Updated 4.52pm
BUS DRIVERS ACROSS the country are on strike today, leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters either inconvenienced or stranded.
This is everything you need to know:
Who is going on strike and where?
Drivers at Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann went on strike at midnight and it will continue until midnight on Saturday. As opposed to last year’s strikes, which only affected the capital, this will affect customers across the country.
How can I get to and from work/college/wherever I need to go?
Nothing is running on Dublin Bus routes and Bus Éireann say that around 250,000 passenger journeys are disrupted but there are still ways of getting around.
Here’s what is running:
In Dublin, there are private services running across the county. The Swords Express bus service says that it will have extra capacity tomorrow and Saturday.
The Express Bus service, which operates around west Dublin suburbs is running as normal.
Cork‘s suburban bus network is run by Bus Éireann, so it has no services. Nor does Galway or Waterford.
Kilkenny, Nenagh, Thurles and Clonmel are still being served by Bernard Kavanagh and Sons’ private bus.
Limerick’s EuroBus service is unaffected by the strikes.
The strike has seen town services in Athlone, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Navan and Sligo cancelled.
None of the country’s 36 rural transport schemes have been affected.
Matthews Coaches commuter services around the IFSC and UCD in Dublin and from Dundalk, Drogheda, Laytown and Bettystown to the capital are running as normal.
Collins Coaches commuter services from Ardee, Slane, Balrath and Rathfeigh to Dublin are also unaffected.
Silver Dawn coaches are running their commuter services from Kildare, Monasterevin, Portarlington and Newbridge.
Kearns’ coaches commuter services is running, as is John McGinley coaches, Aircoach, McConnons Buses, Laverty, Glendalough Buses and Sillan Coach Tours.
In Wexford, there will be a contingency plan in place to avoid boarding problems.
In Galway, City Direct, Burkes Bus and Bus Link are running as normal.
Commuter rail services across the country are running, but Iarnród Éireann has warned that demand is “extremely high”, particularly in services departing Dublin city between 5pm and 6.30pm this evening.
Dublin Bus tickets, including season tickets will NOT be accepted.
A number of car parks in cities and towns have special offers today.
This guide shows how much parking costs across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford and Limerick.
You can also rent a car, but a lot of people have that idea, so you better get moving. Europcar says that traffic to its website has spiked over the last few days.
There’s also Twitter. During the last strike, people used the hashtag #liftfairy to offer and arrange lifts with strangers.
In Dublin and Cork, you can rent a GoCar.
You can also get a taxi.
Just don’t drive in the bus lanes.
Luas services are running as normal.
If you live close enough to work to rent a bike, there are schemes in Dublin, Cork and Galway and Limerick.
How will I get around the country?
With bus services cancelled, there is extra pressure on private operators and trains.
If you can, book these early.
National bus services like CityLink and Aircoach are running all day, as are InterCity train services. However, demand is higher than usual so be aware that services will be extra-busy.
Again, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann tickets will not be accepted.
Originally posted last night
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