The gardai reported heavy traffic on the main roads through the midlands as a result of the Statewide rail and bus dispute which crippled services.
Hundreds of commuters who travel from Portlaoise, Tullamore, Moate, Athlone and Mullingar by rail found themselves without service yesterday.
The alternative services provided by Bus Eireann, were also badly hit, so many from the midlands did not make it to work in Dublin at all yesterday.
An Iarnrod Eireann spokesman said the commuter services to Dublin were decimated yesterday and only one bus made it to Dublin from Longford and one train made it to Dublin from Mullingar.
There were NBRU pickets at most of the major stations in the region and with the linesmens dispute, there was almost a total shutdown of rail services.
However, there was one happy group of commuters yesterday from Tullamore. Mr Ger Hayden who is head of a commuter group from the town, arrived in Dublin in time for work at 9.30 a.m.
Six weeks ago he and 15 other disgruntled rail travellers set up an alternative bus service because of their dissatisfaction with the rail service.