As yet another bank holiday approaches, residents of Bray and Greystones in North Wicklow are bracing themselves for another weekend of travel disruptions. Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) recently announced that essential engineering works between Connolly and Dun Laoghaire will impact train services over the June bank holiday weekend, from Saturday, May 31 to Monday, June 2. While services are not entirely suspended, commuters will face significant inconvenience, as they will need to rely on buses to complete their journeys.
For many locals, such disruptions are now an unfortunate fixture of life in North Wicklow. The closure of train lines during peak holiday periods has created a sense of isolation, as residents are left with few alternatives. Though alternative travel options are provided, many commuters are asking why they should bother making the journey if they don’t absolutely need to travel.
Ongoing Struggles for Commuters
The June bank holiday disruption is just the latest in a series of challenges for Wicklow commuters. Earlier this year, the loss of the Aircoach service left residents in Kilcoole and Greystones with limited options for travel. Furthermore, a recent restructuring by the National Transport Authority (NTA) has resulted in a significant increase in train fares for those living in Kilcoole and Greystones, who have been moved into a more expensive fare zone.
These fare hikes have sparked concern among commuters, particularly after a nationwide survey revealed that Wicklow residents are among those facing the longest commutes in Ireland. According to the survey, conducted by market research firm Censuswide and KINTO Join, only residents of Roscommon have a longer average one-way commute than those in Wicklow, with locals facing an average commute of 24.97 kilometres. This situation has led to further frustration for many, who already struggle with lengthy travel times.
Impact on Local Commuters and Climate Goals
In response to the ongoing difficulties faced by commuters in her constituency, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, addressed the issue in the Dáil. She pointed out that the steep fare increases—particularly the 30% hike in fares for Greystones residents—are counterproductive to Ireland’s climate goals. Whitmore emphasized the urgent need to reduce transport emissions and warned that such fare hikes could exacerbate the country’s failure to meet EU climate targets.
“Until we get our transport emissions under control, there should be no increases in public transport fares,” she said. Whitmore also called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Transport, Simon Harris, to direct Iarnród Éireann to reconsider the fare increases. Harris acknowledged the issue and expressed a willingness to engage with the NTA to review the fare structure.
Disruptions to Local Tourism and Events
Whitmore has also raised concerns about the ongoing disruption to services during peak demand periods, particularly over bank holidays. She noted that the May bank holiday saw major disruptions to train services, causing significant inconvenience for commuters attending events like the Leinster game at the Aviva Stadium and the Bray Jazz Festival.
With Irish Rail’s announcement that there will be no train services between Connolly Station and Dún Laoghaire for the June bank holiday, many are worried about the impact on major events, including the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on Sunday, June 1. Whitmore criticized Irish Rail’s failure to plan essential works in a way that takes into account local tourism and community events.
“No one takes issue with the need for essential works,” she said, “but we need a better planning process that takes public convenience into account and minimizes disruption during busy holiday weekends.”
Petition and Growing Public Opposition
In response to the fare hikes, a petition has been launched on Change.org calling for the reversal of the rail fare increase for Greystones, as well as for Balbriggan, which has also been affected by the NTA’s fare zone restructuring. The petition highlights the need for reliable and affordable rail access to Dublin, stressing that the fare increases will disproportionately impact young workers and students who are already struggling on minimum wages.
The petition also echoes concerns raised in the recent commuter survey, noting that towns like Greystones suffer from a lack of radial public transport options, forcing commuters to travel into the city to reach destinations elsewhere on the commuter belt.
As the June bank holiday approaches, North Wicklow residents are once again facing the prospect of a weekend spent in isolation, with limited transport options and increasing frustration over the ongoing issues with public transport services. With concerns continuing to mount, the pressure on Irish Rail and the NTA to address these problems grows ever more urgent.
