Transport

Christmas travel: Your guide for the busiest time of the year

Over one million passengers are expected to fly in and out of Dublin

There was tearful reunions in Dublin airport as weary travellers were reunited with their families for the Christmas period.

Ciarán D'Arcy
Fri Dec 22 2017 - 08:43

Dublin Airport says it is expecting its busiest ever festive period over the coming weeks, while transport operators have announced their Christmas timetabling arrangements.

Over one million passengers are expected to fly in and out of Dublin Airport between Friday and Friday 5th January, an increase of two per cent compared with the same period last year.

The busiest day will be on Friday 22nd December when 85,000 people will move through terminals 1 and 2. The airport will be closed on Christmas Day with the last flight departing for Moldova at 11.10pm on Christmas Eve, followed by a 5am arrival from New York on St Stephen’s Day.

Frances McGlynn, from Belgard, Tallaght after meeting grandchildren Elena, Monica and Clare arriving for Christmas, at Dublin Airport. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

Elsewhere, Irish Rail will operate a regular Sunday service on all Dart, Intercity and commuter services up until 7pm on Christmas Eve.

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Cork Commuter services will terminate at 7pm, followed by all Intercity routes on the Dublin Heuston line at 8pm and on the Dublin Connolly line at 9pm. Dart and Dublin Commuter services will also cease departures from 9pm.

There will be no rail services on Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day, with a normal weekday service set to resume for Intercity trains on Wednesday 27th December, and Saturday Dart and Commuter services.

Bus Éireann will cease departures from 9pm on Christmas Eve, and a full Sunday timetable will operate on all routes on St Stephen’s Day except for main commuter services which will have reduced frequency. Full weekday services will largely resume from Wednesday 27th December.

Last departures for Dublin Bus will also be at 9pm on Christmas Eve. There will be no service on Christmas Day, followed by a Sunday service on St Stephen’s Day and a Saturday schedule thereafter.

Luas services will end at 8pm on Christmas Eve, and trams will operate to a Sunday schedule on St Stephen’s Day with a Saturday timetable thereafter.

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