Businesses in Bray Co Wicklow are to seek compensation from Iarnród Éireann for the weekend closures of the Dart service due to begin on the southside line this summer.
The Bray Seafront Traders Association said the decision to close the Dart on weekends between June and September to allow for upgrading work, followed by possible further stoppages over Christmas, would have a "devastating" effect on their businesses. The group has not yet determined how much money it will seek from Iarnród Éireann, but said traders would lose tens of thousands of euro over the summer.
Pat Ó Suilleabháin, a spokesman for the group and manager of National Sea Life in Bray, said they decided to seek compensation following suggestions that the developers of Lansdowne Road would have to pay compensation to Iarnród Éireann for cancellations of Dart and rail services during work on the stadium.
"If CIÉ can look for compensation for disruption caused to its service during the redevelopment of the stadium, it seems rich that they won't consider compensation for the Bray Seafront Traders or any other groups that will be affected during their upgrade works on the Dart line this summer."
Iarnród Éireann had ruled out compensating businesses when it began weekend closures in October 2003. The group is seeking talks with the company and is still hopeful the closures can be avoided, Mr Ó Suilleabháin said.
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