CIE has put on extra trains and buses this weekend to cater for 400,000 bus and rail travellers over Easter. Long delays and tailbacks are expected on the roads, particularly this evening and on Monday.
Foot-and-mouth checkpoints at Border crossings in Donegal, Monaghan and Louth are expected to add to the congestion. Precautionary advice remains in place against travelling to farms or restricted areas affected by the crisis.
The Rosscarbery Oyster Festival in west Cork, starting tomorrow, will add to traffic on the N71, while tonight's rugby fixture at Thomond Park is expected to attract a capacity crowd.
The traditional Fairyhouse Grand National festival has been postponed, while racing will resume on Easter Monday at Leopardstown and Cork.
Delays are expected on the N4 approaching Enfield. Other trouble-spots are expected to be the N11 at Kilmacanogue, Rathnew, Gorey and Enniscorthy; and the N7 from Rathcoole via Kildare and Monasterevin.
Roadwatch presenter Ms Emma Caulfield has warned drivers to respect speed limits and resist the temptation to make up for lost time in the tailbacks by speeding on the open road. There are more accidents than usual on bank holiday weekends, as motorists tend to drive longer distances, she said.
Trains:
More than 30 special trains have been added to the regular Iarnrod Eireann timetable to cater for 300,000 holiday passengers on Intercity services. An Easter weekend timetable is available at train stations.
Passengers on the Dublin-Sligo line are being bused between Boyle and Sligo due to engineering works. Irish Rail said that contrary to some erroneous reports, all services to the west will operate normally and no industrial action was taking place.
A Saturday service will operate today on DART and outer suburban lines. On Easter Monday a Sunday service will operate on DART lines, while there will be no outer suburban services.
Engineering works between Dun Laoghaire and Lansdowne Road tomorrow night will see a reduced DART service on the south side from 9 p.m. until noon on Sunday.
Buses:
Bus Eireann expects to carry up to 100,000 passengers on Expressway and provincial bus services through the weekend.
Some alterations and cancellations to services will apply today. Normal weekday services will apply tomorrow and normal Sunday services on Easter Sunday, with the exception of the cancellation of some evening services to Dublin.
On Easter Monday a Sunday service will operate, with additional buses to Dublin in the evening. On the Dublin-Belfast route, normal weekday services will operate.
Normal weekday services will resume next Tuesday with the following additions: 06.15 Killarney-Limerick-Dublin, 06.10 Tralee-Killarney-Cork. The 06.45 Derry-Dublin service will be cancelled.
A leaflet giving full details of services is available from Bus Eireann travel centres and depots. Alternatively, an information helpline is open at 018366111 between 8.30 a.m. (9 p.m. Sundays and public holidays) and 7 p.m.
Road Deaths
Six people have been killed on the roads in the Republic in the past week. Their deaths bring to 109 the total number of road fatalities so far this year, seven fewer than in the same period last year.
Weblinks: www.buseireann.ie www.irishrail.ie www.aaroadwatch.ie