South-East

Up to 10,000 bus and rail passengers in the south-east were left without a service as a result of the rail workers' and bus drivers' actions.

Workers normally dependent on public transport, however, found alternative means of getting to work and most businesses appeared to be unaffected by the dispute. All train lines in the region were closed with the exception of the Kilkenny-Dublin link, which operated at half the normal capacity, with two trains running each way.

A bus link was operated between Waterford and Kilkenny, and Iarnrod Eireann also provided a limited bus service yesterday morning between Rosslare and Dublin. There was no service last night for passengers arriving on three separate ferries from Fishguard and Pembroke.

Bus Eireann's regional manager, Mr Pat Crowley, apologised to passengers. Eireann services originating in the south-east, he said.

Many turned up at bus stations yesterday unaware of the drivers' unofficial stoppage. "We had a lot of people here this morning, including people going to Dublin for hospital appointments. You don't get those appointments rescheduled too easily," he said.

Should line maintenance crews return to work today, services may start getting back to normal by this afternoon, he said.