Last Sundays westlife gig and lack of options for fans

[ThomasJ]

Last Sundays westlife gig was boasted as one of the biggest gigs in recent history.

Gardai are advising motorists to avoid the Croke Park area this afternoon ahead of the Westlife concert.

Traffic restrictions will be in place before the concert and traffic will also be diverted for at least half an hour after the performance, to allow fans to leave safely.

Gardai have warned that anyone travelling to the gig should use public transport to avoid delays.

About 82,000 people are expected at the event.

Gates open from 4pm.

Was the warning Gardai gave to fans travelling to the concert. However IE failed to live up to theire side of the bargain.

Trains from Maynooth on Sunday were hourly only and packed. There were no extra trains and the last train was 20;50 meaning that fans [maynooth line] had to get to the southside to get a last bus or nitelink (only ran at 00.30 and 02.00) or fork out on taxi fare.

At Clonsilla Station there was a notice up advising westlife concert goers passengers of trains running to drumcondra/city and advising them that last train would leave city at 20:43 and drumcondra at 20:50 and asked them to purchase single tickets only.

I wont get started on Kildare trains. Usual case of predujice against certain passengers based on where they were travelling from/to Didn't help the cause of people who are trying to reduce traffic around Drumcondra by getting people to use public transport rather than driving.

[Colm Moore]

There are a whole series of concerts coming up for the summer and IÉ have advertising in stations recommending that people use trains.

[Mark Gleeson]

There are extra trains for the gigs in Malahide this weekend

[ThomasJ]

Extra DARTs I presume!

Heres hoping they hold the maynooth Commuter on time for people to get back from the concert. It will be handy from Drogheda commuters to get on at Malahide.

There was one single advertised train for the westlife gig- a 23:40 all stations to Greystones DART

[markpb]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

At Clonsilla Station there was a notice up advising westlife concert goers [...] to purchase single tickets only.

That just says it all really, it's unbelievable that they didn't run any later trains!

DB didn't fare much better, most of their 11.30 buses sailed past Fairview as the first of the crowds arrived out.

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by markpb

DB didn't fare much better, most of their 11.30 buses sailed past Fairview as the first of the crowds arrived out.

Yep and given it was like a Saturday night, in terms of the bank holiday weekend, Nitelinks only ran at 00.30 and 02.00 a joke.

It raises a question though when organising gigs like this should venues/promotes be made sure that through communication with transport authorities that transport is factored into the planning?

[markpb]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

It raises a question though when organising gigs like this should venues/promotes be made sure that through communication with transport authorities that transport is factored into the planning?

That's pretty much what I said to DB this morning (it was a *long* email). DB and IR should be statutory notification bodies, they should charge the cost of providing the extra buses and staff to the concert organisers (just like the DoJ charges the cost of the Gardai) and they should have a proper transport plan in place including having transport staff on the grounds, having ticket sales buses in place and generally being organised about the thing.

Allowing 85,000 people to congregate on a small area with no planning and is lunacy.

[ThomasJ]

One of the most annoying things about this was gardai asking the fans to travel by public transport?

There was clearly no communication or organisation between the gardai and transport parties.

Fair point about pushing the fees onto the promoters, it should happen. Its not much to ask to ensure fans get in and ok of the area ok.

[Colm Moore]

Seems like DART only on next weekend.

[Mark Gleeson]

Extra suburban trains would result in cancellations somewhere else which isn't on

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Extra suburban trains would result in cancellations somewhere else which isn't on

On a Sunday evening though?
There must be lots of empty commuter trains around surely?

[Mark Gleeson]

Kind of short drivers

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Kind of short drivers

I had forgotten about that.