[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=500

UPDATE 10.15HRS, 23RD AUGUST Ongoing major disruption to Northern Commuter, and Belfast Enterprise by Corporate Communications

UPDATE 10.15hrs, Sunday 23rd August

There is significant disruption to Northern commuter, and Belfast Enterprise services due to a serious incident in which a 20 metre section of the viaduct has given way across Broadmeadow estuary, north of Malahide yesterday evening. The incident occurred shortly before 18.30hrs on Friday.

An investigation into this extremely serious incident is underway.

Services:

Northern commuter services are seriously disrupted. A shuttle rail service is currently operating between Drogheda and Skerries only. Customers travelling between Dublin city and all stations north of Malahide are advised to travel by Dublin Bus or Bus Eireann services.



Sunday: Trains will operate between Drogheda and Skerries as follows:

Depart Drogheda: 09.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00, 18.00, 20.00, 22.05

Depart Skerries: 09.30, 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 14.30, 16.30, 18.30, 20.30, 23.54 (last service will operate as a bus)

Please note again that customers travelling between Dublin city and all stations north of Malahide are advised to travel by Dublin Bus or Bus Eireann services on Saturday and Sunday.

WEEKDAY COMMUTER SERVICES

Iarnród Éireann are working with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to provide enhanced services on existing routes serving the communities affected. Dublin Bus will enhance the No 33 routes serving the Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush & Lusk and Donabate areas, including use of the Dublin Port Tunnel. Details of these services, and service arrangements for customers between Dundalk and Gormanstown, will be confirmed as soon as possible.

In addition, a rail service will operate between Dundalk/Drogheda and Skerries.

Full details will be updated here shortly.



For the duration of the disruption, Belfast Enterprise services will operate with train services between Belfast and Drogheda, and with bus transfers between Drogheda and Connolly, with resulting delays.

DART services are operating normally, including to/from Malahide.

Due to the severe damage to the viaduct, we regret to inform customers that the line across the estuary will not reopen for at least three months, with resulting disruption continuing.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused.