Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne has urged Irish Rail to reconsider plans to close some DART lines the weekend of the Rugby Champions Cup Semifinal. 

There will be no train service between Grand Canal Dock, Co Dublin, and Bray, Co Wicklow, next weekend due to planned line improvement works by Irish Rail. 

Mr Byrne said many rugby fans would have planned to use the train next Saturday to get to Croke Park for the sold-out Leinster v Northampton European Rugby Champions Cup Semifinal. 

“This is a weekend where there would be a huge demand from the public to use the train to travel to Dublin city,” he said. 

"They really should reconsider their decision. 

“Rather than clogging up the city with cars, they should be encouraging people to use park and ride facilities and public transport. 

“It would make a huge difference to people who want to use public transport into Dublin over the bank holiday weekend." 

DART line closures

DART lines between Grand Canal Dock and Bray will be closed between May 4th to May 6th, as well as on May 18th and June 9th. 

Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty also criticised plans to close DART lines for engineering works in May and June due to disruptions for commuters and visitors. 

“The DART and other commuter rail links are vital for so many commuters and visitors in Dublin,” she said. 

“The announcement of five full days of closure between will have a huge impact on people trying to get around the city, including visitors and those travelling for work. 

“While engineering works may undoubtedly be required, Irish Rail should make sure that they are only disrupting vital services where absolutely necessary and not when other alternatives, such as nighttime works, could be possible.” 

She said “widespread closures” will not encourage people to use public transport and “reduce pressure on Dublin’s roads”. 

An Irish Rail spokesperson told Newstalk to defer works at this time “would result in a cost significantly over €500,000”. 

“More critically, the Train protection system project is on a critical path, and losing time on this impacts the testing programme,” they said. 

They said when plans for improvements were made, there was no major event taking place over the bank holiday weekend, and Irish Rail made efforts to avoid major events such as Taylor Swift in the Aviva Stadium.