Ireland

Dart services to be disrupted this weekend over roof repairs

Pearse and Tara St stations to close as repairs made to Victorian roof at Pearse St

The roof at Dublin’s Pearse station dates from the 1880’s. File photograph: iStock
The roof at Dublin’s Pearse station dates from the 1880’s. File photograph: iStock
Vivienne Clarke
Fri Feb 22 2019 - 11:13

Dublin’s Pearse Street and Tara Street Dart stations will close this weekend to facilitate ongoing work to the Victorian roof of Pearse Street station.

This the third weekend closure of 13 scheduled for the works which commenced in November and will continue until July 2020.

"Most of the work is taking place at night-time, but we need to do daytime work occasionally," explained Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny.

Previous weekend closures took place in October and January, with the next weekend closure scheduled for March 9th and March 10th (up to 10am on Sunday, March 10th) and April 13th and April 14th (all weekend).

READ SOME MORE

Mr Kenny said that weekends are the quietest times at the two city centre stations.

Dart services from the north of the line into the city will terminate at Connolly Station for the weekend, while services from Bray and Greystones will cease at Grand Canal Dock.

Mainline rail services to Wexford will recommence from Bray with bus transfers from Connolly station to Bray.

Mr Kenny explained that the roof structure of Pearse Street station, which dates from the 1880s, is in poor condition and protective mesh netting has been in place in the station below roof level in recent years to protect customers and rail services, due to the corrosion which has occurred.

Separately, the following service alterations are also in place this weekend for Irish Rail passengers:

- Dublin/Belfast Enterprise - Saturday, February 23rd and Sunday, February 24th;

- Due to Translink engineering works there will be bus transfers between Newry and Belfast for all Enterprise services on Saturday and Sunday. Bus transfers from Belfast will depart 10 minutes earlier than standard train departure times;

-Kildare to Portlaoise rail line: Saturday night February 23rd and Sunday morning February 24th. Due to engineering works between Kildare and Portlaoise, bus transfers will be in place on Cork and Limerick services between Kildare and Portlaoise from 7pm on Saturday to 11am on Sunday.