Hundreds of thousands take to road, rail and skies

The Christmas transport rush gets into top gear today when hundreds of thousands take to road, rail and skies, heading home and away for the holidays.

Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports will have record numbers of passengers over the holiday period. From today until January 4th, some 920,000 people will pass through Dublin airport, an increase of 15 per cent on last year, with the largest number - 75,000 - travelling today, and 300 extra charter flights scheduled to sun and ski destinations between Christmas and the New Year.

About 95,000 passengers will use Cork airport, an increase of 25 per cent on last year. More than 8,000 will travel today, the largest number on any single day over the holiday period.

Shannon expects 100,000 passengers through the airport, up 35 per cent, due primarily to the new Ryanair services. Shannon is the only major Irish airport to remain open on Christmas Day, for possible emergency diversions on transatlantic traffic.

It will be equally busy on road and rail. Iarnród Éireann expects 400,000 passenger journeys over the Christmas and New Year period on intercity rail services, with extra services today and tomorrow. Passengers are advised to check the timetable before travelling at www.irishrail.ie or on 1890 778899.

The last Dart tonight leaves Connolly at 12.30am for Howth and at the same time from Pearse to Bray. Dart and Dublin Bus will stop at 9pm tomorrow and there will be no rail service on December 25th or 26th.

Former PD councillor Victor Boyhan said the lack of rail service over Christmas was a disgrace, particularly for people without cars trying to visit family and friends. An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said there was a "very low demand for services" on those days. "We wouldn't envisage running a service on Christmas Day, but operating on St Stephen's Day is something we keep under review."

Up to a quarter of a million people will use Bus Éireann services over the holiday period, with extra services today and tomorrow. City bus services in Cork and Limerick tomorrow will finish at 9pm, and between 7pm and 8pm in Galway. There will be no bus service on Christmas Day but a modified service recommences on December 26th. Passengers are advised to check timetables on www.buseireann.ie.

The Luas continues its late-night tram service tonight, every 30 minutes until 3am, on the green line from St Stephen's Green and 2.30am from Sandyford. The last tram from Tallaght to the city centre goes at 2am and at 3am from Connolly.

No Luas service will operate on Christmas Day but trams will run again on Monday and Tuesday from 7am until 11.30pm. Normal service resumes on Wednesday from 6.30am to 12.30am.

Heavy traffic is expected on all major roads today and tomorrow.

All major Superquinn stores are closed on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day, but two small stores at Tyrrellstown, near Blanchardstown, Dublin and at Charlesland near Bray, Co Wicklow will open from 8am until 7pm on December 26th.

All Tesco stores will close at 6pm tomorrow and re-open on Tuesday. Three Super Valu stores will open on Sunday, two in Co Kerry and one on the outskirts of Limerick city.

Some 30 stores will open on Monday and normal opening hours resume on Tuesday.

Most major department stores re-open next Tuesday. In Dublin, the Clerys sale starts at 9am on Tuesday, while the Arnotts sale begins at 11.30am.

Roches Stores also re-opens on Tuesday but its sale begins on Thursday. Sales at Brown Thomas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway also start at 9am on Tuesday