The CIÉ group is gearing up to transport in excess of 40,000 visitors daily to and from the K Club during the Ryder Cup tournament week in "Ireland's biggest logistical operation since the pope's visit in 1979".
Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus secured the contract from Ryder Cup Travel Services, the official agents of the European tour, to transport 30,000 ticket-holders from park-and-ride locations in Dublin and Kildare; 10,000 visitors from various hotels in Dublin and Leinster; and 2,000 media ticket-holders leaving from Dublin.
CIÉ has been planning the "massive logistical operation" for a year and a half, and 20 employees are working full-time on the planning team, says CIÉ Ryder Cup transport co-ordinator Paul Keely. It is also responsible for transporting the European and US teams and their extended families from Dublin airport to the K Club in "VIP coaches" fitted with DVD-players, televisions and videos.
Altogether, 430 coaches and double-decker buses will make 18,000 journeys. In a separate commercial venture, Iarnród Éireann has so far sold 6,000 tickets for its train from Connolly station and connecting bus service to the K-Club.
"The entire operation is on a huge scale, the biggest CIÉ has ever been involved with, but we expect things to run smoothly. We've been liaising with the Garda in arranging transport routes. Traffic can be a problem and will be busy around peak times," Mr Keely said. From 5.30am tomorrow, double-decker buses will begin taking 30,000 Ryder Cup ticket-holders from park-and-ride sites at Palmerstown House, Johnstown, in Co Kildare, and Westin Aerodrome, Lucan, in Dublin.
This return shuttle runs from Tuesday until the last day of the tournament on Sunday 24th every 15 minutes. All ticket-holders are entitled to use this free bus service but parking at the park-and-ride sites costs €20 per day.
Some 10,000 tourists staying in 80 hotels in Dublin and Leinster will also be transported daily by CIÉ from 6am onwards. The train service from Connolly and connecting bus to the K Club is running regularly from tomorrow to Sunday 24th. Return tickets are €20 and the first train leaves daily at 5.45am.
CIÉ are reminding those travelling to the K lub that mobile phones are not permitted, and cameras are only allowed on practice days.