[ThomasJ]

From RTE News

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0111/rail.html

Commuter rail disruption after derailment
Friday, 11 January 2008 09:36
There has been severe disruption to northern line rail services in Dublin after a freight train derailed in the north of the county.

All commuter services for this morning's peak time are cancelled between Dundalk/ Drogheda and Dublin.

Around 11pm last night, six wagons of a train carrying mineral ore went off the tracks at Hacketstown, 3km south of Skerries, Co Dublin. It had been travelling from Tara Mines to North Wall, Dublin.

Iarnród Éireann has advised customers planning to use northern line services to make alternative travel arrangements and up to 7,000 people are expected to be affected by the disruption.

The company says north line DART services from Malahide and Howth are unaffected and will operate as normal.

Bus transfers will be provided on the mainline Dublin to Belfast rail service.

An investigation into how the derailment happened is also being launched.

Bus Éireann says that they are assisting Irish Rail in trying to procure buses through Bus Eireann contractors.

Bus Éireann says that they will keep buses on the affected routes out longer than normal to try to facilitate as many passengers as possible.