Tens of thousands of commuters are having to make alternative travel arrangements for the foreseeable future, as an indefinite strike has begun at Bus Eireann.
Rail services have also been significantly disrupted, despite Irish Rail not being part of the dispute.
Bus Eireann says theyÂ’ve lost 9.4 million in 2016, and are losing half a million euro each day of the strike.
Juliette Gash reports;
Bus Eireann has issued the following statement;
Bus Éireann Statement, March 23rd, 2017
Bus Éireann are extremely disappointed that Unions have called a strike at the company from midnight tonight.
Industrial action will cause major inconvenience to our customers and exacerbate the perilous financial situation at the company.
To be clear, losses for January and February in 2017 are 41% higher than for the same period last year – and losses in 2016 were €9.4m.
The company is facing insolvency in a few short months and not acting to implement cost savings urgently would be completely irresponsible.
The Board and management have twice postponed the introduction of efficiency measures – which are all within current collective agreements, and do not affect basic wages or current terms and conditions – to allow for 10 days of talks in two separate sessions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
We sought savings of €12m from a payroll of €133m – or 9% - but Unions were only prepared to cede €0.5m on the current overtime bill of €13m.
The efficiencies we are seeking to introduce relate to work practices, which must be put in place if the company is to have a viable and sustainable future.
We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused by Unions’ action and want to reiterate that School Transport services, GoBe.ie, Eurolines and Cross-Border Translink operated services should not be affected by this strike action.
Further information can be found at www.buseireann.ie, Twitter @buseireann, Facebook @buseireann or via the Customer Care helpline at 1850 836 611.
Irish Rail staff are not part of the strike, but there has been significant disruption.
Update: Intercity service disruptions due to Bus Eireann dispute, full details available here https://t.co/6XV8gTkoS0
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) March 24, 2017
They've issued the following statement;
Significant Intercity rail service disruption today due to Bus Eireann dispute
24 March 2017
Iarnród Éireann advises customers that some Intercity rail services are affected by the Bus Éireann dispute.
Update: 13:40hrs
Iarnród Éireann has advised customers that there will be significant disruption to Intercity rail services today, Friday 24th March, arising from picketing associated with the Bus Éireann dispute. Iarnród Éireann is not a party to this dispute.
The following service arrangements are in place.
DART, Maynooth/M3, Northern, Kildare/Portlaoise and Cork Commuter services are operating as normal.
Dublin/Belfast Enterprise services are operating as normal.
Cork Route and Cork Commuter:
- All Cork/Heuston & Cork Commuter services have resumed except:
- 12:00hrs Heuston/Cork is cancelled.
- 23:15hrs Heuston to Cork (match special) will operate serving Portlaoise, Limerick Junction, Charleville & Mallow.
Limerick Route:
- No services operating to/from Limerick Station.
- Customers can travel from Dublin or Cork to/from Limerick Junction.
Tralee Route:
- Connections to/from Cork services will be provided as follows:
- 13:05hrs, 17:05hrs & 19:05hrs Tralee to Mallow.
- Connections from 13.00hrs Dublin to Cork (at 15:18hrs), 15.00hrs Dublin to Cork (at 17:35hrs) & 19.00hrs Dublin to Cork (at 21:24hrs) from Mallow to Tralee services will be provided.
- 17:05hrs Heuston to Tralee will operate to Mallow, with a connection at Mallow to Tralee.
Waterford Route:
- 13:05hrs, 14:50hrs, 16:00hrs & 16:25hrs Waterford to Heuston services are cancelled.
- 13:15hrs, 16:15hrs, 16:40hrs, 17:35hrs & 18:35hrs Heuston to Waterford services are cancelled.
- 18:25hrs Waterford to Heuston will operate from Kilkenny only.
- 15:10hrs Heuston to Waterford will operate to Kilkenny only.
- 17:40hrs & 20:10hrs Heuston to Carlow services will operate.
- 21:35hrs Carlow to Heuston will operate.
Sligo Route:
- Trains will not operate to/from Sligo, service arrangements as follows:
- 13:00hrs & 18:00hrs Sligo to Connolly services are cancelled.
- 13:05hrs, 15:05hrs, 16:00hrs & 17:05hrs Connolly to Sligo services are cancelled.
- 15:00hrs Sligo to Connolly will operate from Boyle at 15:33hrs.
- 17:15hrs & 18:05hrs Connolly/Longford will operate.
- 19.05hrs Connolly to Sligo will operate to Enfield only.
Galway Route:
- 17:20hrs & 19:20hrs Galway to Heuston services will operate.
- 17:45hrs Heuston to Athlone serving Portarlington, Tullamore, Clara will operate
- 13:05hrs, 14:40hrs & 15:05hrs Galway to Heuston services are cancelled.
- 13:25hrs, 15:35hrs, 16:30hrs & 19:35hrs Heuston to Galway services will operate.
- 15:30hrs Athlone to Heuston will operate serving all stations to Portarlington and will then run non-stop to Heuston.
- 17:30hrs & 18:30hrs Heuston to Galway services are cancelled.
- 18:10hrs & 22:15hrs Galway to Athlone services will operate.
- 23:25hrs Heuston to Galway (match special) will operate.
Westport Route:
- All Dublin - Westport/Ballina services are operating as normal.
Rosslare Route:
- 12:55hrs Rosslare to Connolly is cancelled.
- 13:36hrs Connolly to Rosslare will operate.
- 16:37hrs & 18:38hrs Connolly to Rosslare services are cancelled.
- 17:36hrs Connolly to Wexford will operate
- 17:55hrs Rosslare to Connolly will operate.
There will be no services on the following routes:
- Limerick to Limerick Junction
- Waterford to Limerick Junction
- Limerick to Galway
- Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh.
Refunds:
- Customers who have booked on a train today that has been affected can travel on an alternative service for free, where available, using the same ticket.
- Customers who no longer wish to travel today, please email reservations@irishrail.ie for a full refund. You don't need to print your tickets, just email us your reservation number and we will do the rest.
Intending customers should note:
- Bus Éireann tickets are not valid on Iarnród Éireann services during this dispute.
- Higher demand is expected on rail services. Customers with flexibility should travel outside busiest times.
We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.
