Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has criticised the announcement by Irish Rail that train services to Bray and Greystones will be severely disrupted over a series of weekends including bank holiday weekends over the summer and autumn as Irish Rail have scheduled these dates for work to take place on the line.
He spoke of his fear over the impact that the cancellations could have on hard pressed businesses in the seaside towns who are reliant on visitors to the seaside town at weekends.
It should not be forgotten that there are large numbers of people who are reliant on the DART to make their way to work over the weekends, who will be severely disrupted if these series of repair schedules continue.
Particularly as business owners continue to struggle to recover from the Covid pandemic, and to cope with the current crippling cost of doing business in Wicklow, with rents, and utility bills placing many under extreme stress.
Brady said:
“The decision by Irish Rail to schedule works on the Bray rail line over a series of weekends including bank holidays will lead to serious disruption for commuters, and represents a serious blow to businesses, residents, and visitors.
This will also impact on people commuting to work at the weekend. But it represents a particular blow to struggling businesses in the town, many who are still recovering from the impact of the Covid pandemic and are doing their best to deal with crippling rent and utility bills.
It is a difficult time to be in business for many people. And weekend transport shutdowns are the last thing the businesses in Bray need right now, as many are reliant on the additional footfall brought into the town over weekends.
Bray in particular has already endured two body blows to tourism with the continued closure of the Bray to Greystones cliff walk, and the closure of Sealife in the town.
It is a town that needs inducements to attract tourists – not to give them reasons not to travel.
I have written to the NTA asking them to reconsider their decision and asking them to potentially look at carry out what I accept is necessary work, at night, in order to minimise the disruption to commuters and businesses.
I would ask that take full account of the economic impact of the decision to cancel a series of weekend trains to Bray, and that they do everything in their power to reconsider this decision and see if any compromise can be reached.”