Christmas commuters warned: Prepare for busy routes and hubs

Commuters have been advised to plan ahead as public transport providers will have revised schedules.

AA Roadwatch has predicted a very busy festive season, with traffic levels at their heaviest in recent years and unlikely to relent over the season.

Most garages will be closed for the festive break, so the AA is reminding motorists of the importance of carrying out basic maintenance checks before they set off on significant trips, such as filling up on petrol, checking and cleaning headlights, and adjusting tyre pressures for a full load, if required.

Both the AA Roadwatch and AA Rescue teams will be working over the Christmas period, and have advised commuters to to fuel-up in advance using the correct fuel type and to carry a repaired spare wheel.

Airports

Dublin Airport is expecting more than 925,000 passengers to pass through over Christmas - an 18 per cent increase over last year.

Cork Airport will have more than 100,000 passengers on 700 flights, with January 2nd its busiest day after Christmas, while Shannon Airport is expecting its busiest Christmas in five years.

Irish Rail

Iarnród Éireann expects up to 400,000 Intercity journeys to be made across the network over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The company is advising customers to book online at irish railand to allow extra time at stations in major cities.

Customers are advised to check their times before travelling on Intercity, Dart and Commuter services, as there are schedule alterations throughout this time each day.

Up to and including Wednesday, December 23rd, normal schedules on all routes are continuing, except bus transfers between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford and between Ennis and Limerick, due to flooding on the line.

Full information on bus transfer arrangements, and any further updates, are available on the Irish Rail website.

On Christmas Eve, Intercity services will operate a regular weekday service, with some alterations until approximately 9pm.

Connolly and Cork commuter services will operate a regular Saturday service until about 9pm.

Heuston commuter services will operate a regular weekday service until about 8pm.

Dart

There will be no Dart services on Christmas Day or St Stephens’s Day.

On Sunday, December 27th, Intercity services will operate a Sunday service with some alterations, while Dart and Commuter services will operate a regular Sunday service.

On New Year’s Eve, late night services will operate after the New Year’s Dublin Festival events for Dart, Dundalk and Maynooth line customers.

Fares for late night services will be charged at normal rates, meaning customers can use Leapcard and buy cash fares for the cheapest Christmas travel option.

Holders of weekly, monthly and annual season tickets will be able to use the service at no extra charge.

Dublin Bus

There is no Dublin Bus Nitelink service on Thursday, December 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th.

Taxis

A special premium rate applies to taxis from 8pm on Christmas Eve to 8am on St Stephen’s Day, and between 8pm on New Year’s Eve to 8am on New Year’s Day.

There is an initial charge of €4.00 for up to 0.5km or 85 seconds, and a tariff of €1.75 per kilometre or €0.62 per minute applies.

Bus Éireann

There will be no services on Christmas Day. St Stephen’s Day sees reduced services offered, with routes only travelling at specific times throughout the day.

Adjustments to regional and inter-city routes over the festive season are also included in the timetable.

Services will return to normal Saturday timetable services on January 2nd, with a small number of exceptions.

Aircoach

The Aircoach service to and from Dublin Airport will not be in operation on Christmas Day and there will be different times on Christmas Eve and St Stephen’s Day.

Full normal service will operate on all other days including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. See aircoach.ie for full Christmas and New Year’s timetables on all routes.