People advised to use public transport

TRANSPORT:COMMUTERS HAVE been strongly advised to use public transport this morning as long delays are expected on all routes due to sub-zero temperatures overnight.

In Dublin, the city council is to mobilise a workforce of up to 1,000 people to clear ice and snow from footpaths and has appealed to householders to help clear outside their own homes and along pathways in estates.

The Government emergency planning taskforce said all routes into major towns and cities are expected to be affected by the freezing conditions with roads in Dublin, Wicklow and Donegal still suffering from Saturday night’s heavy snowfalls.

While the National Roads Authority said salt has been stockpiled since last July, the taskforce warned last night that salt is less effective against new falls of snow. Only about 16,000 of the State’s 90,000km of roads will be salted with priority given to key national and strategically important regional roads. As a result some bus services, particularly those which serve suburban housing estates will be curtailed.

Dublin Bus has asked intending passengers to check its website for a list of routes affected. Details of alterations to service will also be posted on its site, dublinbus.ie

Commuter services in the regional cities will face similar difficulties, according to Bus Éireann. The company said the latest information on its regional and intercity services would be posted on its website (buseireann.ie).

Iarnród Éireann kept a selected number of train engines running throughout the night to prevent damage form valves and fuel freezing. The company said it expected to run a full service this morning.

Dublin City Council engineer and director of traffic Michael Phillips said commuters should expect traffic to be moving slower this morning. He said he did not expect the Army would be required to help clear footpaths although troops may be required in smaller towns and villages where local authorities could not call upon so many staff.

While he said there were adequate supplies of salt for gritting the roads, he warned it was a resource and had cost implications.

Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports were operating normally last night but intending passengers for Donegal and Derry were advised to contact their airlines this morning.

AA Roadwatch said freezing fog was likely to make driving conditions extremely hazardous this morning in some areas. In upland areas of counties Wicklow and Donegal some roads were closed while others were predicted to be especially treacherous.

Motorists were advised to leave additional time for journeys.

The State’s national director for fire and emergency management Seán Hogan referred commuters to the website transport.ie which would be displaying the latest information and links to public transport sites.

He also advised commuters to listen to local radio for more localised information.