Luas drivers’ strike and train line works cause travel chaos

Disruptions to train and Luas services caused travel chaos across the State on Saturday morning as Luas drivers staged another weekend of strike action and works began on national train lines.

Iarnród Éireann posted on its website on Saturday morning advising customers using services to and from Heuston and using all connecting services to re-check their times before travelling over the weekend.

However, commuters took to Twitter early on Saturday to complain about morning delays on trains scheduled for Dublin and rescheduled trains that failed to turn up at all.

Iarnród Éireann has resumed works on line improvements on the Dublin to Portlaoise line, focusing on the section between Hazelhatch and Portlaoise.

The works will affect services to Westport, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.

Meanwhile, the Luas has come to a standstill again this weekend as Luas workers stage two more days of strike action as part of a campaign for improved pay and conditions.

Luas operator Transdev indicated earlier this week to staff that if the current wave of strikes continues, the company may have to look at cuts to expenditure rather than pay rises.

In a letter to its workforce on Thursday, the company said there was no more money available either from within the company itself or from any other source to provide higher pay.

Transdev said it would not be pulling out of its contract to operate the Luas system and urged employees to lower their demands.

On Friday, a broadcast row between Siptu's Jack O'Connor and the head of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Kieran Mulvey illustrated how the Luas dispute, which has proven to be intractable, has heightened tensions all around.

Mr O'Connor urged Mr Mulvey to quit over comments made on RTE's Morning Ireland programme in relation to the current Luas dispute.

Mr O’Connor accused Mr Mulvey of bias and of attacking one side in an industrial relations dispute. He said Mr Mulvey’s continued presence as chairperson of the WRC would damage the integrity of the institution.

Summer of discontent

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) warned earlier this week of a potential “summer of discontent” across the country’s rail network if Iarnród Éireann refuses to engage on pay increases for staff.

The move came as the State-owned rail company signalled it was postponing the introduction of a higher-frequency Dart service in Dublin, which it said would cost it €1.4 million and force it to seek cost saving measures elsewhere.

The company wanted to put in place a 10-minute Dart service from April 10th. However, it blamed union “intransigence” for its inability to introduce the new initiative.

Earlier this month the NBRU tabled a 25 per cent pay claim for workers in Iarnród Éireann. The company rejected the claim which was lodged in the wake of news of proposed pay increases of up to 18 per cent for Luas drivers.

Train works

The selected days for Iarnród Éireann works include the first three Saturdays in April, two Saturdays in May and a range of Saturdays throughout June, July, August, September, October and November.

The works will also see alterations to services on Bank Holiday Sundays in May and October.

Iarnród Éireann said train services will operate in full on affected dates, but to a revised timetable with the exception of bus transfers between Heuston and Athy for Dublin - Waterford passengers.

The improvement works, which are being undertaken at a cost of €9 million are, aimed at improving speeds for trains on the line and follow a similar investment of of €10 million last year.

The rail company said the investment will lead to “ higher reliability, smoother running of trains and with other works deliver consistent 160km/h speeds (100 mph) by the end of 2016 on this section”. This will deliver journey time improvements for customers.

On affected Saturdays, a trolley service will be provided on all Intercity services to / from Heuston. First class facilities will not be available. Dining car and restaurant car facilities will also not be available.