Shoppers and partygoers in Dublin will be encouraged to use public transport over Christmas with DART and bus services offering increased capacity for the period.
Late-night DART services will also operate for three weekends before Christmas beginning next week. Trains will depart the city centre at midnight, 1.10 a.m. and 2.20 a.m. with tickets costing £3.
Northbound trains will depart from Pearse Station with southbound trains leaving from Connolly Station. All stations will be served except Tara Street.
Speaking at the announcement of Operation Freeflow, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said public transport offered commuters a real alternative to the car.
New park-and-ride facilities from Whitehall church to the city centre will be provided for shoppers from Monday until Christmas Eve. The scheme offers supervised parking for £3, which also covers the cost of unlimited travel for one day on all Dublin Bus city services for up to five car occupants.
Buses will run from the church daily every five minutes 9.30 a.m. until 7 p.m. except Sundays when the scheme will operate from 1.30 p.m. until 6 p.m. The improved Christmas Nitelink service went into operation last night on 21 routes. The service will run five times a night Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes at weekends. On Sunday it operates at 12.30 a.m. and 1.30 a.m.
Members of the public who drive into town for a night out will also be able to park their car overnight and pay for the first three hours of the next morning in a park-and-pay area.