DART disruptions 'necessary' but could end today, SIPTU claims

The DART chaos could be over by today, according to SIPTU. The union said it is making every effort to end the row between drivers and Irish Rail.

The disagreement is over carriage-coupling checks which need to be carried out before trains leave their depots.

A refusal to inspect them led to major delays and overcrowding this morning, as DARTs have been running with as little as two carriages instead of four, six or eight.

But SIPTU's Paul Cullen says it was necessary to raise the issue, and has been ongoing since September 24.

The coupler check is to ensure electrical connections are made correctly, so that doors will operate as intended.