Malahide Media Coverage

[roamling]

Independent, Sunday November 15 2009

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...s-1944151.html

Hundreds of north Dublin commuters will continue travelling by bus instead of train despite the Malahide viaduct reopening, it has been claimed.

Bus chiefs agreed to keep the 33X and 33D replacement services operating after disgruntled rail passengers said they found them quicker and less crowded.

Dublin Bus said the routes would be kept going for the next two weeks and scaled down gradually, but they could become permanent.

Fianna Fail Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy, who campaigned for the continuation of the replacement services, said he believed the demand was there.

"I'm fairly confident from the discussions I've had with the commuters that there's a significant amount of those people that will prefer buses in the future," he said.

"People are showing a preference for the bus because it gets them closer to their homes and they don't have to walk or drive to the station."

Mr Kennedy said passengers felt the train was slower and they were able to get a seat on the bus.

"Hundreds of people have told me they would transfer to the buses," he said.

There was just one 33x from Skerries to Dublin City Centre before the viaduct collapse, increased to 20 after the incident.

Press Association