Major Rail and Bus Disruption Expected Over Bank Holiday Weekend
Major transport disruptions are affecting train and bus services across Ireland this bank holiday weekend due to essential engineering works, infrastructure projects, and road closures for public events. Dublin commuter services face the most severe restrictions, with 17 DART stations closed from Saturday, October 24, to Monday, October 26, 2026, according to Dublin Live.
Engineering projects span multiple counties, affecting regional rail links in Clare, Limerick, and Galway alongside the capital’s commuter network. Irish Rail has implemented revised timetables and bus replacements across affected corridors, urging travelers to verify schedules via its website or app before departure.
DART Services Stop at 17 Stations
No DART services are operating between Grand Canal Dock and Bray, nor between Howth and Howth Junction, across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Trains are restricted to running between Malahide and Grand Canal Dock. Dublin Live confirmed that 17 stations are shuttered during this window.
For passengers traveling to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening for the Leinster versus Munster rugby fixture, Lansdowne Road station remains closed. Barry Kenny of Irish Rail told Newstalk that TFI Leap Cards remain valid on alternative public transport services within the capital, while bus transfers operate between Dublin and Bray for Rosslare-bound passengers.
Gleeson of Rail Users Ireland acknowledged the disruption is frustrating for bank holiday travelers but emphasized the necessity of the works. Platforms have undergone height modifications to accommodate an incoming fleet of commuter trains equipped with automatic ramps that deploy without requiring station attendant assistance. Gleeson noted that the scale of this infrastructure renewal exceeds overnight maintenance windows, which run only from 00:30 to 05:30.
Additional early morning services are scheduled on Sunday to transport runners to the Dublin Marathon, operating from Dundalk at 06:00, Kildare at 06:25, Maynooth at 06:50, and Malahide at 07:00, all terminating at Dublin Pearse. Passengers are also reminded that clocks go back one hour at 02:00 on Sunday.
Bus Éireann Adjustments and Marathon Road Closures
Bus Éireann warned that extensive road closures for the Dublin Marathon will disrupt services entering and leaving the city throughout the weekend. Routes 100X, 133, 2, 22, 115, and 245X face altered termini and unserved stops. Schedules remain subject to shifting conditions as the race progresses.
Rail Upgrades Disrupt Mid-West Train Services
Essential infrastructure upgrades are disrupting services throughout the mid-west. Commissioning work for the Foynes freight line requires a shutdown of signaling affecting all services to or from Limerick (Colbert) Station from Saturday, October 24, to Monday, October 26.
Train services connecting Limerick with Ennis, Galway, and Ballybrophy are replaced by bus transfers. Clare rail customers face revised timetables and bus substitutions between Limerick and Ennis. Track improvement works between Athlone and Ballinasloe also prompt evening bus transfers on Saturday from 18:00 onward for Dublin-Galway services.
On Monday, October 26, specific services between Waterford and Limerick Junction are cancelled, including the 07:20 and 16:25 departures from Waterford, and the 09:45 and 18:40 departures from Limerick Junction. A Sunday timetable applies to all DART and commuter routes on bank holiday Monday alongside intercity alterations.