
Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)
10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)
10.30 Westport to Dublin (Heuston)
01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick - (After Saturday nights concert)
01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway and Westport - (After Saturday nights concert)

Commuter

10.15 Waterford to Dublin (Heuston)
23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth
00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Saturday nights concert)
00.20 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Saturday nights concert)

DART - (After Saturday nights concert)

00.15 Connolly to Bray
00.25 Connolly to Malahide
00.30 Connolly to Bray
00.35 Connolly to Howth


Sunday 26th July
Intercity

11.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork


Monday 27th July

Intercity
01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Monday nights concert)
01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Monday nights concert)

[on the move]

Those late night trains should be from Connolly only.

Try finding your way from Croke Park to Heuston at that time, and you'll be waiting a while. :rolleyes:

[Colm Moore]

Luas runs until 00:30. Otherwise, I imagine there will be "millions" of taxis available.

[ThomasJ]

So we know so far that there are extra late night services for DART, Maynooth line, northern line, cork intercity (limerick junction, charleville, mallow cork), galway intercity (tullamore first stop), limerick connection, belfast (translink, non-stop across border) with westport operating on saturday night (no ballina connection, unless you want a 3 hour wait in castlebar)

So nothing west of Maynooth, nothing south of Bray, no south-west commuter services, no waterford and no tralee, did i miss anything? any thoughts?

Would have said the lack of late night Kildare commuter services on the nights are disappointing but hardly suprising.

[Mark Gleeson]

There is a special from Bangor to Dublin via Belfast Central, tickets have been on sale for ages.

The only reason the extra trains run is down to Irish Rail exploiting the empty trains they would be running anyway. There is a empty Ballina - Heuston service every weekend in the summer. There are spare trains in Cork to cover for the Mk4 reliability. A rostering trick can get an extra to Galway and Waterford normally has a idle train over the weekend.

The Sligo, Rosslare and Waterford lines are not staffed for 24 hour operation

The lack of service to Kildare or Portlaois is strange given the number of empty trains moving around

I know Irish Rail have been trying to get concert promoters to give them a geographical breakdown on ticket sales to allow them to match the extra trains to the people traveling

[ThomasJ]

The Sligo, Rosslare and Waterford lines are not staffed for 24 hour operation

I presume thats the reason the last trains to Sligo, Rosslare, waterford don't leave much later than 7

[on the move]

Luas runs until 00:30. Otherwise, I imagine there will be "millions" of taxis available.

There might be millions of taxis, but that creates it's own problems. The sheer amount of them will clog up the streets. Plus the Luas runs at long gaps after 11.00 from the centre. The trains should leave from Connolly and use the tunnel.

So nothing west of Maynooth, nothing south of Bray, no south-west commuter services, no waterford and no tralee, did i miss anything? any thoughts?

Bus Eireann have regular services during the night from Dublin Airport and Busaras all the way down to Rosslare.

[Colm Moore]

The lack of service to Kildare or Portlaois is strange given the number of empty trains moving aroundThere is the option of Bus Éireann's Nightrider service. Limited service, not sure about Monday night.

[Mark Gleeson]

Here we go again the classic left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing routine

Where did the extra DART services go?

Special Trains in connection with the U2 Concert at Croke Park by Corporate Communications

In connection with the U2 concert at Croke Park the following special trains will operate:

Please note Intercity services can now be booked on www.irishrail.ie

Friday 24th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Friday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Friday nights concert)

Commuter

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Friday nights concert)

00.15 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Friday nights concert)

Saturday 25th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.30 Westport to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick - (After Saturday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway and Westport - (After Saturday nights concert)

Commuter

10.15 Waterford to Dublin (Heuston)

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Saturday nights concert)

00.20 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Saturday nights concert)

Sunday 26th July

Intercity

11.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork

Monday 27th July

Intercity

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Monday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Monday nights concert)

[ThomasJ]

Here we go again the classic left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing routine

Where did the extra DART services go?

Strange. Both nights details have been deleted!

[ThomasJ]

The online irish rail timetable is telling us that on those dates of the u2 concerts on top of those extra maynooth line services the 23:10hrs pearse maynooth has been deferred as follows :

departs pearse 23:29hrs
departs tara street 23:31hrs
departs connolly 23:36hrs
departs drumcondra 23:45hrs
arrives maynooth 00:17hrs

Online timetable telling us that on these dates of the u2 concerts the 23:20hrs connolly drogheda will be deferred to 23:55hrs with the dundalk connection also deferred to meet this train.

Online timetable has been updated again. we are back to the 23:10hrs Pearse Maynooth and 23:20hrs Connolly Drogheda and Dundalk connection

[Mark Gleeson]

Word is the U2 posters are being printed as I type and will be up later this evening

There are no extra DART services shown in the online timetable

[ThomasJ]

Word is the U2 posters are being printed as I type and will be up later this evening

There are no extra DART services shown in the online timetable

will keep an eye out on my trek home this evening!

[Colm Moore]

http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates.php * Are you going to see U2 this weekend? Please click here for information 2009-07-21

http://www.luas.ie/page.php?name=Are_you_going_to_see_U2_this_weekend Are you going to see U2 this weekend

Please give yourself enough time to get there and back. The Last tram on each of the concerts nights is 00.30am. We will have extra trams operating throughout the system this Friday,Saturday and Monday.

Click here to download the LUAS Croke park Travel Guide (http://www.luas.ie/ul/travel%20guide.pdf)

Click here to download the map of the walking route from Connolly LUAS stop to Croke Park (http://www.luas.ie/ul/Walking%20Map%20Croke%20Park.pdf)

If you are driving find out more about Luas Red Cow P&R and LUAS Tallaght Cross P&R; click here for details (http://www.luas.ie/park-and-ride.php)

[ThomasJ]

Didn't get to see poster yet wasn't when heading home last night, will keep an eye out later.

Just to mention that there is still no mention of services after monday nights concert but according to the online timetable, (this wasn't like that yesterday) the 23:10hrs Pearse Maynooth is scheduled to depart Pearse at 23:29hrs (Connolly 23:36hrs, Drumcondra 23:45hrs) and the 23:20hrs Connolly Drogheda is scheduled to depart connolly at 23:55hrs

[ThomasJ]

We have an update!

https://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=411



Special Trains in connection with the U2 Concert at Croke Park by Corporate Communications


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

In connection with the U2 concert at Croke Park the following special trains will operate:

Please note Intercity services can now be booked on www.irishrail.ie

Friday 24th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Friday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Friday nights concert)

Commuter

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Friday nights concert)

00.15 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Friday nights concert)

Saturday 25th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.30 Westport to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick - (After Saturday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway and Westport - (After Saturday nights concert)

Commuter

10.15 Waterford to Dublin (Heuston)

23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth

00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Saturday nights concert)

00.20 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Saturday nights concert)

Sunday 26th July

Intercity

11.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork

Monday 27th July

Intercity

08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston)

01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Monday nights concert)

01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Monday nights concert)

Commuter

23.45 Connolly to Maynooth (After Monday nights concert)

00.05 Connolly to Maynooth (After Monday nights concert)

00.15 Connolly to Dundalk (After Monday nights concert)

Please also note 23.10 Pearse to Maynooth is deferred to 23.29

23.20 Connolly to Drogheda is deferred to 23.55

[Colm Moore]

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=4069
U2 Concerts at Croke Park - July 2009
The above Concerts take place at Croke Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 24, 25 and 27 July 2009.

Stiles opening at - 18.00 hrs. Event Finishs at 23.00 hrs. Expected Attendance - 82,300.

The above Concerts take place at Croke Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 24, 25 and 27 July 2009.


Patrons Travelling to Croke Park

All patrons travelling to Croke park stadium for the event are advised to utilise public transport. Croke Park stadium is serviced bus, train and Luas transport facilities.

Patrons who travel by car are advised to travel early to avail of the limited parking facilities.

There are two supervised car parks available in the vicinity of Croke Park.
1. Clonliffe College, Drumcondra Road (Access from Lower Drumcondra Road) ... 3,100 spaces

2. O’Connell’s School, North Richmond Street (Access from the North Circular Road.) ... 400 Spaces

No Traffic will be permitted to leave the car Parks for a period after the game in order to allow foot patrons leave the area safely.

Patrons should park responsibly and not cause obstruction or inconvenience when parking in residential areas.

Patrons should be aware that illegally parked vehicles may be impounded or clamped and may be liable to a fine of €130.00.

Drivers should be aware that illegally or improperly parked vehicles have the potential to cause traffic disruption, obstruction and difficulty to emergency vehicles that may need to access the narrow residential streets that surround Croke Park Stadium.

Patrons are advised to travel to Croke Park via the M1 motorway to Drumcondra Road or M50 to Navan Road, North Circular Road. These routes lead directly to Croke Park. Supporters arriving via the M50 / M1 motorways are advised to allow time for traffic delays. Dublin Port Tunnel will be open to all vehicles.

After the game patrons will have the option of travelling the Belfast Road (M1) or on the M50 to the (N2) Ashbourne Road, (N3), Navan Road, (N4) Lucan Road and (N7) Naas Road.

Superintendent Ward advises in particular that patrons attending the concert on Monday evening, the 27th of July, that the IKEA Store in Ballymun is open for the first time to the Public, so patrons should be aware of a possible high volume of Traffic in this area.


Special Needs parking

There are no special needs parking facilities on the public streets within the Croke Park cordon area. The parking facility in Clonliffe College does have a large and very good special needs parking facility catering for 50 car parking places very close to the stadium, Access from Lower Drumcondra Road.


Bus/Coach Parking

There is a bus/coach parking facility at Mountjoy Square and a secondary facility at Western Way (off Phibsboro Road).


Pre Event Traffic Restrictions

As with all events at Croke Park, a Garda Cordon will be in effect on the streets that lead to Croke Park. Only accredited vehicles will be permitted to pass by this cordon. All vehicles will be checked for accreditation.

Local residents, their immediate families, local business community are in possession of passes and will be facilitated at the barriers subject to volumes of human traffic existing within the cordon area. It is envisaged that a rigid cordon system will be in place approximately 1 hour prior to stiles opening time.


Patron Search

All patrons entering the Garda cordon will be the subject of a ticket check by Stewards and search by Gardai. Any offensive articles, e.g. glass bottles, air horns, large flagpoles will be seized. Patrons are advised not to bring any unnecessary baggage with them and are advised to travel early to the stadium to avoid any unnecessary delays.

We would appeal to patrons not to queue overnight.


Ticketmaster Outlets Outside Croke Park:

As this event is sold out there will be no ticket sales outlets on the day of the event. Patrons must be in possession of an actual ticket. Patrons are further advised not to purchase tickets from any unaccredited source.

There will be one office operated by Ticketmaster as reference points to facilitate any enquiries in relation to tickets and collection of pre-booked tickets. The office will be located as follows:
1. Gills Corner.


Public Order.

Patrons are advised that the GardaÃ* will not permit the consumption of alcohol outside public houses, while walking along the street or in any other public place.

Patrons are asked to have consideration for local residents and refrain from anti-social behaviour (drinking and urinating).


Crime.

Patrons are advised to be aware of their own personal safety and security while attending the event. They should ensure the security of personal belongings while on route to and from the stadium i.e. purses / wallets / tickets / Mobile Phones.

Patrons who arrive by vehicle should also ensure that property is not left exposed in parked vehicles. They should ensure that car windows, sunroofs are correctly closed.


Croke Park Hotel Car park

All residents of Croke Park Hotel will be permitted entry and are requested to access the hotel via North Circular Road / Russell Street junction where there will be a register of all guest vehicles.

[ThomasJ]

looks like there will be extra DARTs [but dont know when] This is mentioned on the concert notice on the irish rail website

DART

For DART services please click here



The link is not provided though on it.

Why does a seperate pdf always have to be provided for DARTs could an integrated notice not go up for all services?

Have the posters gone up at stations yet? I haven't seen any

[Mark Gleeson]

Link works now, its the usual reprint of the actual timetable nothing extra

The official line from the DART office at 11:36 this morning was

"Any extra trains which run will run as required BEFORE the last scheduled service"

Of course they could provide no details

[ThomasJ]

Link works now, its the usual reprint of the actual timetable nothing extra

The official line from the DART office at 11:36 this morning was

"Any extra trains which run will run as required BEFORE the last scheduled service"

Of course they could provide no details

Did they give any reason why the extra DART services originally up on the concert notice were removed?

On a side note AA Roadwatch still has the original notice up
http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/rail/story.asp?ID=4482

20/7/2009 Irish Rail: Special U2 Train services Fri 24th, Sat 25th & Mon 27th July
In connection with the U2 concert at Croke Park the following special trains will operate: • Please note Intercity services can now be booked on www.irishrail.ie • Friday 24th July: • Intercity; 08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston). 10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston). 01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Friday nights concert). 01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Friday nights concert). • Commuter; 23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth. 00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Friday nights concert). 00.15 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Friday nights concert). • DART; 00.15 Connolly to Bray. 00.20 Connolly to Malahide. 00.30 Connolly to Howth. 00.30 Connolly to Bray.

Saturday 25th July. • Intercity; 08.20 Cork to Dublin (Heuston). 10.10 Cork to Dublin (Heuston). 10.30 Westport to Dublin (Heuston). 01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick - (After Saturday nights concert).01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway and Westport - (After Saturday nights concert). • Commuter; 10.15 Waterford to Dublin (Heuston). 23.45 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth. 00.05 Dublin (Connolly) to Maynooth (After Saturday nights concert). 00.20 Dublin (Connolly) to Dundalk (After Saturday nights concert). • DART; 00.15 Connolly to Bray. 00.25 Connolly to Malahide. 00.30 Connolly to Bray. 00.35 Connolly to Howth.

Sunday 26th July: • Intercity; 11.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork. • Monday 27th July: • Intercity; 01.00 Dublin (Heuston) to Cork and Limerick (After Monday nights concert). 01.15 Dublin (Heuston) to Galway (After Monday nights concert).

[ThomasJ]

http://www.irishrail.ie/upload/U2%20Dart%20Arrangements%202009.pdf

Customers travelling by DART to the U2 concerts at Croke Park on
Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Monday 27th July 2009 please note the
following DART services to and from Connolly Station.

Friday 24th and Monday 27th July

Before the concert
Southbound from Malahide/Howth
17.05 Malahide/Bray
17.15 Howth/Greystones
17.25 Howth/Bray
17.30 Malahide/Bray
17.35 Malahide/Pearse (serving Howth Junction)
17.37 Howth/Bray
17.43 Howth/Bray
17.55 Malahide/Greystones
18.00 Howth/Bray

After the concert
Northbound to Malahide/Howth
23.24 Connolly/Howth
23.43 Connolly/Malahide

Before the concert
Northbound from Greystones/Bray
16.56 Greystones/Howth
17.15 Bray/Malahide
17.25 Bray/Howth
17.40 Bray/Malahide
17.45 Bray/Howth
17.57 Greystones/Howth
17.59 Bray/Malahide

After the concert
Southbound to Bray/Greystones
23.19 Connolly/Bray
23.28 Connolly/Greystones

Additional DART special trains will operate if required.


Saturday 25th July

Before the concert
Southbound from Malahide/Howth
16.50 Howth/Bray
17.10 Howth/Greystones
17.30 Malahide/Bray
17.35 Malahide/Pearse (serving Howth Junction)
17.43 Howth/Bray
18.00 Howth/Bray
18.18 Malahide/Bray

After the concert
Northbound to Howth/Malahide
23.24 Connolly/Howth
23.43 Connolly/Malahide

Before the concert
Southbound from Greystones/Bray
16.55 Greystones/Howth
17.25 Bray/Howth
17.45 Bray/Howth
17.57 Greystones/Howth
17.59 Bray/Malahide

After the concert
Southbound to Bray/Greystones
23.19 Connolly/Bray
23.28 Connolly/Greystones

Additional DART special trainswill operate if required.

Travel by DART to Connolly Station for concert. Avoid queues – Travel early and buy return tickets.
All tickets can be purchased in advance from any Iarnród Éireann booking office.

[Mark Gleeson]

I wouldn't be buying return tickets...

[ThomasJ]

I wouldn't be buying return tickets...

Heard from a mate that the gig in Amsterdam went on for 2 hours 20 minutes. So if its over by 23:20 its quite a job getting back to catch the last trains to Howth and Bray!

[Mark Gleeson]

Just for reference the train to Belfast/Bangor departs Connolly at 00:15 after Saturdays concert. NIR moved the time back to be more attractive to potential passengers.

[ThomasJ]

Just for reference the train to Belfast/Bangor departs Connolly at 00:15 after Saturdays concert. NIR moved the time back to be more attractive to potential passengers.

It won't stop at any stations south of the border but then again there is a Dundalk bound train leaving at 00.15hrs

[ThomasJ]

The good news for Maynooth line passengers is that all of the extra trains will stop at Drumcondra station!

[on the move]

In any other country in Europe, and most of the world, getting a night train is no bother. Here though, IR opens at 5.30am and shuts at 23.30, regardless of circumstances. :rolleyes:

[Mark Gleeson]

The DART situation post U2 concert is still unknown

Net result is no one is going to risk it

[ThomasJ]

A suggestion:-

With the possability/probability that the concert could run late (boards.ie mentioned that the concert could go on until 11:30pm) would this be the best route for passengers to go about?

- On arriving at local DART station passengers should ask what the position is if the concert runs late

- If definate answer or no definate answer ask for a phone number/phone numbers to contact after the concert to confirm what the status is.

- Passengers will then know if there is any point in travelling back to the station?

Any ideas? Is this the best way to go about it? Who do people contact after the concert to find out the status?

[ThomasJ]

From Irish Times article on U2 concerts
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0724/1224251230670.html


Iarnród Éireann said it will be running Dart services both ways to meet demand for several hours after the concert. Trains will leave when they are full.

[Mark Gleeson]

It doesn't say that on the Irish Rail site, nor is it what Irish Rail told me yesterday. So either they have been embarrassed into action or once again the usual incompetence in communication has left passengers clueless

Such fuzzy statements are no use, people need something solid, times of trains, will they serve Greystones etc

[ThomasJ]

Is the DART office saying the same today as they were yesterday?

[Mark Gleeson]

01 703 3504 to find out.

[ThomasJ]

They are not going to give exact times so best way will probably be

A suggestion:-

With the possability/probability that the concert could run late (boards.ie mentioned that the concert could go on until 11:30pm) would this be the best route for passengers to go about?

- On arriving at local DART station passengers should ask what the position is if the concert runs late

- If definate answer or no definate answer ask for a phone number/phone numbers to contact after the concert to confirm what the status is.

- Passengers will then know if there is any point in travelling back to the station?

Any ideas? Is this the best way to go about it? Who do people contact after the concert to find out the status?

[Mark Gleeson]

They are not going to give exact times so best way will probably be

Bad news is according to the Customer service desk in Connolly there are no extra DART services at all

[ThomasJ]

Bad news is according to the Customer service desk in Connolly there are no extra DART services at all

its contradicting the DART office isnt it. I was told by the DART Office they would be doing their best to everyone gets their train

[Mark Gleeson]

We still haven't found what we are looking for eh?

[ThomasJ]

We still haven't found what we are looking for eh?

i am in a pub in dame street at the moment and that song is being played at the moment !

Its a shame about the DARTs If what you are saying is true over the last few months public transport has sunk to am all time low.

Having said that i have a train home tonight so am happy have a mate taking the dundalk train so will walk back to connolly

[ThomasJ]

Two quiet packed eight coaches have gone out of drumcondra looks like two more on the way

there are also a fair few numbers on the inbound platform at drumcondra

[Mark Gleeson]

Southbound DARTs tonight where at

00:00
00:15
00:30

Pearse and Tara Stations where closed so the train did not stop. Looked to be extra train north as well

Pretty impressive when you consider we where told no trains at all

[Thomas Ralph]

It would have been more impressive had they actually said in advance "this is when the trains will be". As-is I suspect many passengers just hopped in a taxi under the assumption they had missed the last DART.

[on the move]

Chaos at Connolly Luas stop, with just one lane in operation. An empty tram with it's lights off, instead of filling up with passengers in the other lane. Another tram sitting in the spare lane at Heuston. Busaras stop completely closed, and inevitably angry passengers.

[ThomasJ]

They had notices on the door last night to advise passengers of what time the trains would be at from early on in the day which was good,

drumcondra was absolute chaos the amount of people getting off buses at the station was unreal.

Anyway last night on arrival at drumcondra (on time for the deferred last normal train ) there were quiet large crowds at the ticket office and heard a member of staff say hold them there for a minute.

Anyway up the stairs and the gates leading out to the platform were shut and people were sitting on the stairs. Just then heard a train pull off.

Anyway the gates opened again and people were told to move up to the top of the platform. Noticed quiet a few passengers on the city bound platform. The deferred 23.10 then arrived at 23.40 and stayed until 23.50 the train got packed and then left. I decided to wait on the last one.

The last one was not too bad left at 00.20 and was home in no time.

[ThomasJ]

Am currently on the way in on the 18.53 clonsilla pearse. Very busy. Strange to see the ticket office open but come to think of it alot of passengers got on at clonsilla and coolmine.

On a side note does anyone know if luas is running to connolly. Am meeting someone there.

[Mark Gleeson]

Normal Luas service operating with increased frequency on red line apparently

[Colm Moore]

DART from Connolly -
Malahide 0020
Dundalk 0020
Howth 0035
Bray 0015
Bray 0030

Luas - every 5 minutes

[ThomasJ]

I had a few drinks with a mate in Quinns tonight and went for a train afterwards.

There were 3 Maynooth trains after the concert:
23:15hrs Connolly Maynooth special
23:29hrs Pearse Maynooth [the deferred 23.10hrs]
00:05hrs Connolly Maynooth special

Drumcondra was absolute madness tonight! Its quiet a while since I have seen numbers like that even on all ireland final day, even at connolly at its busiest of times even at pearse at its busiest of times, the numbers just kept on coming it was mental!

The first one got packed so quickly, the crowd control [have to say well done they did a great job] were moving everyone upto the very top of the train where there was space and left crammed. The next one I got it left completly crammed as well at 23:50hrs. Both were 8-carriages long

I have to say well done to crowd control moved everyone up so there was space made sure everyone was behind the yellow line. Announcements made on the loud speaker to ensure everyone was behind the yellow line and also announced it as the trains approached. It took about 10-15 minutes to have everyone on both trains numbers kept coming and there were that many people on the platform when the firsttrain approached people were still standing on the stairs waiting to be able to walk onto the platform.

Something controversial to end with, I was saying that Kildare trains should also be stopping here but after seeing tonight and friday night I don't think they would have coped numbers for both nights for the maynooth line were that big!

[ThomasJ]

I have to say though that even with what was supposedly only normal scheduled DART services the amount advertisement for that was pretty big compared to Commuter Services.

The lack of advertisements of any event associated with extra commuter services is pretty shocking to say the least.

Have to say kudos on the PRs on the lack of scheduled extra DART services over the U2 concert but dont forget that its not all just about DART services a couple of weeks ago the Bruce Springsteen concert at the RDS passengers had to find another way home because the train left, information on commuter services (Maynooth and Northern) leading upto that concert was very poor to say the least!

[Mark Gleeson]

There are serious problems in how Irish Rail deal with these special events. We caught them out, gave them every chance in the world to explain themselves and they still made a mess of it

You can be sure than several thousand more passengers could have been carried if the plans had been published clearly and well in advance.

[ThomasJ]

There are serious problems in how Irish Rail deal with these special events. We caught them out, gave them every chance in the world to explain themselves and they still made a mess of it

You can be sure than several thousand more passengers could have been carried if the plans had been published clearly and well in advance.

Sorry the kudos is to RUI not Irish rail to clear up!

My point is that obviously DART has the budget to put up the posters for special events and notify passengers Commuter services don't :confused: The only notification Maynooth passengers had of extra services [apart from the website] was an A4 page stating extra services on the door of Drumcondra station! There was no mention of extra commuter services to be found anywhere in Connolly station! At least there was advertisements [weather poor or not] for DART services [well scheduled] at DART stations.

[on the move]

Good to see that Irish trains can run overnight after all.

I hope they will just as accommodating to Dublin passengers looking to make their way home from Limerick after the football internationals in the coming months.

A service will run to Dublin at 11pm next week. 1 service. :o

Nothing south of Limerick. Looks like you can't book separate trains either. You have to book a return service out of Heuston in order to use it. There is also no indication of the number of stops on the service returning from Limerick.

€44 for the return trip.

[Mark Gleeson]

The 21:00 hours from Dublin to Cork waits at Limerick junction on the 12th to make a connection from Limerick to Cork