'We got it wrong': Irish Rail switches back to old timetable after major commuter disruption

Irish Rail are set to restore train services in Dublin to the previous timetable in the coming weeks.

The new timetable, introduced on August 26, had increased some intercity services but led to major congestion and delays on routes into and through Dublin's Connolly Station.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne this Thursday afternoon, Irish Rail spokesperson Barry Kenny acknowledged the disruption in recent weeks, saying the rail operator had "got it wrong".

"We are genuinely very, very sorry to our customers, it's been very disruptive in recent weeks for customers," he said.

"People build their work, their education, their childcare around their travel with us and we have let them down. We're sorry for that.

In a statement on their website, Irish Rail said that they would "implement a number of significant changes to its timetable from Monday, October 14, following punctuality issues being experienced by customers since a new timetable was implemented on August 26".

According to the website, morning Connolly route services will revert to pre-August 26 pattern to address punctuality issues, with minor time changes to accommodate extra services.

Read Also: ALERT: Met Eireann issues status yellow weather warning for three counties

This includes trains which previously terminated at stations such as Pearse, Grand Canal Dock and Bray resuming operation to/from these stations, reducing the need for interchanges in the morning peak at Connolly Station.

There will be revised running times on a number of Belfast services, including changes to times on the 06:00hrs and 07:00hrs Belfast to Dublin services, arriving to Dublin at 08:23hrs and 09:20hrs respectively.

Additionally, the proposed 07:50hrs Dublin Connolly to Belfast will operate at 07:40hrs, to prevent congestion at Malahide.
Some evening services which currently commence from Pearse/Grand Canal Dock will commence from Bray / Dun Laoghaire.

There will be some minor changes to departure times to a number of DART, Northern, Maynooth and Phoenix Park Tunnel commuter trains, and one Dublin to Rosslare train to facilitate the above.

Increased services on the Galway, Waterford and Belfast lines implemented on August 26 will be maintained.

"Irish Rail/Iarnród Éireann deeply regrets the disruption to our customers’ daily journeys and lives which have resulted from timetable changes since August 26," the rail operator said.

"In accommodating increased services on the Dublin to Belfast route, and managing overall capacity in the city centre area, the changes had a disproportionate negative impact on commuting punctuality and overall journey times, for which we are sorry."

Full details of changes will be available for customers on Monday, October 7, at www.irishrail.ie  and the Iarnród Éireann app (online details will be updated mid-morning on Monday, October 7).