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Irish Rail confirm extra services for All-Ireland Semi-Finals

Dublin take on Monaghan at Croke Park on Saturday July 15th, while Kerry meet Derry the following day
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.13 4 Jul 2023


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Irish Rail confirm extra servi...

Irish Rail confirm extra services for All-Ireland Semi-Finals

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.13 4 Jul 2023


Share this article


Irish Rail has confirmed there will be additional services for the All-Ireland Football Semi-Finals.

Dublin take on Monaghan at Croke Park on Saturday July 15th, while Kerry meet Derry the following day.

Further details, including the times of the extra trains, will be announced closer to match day.

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Irish Rail Corporate Communications Manager Barry Kenny joined Lunchtime Live in Malahide as part of Newstalk's Summer Tour.

He said customers should keep an eye on their website.

"The moment those matches are confirmed, the scheduled services sell out straight away," he said.

"We obviously have to look at how the draw goes [and] the resources that we have - but yes, we will have additional services there.

"They will be available and keep an eye on our website for that".

'Scheduled services'

Mr Kenny said such announcements can sometimes be close match day.

"A lot of it depends on who else is playing that weekend - if you've got Cork and Kerry on the same weekend, you're obviously drawing from the same pool in terms of fleet and drivers.

"The moment it's confirmed we're straight on it to try to confirm what we can operate.

"The one thing I will say is we operate a lot more scheduled services now than we would have, say, 15 [or] 20 years ago.

"Those scheduled services do have to be looked after first around the network, because they're the people who're travelling with us every week.

"But whenever we can operate extra, we do".

'DART+ from 2028'

On DART+ plans, Mr Kenny said it is about getting more people on trains.

"It'll extend the DART to Drogheda, but what it'll mean is we'll be able to run more trains through the network," he said

"They will be better trains in terms of accessibility, in terms of facilities for cyclists, for families onboard.

"Really it is about allowing us [to] run more trains right through this northern corridor - for Malahide Drogheda and beyond - to allow more people to change to public transport".

A prototype of the new DART+ fleet at Inchicore Parade in Dublin A prototype of the new DART+ fleet at Inchicore Parade in Dublin. Picture by: Irish Rail

Mr Kenny said the timeframe is looking likely for 2028.

"We're right now in the second round - in fact, just finished the second round of public consultation - for DART+ North, which is about extending it to Drogheda," he said.

"Based on funding, approvals, planning all of that you're talking about 2028/2029 that that will be there.

"But before that, we're going to have the new battery-electric trains, and from 2025 they will be running to Drogheda," he added.

Listen back here:

Main image: Security staff walk the platforms at Heuston Station, Dublin in November 2017. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Brian Lawless

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All-Ireland Semi-Finals Barry Kenny Croke Park Dart Derry Drogheda Dublin Extra Services Irish Rail Kerry Lunchtime Live Monaghan Newstalk's Summer Tour Public Consultation

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