Gardaí warn against non-essential travel
GARDAÍ have warned people to avoid all non-essential travel as Hurricane Ophelia passes over the country today.
Public-transport bodies have urged passengers to check their websites for the latest information as the situation is expected to change throughout the day.
Last night, Bus Éireann said it was cancelling services nationwide from 5am to 2pm today.
Irish Rail said it would have crews out from early morning to clear tracks as needed.
“As it stands, all services on the vast majority of our networks will be operating,” spokesman Barry Kenny said last night.
“We have put speed restrictions on a number of routes and will have people with chainsaws on the early-morning trains to clear any obstructions.
“We are encouraging our customers to check our website and Twitter feed regularly as we may be announcing changes throughout the day.” However, services on the Limerick Junction to Waterford and Limerick to Ballybrophy line via Nenagh have been cancelled.
Delays are expected on Cork-Dublin, Tralee-Cork/ Dublin, Waterford-Dublin and Rosslare Europort-Dublin this morning.
Dublin Bus said morning peak services were expected to operate as normal, but there would be “significant disruption” to services between 9am and 6pm, and this might in- clude cancellation of all services during this time.
Dublin Airport will remain open throughout the day. However, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Air France and KLM have all cancelled some flights. CityJet cancelled all flights on its Dublin-London City Airport route. Ryanair said its flights were expected to operate as scheduled, but asked passengers to check its website and social media outlets for the latest updates.
“We’re advising all passen- gers to contact their airline or check their website before making their way to Dublin Airport,” said airport spokeswoman Siobhan O’Donnell.
Shannon Airport said it would remain open, but a number of flights have been cancelled, including Aer Lingus regional flights to and from Edinburgh and Birmingham, as well as a London Heathrow flight with Aer Lingus.
Ireland West Airport in Knock said it was anticipating flight disruptions.