16/11/2009

Enterprise Back On Track

The first Enterprise train from Belfast to Dublin in months has arrived in Connolly Station, Dublin.

Following weeks of repairs after the track collapsed into the sea last August - when a major disaster was narrowly averted after 20 metres of rail track in north Dublin began to give way - passengers have been bussed around the break.

It is estimated passenger numbers have dropped by 60% since then. Translink said it has cost them up to £2m.

Irish Rail said the incident has cost them about €10m, a sum that includes money spent on engineering works, lost revenue and the cost of providing buses between Drogheda and Dublin.

In the North, Translink has offered reduced fares for six weeks to encourage passengers back to the train service.

Last week, Irish railways spokesman Barry Kenny said they would be working hard to win passengers back.

"We are going to have quite a lot of promotions obviously to bring people back.

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

The Enterprise service is jointly run by Translink and the Republic of Ireland's Iarnrod Eireann.

(BMcC/GK)

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