The operators of the Luas have organised private buses to ferry tens of thousands of people into Dublin during tram strikes on St Patrick’s Day.
Amid no sign of a deal on pay claims for drivers, Transdev said it will run special services from its park and ride facilities into the city centre.
Two grades of workers are back in talks with management after reducing demands for wage hikes, but company bosses and Siptu representatives remain deadlocked over drivers.
Strikes are planned for St Patrick’s Day, when about a quarter of a million people are on the streets of the city centre, and again the Easter Weekend March 26-27 – and two further weekends, April 2-3 and 23-24.
Transdev said it has hired buses to carry the tens of thousands of people who would normally use a tram to get into the city to see the annual parades.
The move will widely be seen as an attempt to break the strike but also stave off potential gridlock on streets around the city centre and ease massive demand for other public transport services.
The Red Line buses will go from Cheeverstown and the Red Cow to Wolfe Tone Quay beside the Croppies’ Acre Memorial Park and out of the city from Victoria Quay, between the entrance to the Guinness brewery and Heuston Station.
The Green Line will be served by buses from Carrickmines, Balally and Stillorgan to Adelaide Road between Charlemont Street and Richmond Street South and outbound from Hatch Street Upper.
“Passengers intending on using the Special Bus Service should allow extra time to travel,” a spokeswoman said.
“Transdev once again apologise to Luas customers for the inconvenience employee strike action is causing.”
The Luas replacement bus services will run from 7.30am to 7.00pm every 10 minutes and pre-paid tram tickets will be accepted.
The Workplace Relations Commission is chairing talks between the union and management over the pay claims.
