Public transport returns to normal
THE best course of action as a blanket of snow settled on County Wicklow last week, was to stay put or don a good pair of boots and a warm coat and mount shank’s mare.
This week, all but the St Kevin’s bus service travelling from Glendalough to Dublin via Roundwood and Bray have returned to normal.
As the first snow fell on Wednesday morning, the 133 Bus Eireann service departed Wicklow town at 6 a.m., heading for Dublin airport. That bus turned back at Newtownmountkennedy as it approached a treacherous N11. The next scheduled bus didn’t run.
By Friday, there was no public transport at all running across the country.
On Wednesday morning, Irish Rail was struggling and there were some delays to DART and commuter services due to points freezing.
Darts and trains continued running until lunchtime the following day, and then ceased service in anticipation of the national red weather alert.
Wexford Bus, which takes in Arklow en-route to Dublin, only cancelled one service each way last Wednesday and otherwise operated normally. It ceased to operate on Thursday and returned to normal service on Monday.
Dublin Bus services were limited on Wednesday, with the 145 operating from Bray station rather than Ballywaltrim, and the 45a not serving Kilmacanogue.
There were no Dublin Bus or Bus Eireann services at all on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Trains began to resume service, limited though it was, on Saturday.
Dublin Bus services on Sunday were moving, but without any real time information and capacity was limited.
While main arteries were being ploughed and gritted by Wicklow County Council, minor roads were rendered impassable.
There was flooding across the track at Sandycove, putting DART and train links out of commission until that subsided.
The St Kevin’s service remains static at the moment and possibly for a number of days. Uplying lands are still snowed in and an appeal has been made for any cleared roads to be used for emergency access only.
St Kevin’s usually operates two services towards Dublin, and three towards Glendalough each day during the winter.