Dublin Train Soon 'Back On Track'

Irish Rail has moved faster than anticipated to bring the inter-city Enterprise train service from Belfast to Dublin back to normal within weeks.

By 16 November the service - which has been severely disrupted since a viaduct at Malahide collapsed in August - will be back to 'full steam ahead'.

Since the collapse of a bridge over an estuary near the Irish capital passengers have had to be bussed between Drogheda and Dublin.

As a result, there has been a 60% drop in passenger numbers since the collapse of the viaduct.

Today however, Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny said they would be working hard to win passengers back.

"When we start back on schedule for 16 November, it will be the full service again on the Enterprise and we are working with Translink," he said.

"We are also quite pleased we are going to have the service back ahead of the Christmas season," he said.

After the shock railway embankment and bridge failure, commuters who normally use the Belfast to Dublin rail line were warned to add around 30 minutes to their journey time.

However, the prospect of leaving the train and joining a bus in both directions put large numbers of cross-border passengers off, even though Iarnród Éireann said extra buses for passengers affected by damage on part of the Belfast-Dublin railway line were provided.

See: Disaster Averted As Rail Bridge Fails

See: Has Marketing Been Derailed?

(BMcC/KMcA)