DART Services Resume After Overhead Line Damage Disrupts Commuters

DART services between Pearse and Dún Laoghaire have resumed following significant damage to overhead line equipment that caused widespread disruption on Thursday and Friday. The disruption, initially reported on March 5th, 2026, impacted commuters throughout the Greater Dublin area.

Disruption Details

Iarnród Éireann, the operator of the DART, suspended services between Pearse and Dún Laoghaire after the damage was discovered. The outage affected peak service times, causing significant delays and requiring commuters to find alternative transportation. Significant damage to overhead line equipment was the root cause of the issue.

Services were operating between Howth/Malahide and Pearse and between Dún Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones, although delays were possible. Irish Rail’s live map provided real-time updates on service status.

Rosslare Services Also Affected

The disruption extended beyond the core DART route, impacting the Rosslare InterCity service. Iarnród Éireann implemented bus transfers between Connolly and Bray for Rosslare services, but commuters experienced significant delays due to bus availability and traffic conditions. RTÉ News reported that DART services would be disrupted until Friday, March 6th, 2026.

Cause of the Damage

The damage occurred at Grand Canal Dock, specifically impacting the overhead lines. Although the exact cause of the damage is still under investigation, Iarnród Éireann confirmed the extent of the repairs needed.

Leap Card Flexibility

During the disruption, Iarnród Éireann allowed Leap cards to be used on all TFI transport methods in affected areas, subject to capacity, providing commuters with alternative travel options.

Service Restoration

As of Friday, March 6th, 2026, services have been restored between Pearse and Dún Laoghaire. Commuters are advised to check Irish Rail’s website for the latest updates and potential residual delays.