You are absolutely correct. Adding stations and increasing journey times has the potential to make the overall service less attractive for other users.
Ideally all Dundalk and Drogheda peak period services would run express between Connolly and Skerries as there is more than sufficient demand to do between 0700 and 0830 and between 1630 and 1800. Indeed a service of this quality would probaly more than double rail's market share which has undoubtedly declined in recent years due to service quality issues and the quantum improvement in competing modes. If this were the context then reopening Dunleer would not be an issue as overall journey times would still be attractive for Dundalk commuters.
Unfortunately the future for longer distance rail commuters looks bleak as journey times increase and gross overcrowding persists due to a combination of inadequate infrastructure and service policy.
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