Trains from the south to Dublin this weekend are expected to be full as hurling and rugby fans head for the big matches.
The events this weekend are the All Ireland hurling featuring the Cork and Wexford semi-final replay in Croke Park and the rugby international game between Ireland and Wales in Lansdowne Road, both on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the All Ireland hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Kilkenny takes place in Croke Park.
A new telephone ticket line has been set up by Iarnród Éireann to sell seats to GAA fans for the special train from Cork, Mallow and Charleville to Dublin Connolly station on Saturday for the Cork and Wexford replay. The number is (021) 455 7242. Tickets for the train went on sale through the line last night and GAA fans are limited to two tickets per person.
Mr Andrew Roche, Iarnród Éireann's business development manager for Cork and Kerry, said he wanted to advise intending passengers that demand for seats this Friday, Saturday and Sunday was expected to exceed supply.
Any intending passengers for trains from Cork and Kerry to Dublin and the return journeys would be required to have a "control card", issued free of charge, in addition to their rail ticket, in order to travel.
Control cards and rail tickets would be issued on a first-come first-served basis. Cards for the regular scheduled trains on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were being sold in the usual way. Seat availability on scheduled trains would be limited.
Mr Roche said the measures were being taken in the interest of customer comfort and satisfaction. Iarnród Éireann's day-to- day business has increased by more than 47 per cent since 1993.
"The growth in demand for rail travel has continued without any increase in additional rolling stock and as a result we are unable to respond, as we have done in the past, to peak demand for major events," Mr Roche said.