Some people expressed their frustration on social media on Wednesday at the news that Luas drivers are set to stage a series of four-hour strikes in June as part of the latest phase of their campaign of industrial action to seek improved pay and conditions.

The strikes will take place on June 2nd between 3pm and 7 pm as well as on June 3rd, 7th and 8th between 9am and 1pm.

On June 9th and 10th, strikes are expected to take place from 3pm to 7 pm.

Luas drivers are already scheduled to stage work stoppages on a number of days in May.

The planned new strikes could affect students who are due to commence their Leaving and Junior certificate examinations in June. The State exams begin on June 8th.

Declan Varley tweeted: “Luas drivers striking during school exams is very poor form. Kids are stressed enough.”

Another person tweeted: “ Luas drivers striking on the first three days of the Leaving Cert? I have no words to describe my contempt for #siptu and the drivers.”

And another user expressed disbelief that the strikes were taking place during the State exams.

“Can’t believe the #Luas drivers are striking during the jun/leaving certs. They’ve gone too far now!! If it isn’t stressful enough for kids”

A 24-hour strike will take place this coming Friday, May 13th, which will affect the travel plans of about 90,000 passengers.

Further strikes by Luas drivers will take place on Friday May 20th; Thursday May 26th (four hours from 3pm-7pm) and Friday, May 27th.

During the last stoppage on May 4th, our reporter Rachel Flaherty found there was little sympathy for the Luas drivers but an acceptance the staff had a right to strike and fight for better pay and conditions.

Sally Lyons, from Goatstown, said she would normally use the Luas to commute daily and had not realised there was another strike scheduled for Wednesday.

"I don't have sympathy for the drivers. They are fairly well paid in comparison to other similar jobs around Europe and everywhere else," she said.

Mark Grealish, Windy Arbour, said his previous experience of getting the bus during a strike was like "The Hunger Games" and "way too hard".

“It’s quicker to walk. I think they should rip this line up and replace it with a greenway because at this point , that’s just what it is. The green line will become a greenway,” he said.

Mr Grealish said commuters were frustrated with the inconvenience of the increasing number of strikes.

“You’ve two parties neither of which will give any ground and we’re the ones suffering,” he said.

“I understand the drivers position and what they want but they are asking for a bit too much.

“I hope they can sort it out. At this point both sides are entrenched and have their backs up, it’s more about losing face.”

Michael Redmond said his journey on foot would take about 1.5 hours from his home in Dundrum.

“It’s a bit annoying, they should sort it out. But we’re lucky today it is a nice morning,” he said.

“ I understand where they (the Luas drivers) are coming from but they have to be reasonable as well.

“People are being told by the Government things are picking up and some feel can go back to boom level salaries again, pre-austerity wages, which is probably unrealistic but that’s what their expectation is.”

Coffee shop owner Michael O’Donovan said it had become a common sight seeing hundreds walking along the track.

“It’s nice seeing people walking past and chatting away,” he said.

“It’s in contrast to the road which is mad this morning, there’s beeping and aggression going on, people are getting very impatient and then there’s this superhighway of calm and peacefulness going through the middle of it all.”

Mr Donovan, whose business Mima Coffee is at the Beechwood stop in Ranelagh, said the atmosphere around the area changed during the days the line was shut down.

“The biggest change is the Luas normally acts like ticking clock behind people and people are normally impatient to get their coffee. When the trams are not going there’s a much more peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

“The strike is a nuisance but people are trying to find a positive especially when it’s a nice day like this morning. When it’s raining it’s a different story.”

Tod Walsh said he also did not realise it was another strike day until he arrived at the station and decided to walk to work.

“I’ve no sympathy for the drivers. They need to have a reasonable expectation of salary,” he said.

“From what I’ve read the negotiation tactics are a little bit hard-lined and with such outlandish figures to start with didn’t help.”

Goretti Murphy, who lives in Cowper, said it was a pity to see the Luas services come to a stop.

“Today, I feel more frustrated than I have in the past. I realise the drivers have a right to strike but the longer it goes on the more exasperated the public is becoming,” she said.

“When I came to the station I saw lots of people on the tracks, it is surreal. You can hear people’s footsteps behind you as you walk along, and it’s so quiet. like something from a movie.”

Ms Murphy said she would also walk back home from the city after work.

“The last strike I took the bus home and it was unreal, just crazy, no one could get on they were so packed,” she said.

“I hope they sort this out soon.”