Dundalk-Belfast on rail strike day

dobsdave

That should say strike, lol
Looking to go from Dundalk to Belfast and back on Sunday,
any journey planner I see says to get a bus to dublin airport to connect.
Am I missing something? thought there would have been a direct route.

Thanks.

LXFlyer

No there is no direct bus I'm afraid.

Although you may be able to get one from Dundalk to Newry and then an Ulsterbus Goldliner from there.

Try www.a-b.ie to see what's available (it's the National Journey Planner).

Untick the train option.

Vic_08

Bus Eireann 101 Dundalk-Newry http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1316186614-100.pdf

Ulsterbus 238 Newry-Belfast http://journeyplanner.translink.co.uk/ext_webpdf_desk/TTB/EFA02__00008409_TP.pdf

horseburger

What is the reason that Newry and Banbridge are only drop off points from Dublin to Belfast on the Bus Eireann/Translink Ulster Bus service?

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1403523372-001X.pdf

I think it may be done that way, perhaps under NTA and Translink rules, so as not to take business away from the local Ulster Bus services from Newry to Belfast?

But at night coming from Belfast, the Sprucefield, Banbridge and Newry stops are pick up points only, at a time when there is no connecting service from Newry to Dundalk.

I think it would be a positive move if Newry was also a drop off point throughout the night on this service, considering this Belfast Dublin service stopped serving Drogheda and Dundalk in May 2011 and that there are no train services from Belfast to Dublin at that time of night.

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/09-dublinbelfast250920131.pdf?v=gchdgqy

At least then anyone coming from Belfast for Dundalk during the night - when there is less chance of the bus being as full as it can be during the day of people going to and from the airport - and no bus service connection from Newry to Dundalk after 6.25pm Monday-Saturday and 6.30pm on Sundays - could perhaps drive and park at Newry or get a taxi or a lift between Newry and Dundalk.

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1316186614-100.pdf

(Often the Dublin to Belfast buses are full after they leave the airport, but at night coming from Belfast to Dublin, for example the 1am and 3am, there is generally spare seats, that could accommodate anyone who may wish to alight at Newry, if that service was made available.)

LXFlyer

Presumably it's down to licensing issues - no idea why the night time services aren't normal stops along the route.

Day time it would be to stop unnecessarily high loads on the service and local traffic discommoding intercity traffic.