DART North Pauses for Holiday Track Works

DART North services suspended May 2-4, 2026 for engineering works affecting seven stations

DART North Halts Service for May Holiday Works

Dublin's DART North services will shut down completely during the May Bank Holiday weekend as Transport for Ireland conducts major engineering works. No trains will run between Connolly and Malahide or Howth from Saturday, May 2 through Monday, May 4, 2026, officials confirmed. Seven stations including Malahide, Portmarnock, Clongriffin, Howth, Sutton, and Bayside will close entirely, forcing thousands of riders to find alternative routes.

Multiple Routes Face Disruptions

The engineering works extend beyond Dublin's DART system to affect intercity routes across Ireland. Northern Commuter services will be completely cancelled and replaced with limited bus transfers between Clontarf Road and Drogheda. Belfast-bound trains will see some cancellations with bus connections operating between Connolly and Drogheda. Cork services to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow face disruptions due to CACR signalling and track works, while Dublin-Westport and Dublin-Ballina routes will be impacted by ballast cleaning between Claremorris and Westport. Only Belfast services will serve Dundalk station during the holiday period.

Limited DART Service on Southside Only

DART trains will operate only between Connolly Station and Bray or Greystones during the three-day closure period, Transport for Ireland said. The southside service will maintain connections for riders traveling to coastal communities south of Dublin, but officials haven't specified exact train frequencies or whether weekend schedules will differ from typical service levels. Riders needing to reach northside destinations must use replacement bus services or alternative public transport options. The Leap card will be accepted on all replacement services and TFI public transport in affected areas.

Works Scheduled for Three-Day Weekend

The engineering works will take place from Saturday, May 2 through Monday, May 4, 2026, coinciding with Ireland's May Bank Holiday weekend. Transport for Ireland scheduled the major infrastructure projects during the holiday period to minimize weekday commuter impact, though the timing affects leisure travelers and families planning holiday outings. Officials strongly advised customers to check journey details before traveling and book intercity services in advance, as capacity on operating trains will be limited.

Riders Urged to Plan Alternative Routes

Passengers should expect significant delays and plan extra travel time during the May Bank Holiday weekend, officials said. Transport for Ireland directed riders to use the TFI Journey Planner or TFI Live App to map alternative routes, though officials didn't specify how much additional time travelers should budget for journeys. Replacement bus services will operate on limited schedules between affected stations, but exact timetables and bus stop locations weren't detailed in the announcement. Moovit provides real-time updates for Irish rail and bus services to help riders navigate the holiday disruptions.