Travel services prepare for record numbers

Airports and ferry terminals are bracing themselves for Christmas chaos with more than a million passengers expected to depart or arrive into the State for the festive season. Bus and rail services also look set to be pushed to capacity as hundreds of thousands of travellers get on the move for the holidays.

Today will be the busiest day of the Christmas and new year period at the main airports. Aer Rianta is predicting over 27,000 passengers will arrive at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports before midnight tonight.

While many of those will be returning emigrants, more people are now opting to get away from it all over Christmas. Today Dublin airport will handle more than 70 charter flights taking people to sun and ski destinations all over the world.

Dublin will be by far the busiest of Aer Rianta's airports, handling over 820,000 passengers to Monday January 6th. In Cork, passenger numbers are expected to top 70,000, up 7 per cent on last year. In Shannon, passenger numbers are expected to increase by 6 per cent to 83,000.

Iarnród Éireann will carry about 400,000 people on intercity rail services over Christmas and the new year. Between Monday, December 23rd, and Thursday, January 2nd, a special holiday timetable will be in operation. Details are available on 1850 366222.

Irish Ferries services run until Christmas Eve and resume again on St Stephen's Day, weather permitting. A spokeswoman for the group said it expected to carry 63,000 passengers and 15,000 vehicles to and from Britain over the festive period and 3,200 passengers and 1,200 vehicles between Rosslare and France.

Bus Éireann will carry up to 200,000 passengers from Monday, December 23rd, to Thursday January 2nd. On Christmas Eve, most services will run as normal. However, services on city, suburban and commuter routes will end earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.

On New Year's Eve, normal services will operate with some cancellations. Sunday services with some alterations will operate on Wednesday, January 1st, but full weekday services will resume on Thursday, January 2nd.

The board of the South East Regional Airport at Waterford says it will work through this weekend and over the Christmas period in an effort to save the airport from closure next month.

Mr Nicholas Fewer, he airport's chairman, yesterday expressed "cautious optimism" that the facility could be saved despite the difficulties which have seen 22 staff placed on protective notice since December 16th.

Following a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, and the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, yesterday, Mr Fewer said continued Government support would be contingent on the board proving the core business was sustainable.

"The onus is now on the airport board to prepare documents that convince the Government of the potential that exists for this airport," Mr Fewer said. "Time is clearly of the essence and members of the board will work through the weekend in the hope that we can present a detailed response to the Department on Monday.

"While we clearly regret the decision of Euroceltic Airways to withdraw from Waterford in January, we have a responsibility to examine every conceivable option to save the airport.

Mr Fewer said the was "cautiously optimistic that a resolution can be found" and that the airport could be developed as a "truly regional" facility.

Mr Cullen, a TD for Waterford, said the situation was beginning to look more positive. "It was a very important meeting and I believe it will lead to a positive outcome. We have to have a sustainable business going forward."