Latest news with #IrishRail
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Child sexual assault and indecent exposures among 4,300 complaints made to Irish Rail last year
Irish Rail received nearly 4,300 messages to its dedicated text line for reporting antisocial behaviour on train services last year, with passengers complaining about drug use, violence, sexual assault, and indecent exposure. Among the incidents reported in 2024 include a man defecating in the middle of a carriage, a fist-fight involving a man and a woman, a passenger brandishing a sword, and a child allegedly being sexually assaulted. A government TD is now calling for a dedicated public transport unit of An Garda Síochána. Records released under freedom of information laws suggest that drugs are regularly being openly abused on train services, with children even observed smoking cannabis on the Dart in January of last year. In February, one commuter texted Irish Rail to report a couple openly using cocaine on a train service with their baby in a pram in front of them, while a man on a train near Killiney last May was reported to have removed his trousers while smoking cannabis. Alcohol consumption was also a recurring problem. On February 29, a 'violent, aggressive drunk man' was removed from a train at Clara, after which distressed passengers watched him 'vomiting and trying to fight'. In July, a passenger contacted Irish Rail to report that a 75-year-old man had exposed himself to a young girl on an afternoon train service. She was 'visibly upset', they said. Similarly, a man on a train heading for Sydney Parade in Dublin last June was reported for 'exposing his d**k', and a man on a train at Booterstown was 'exposing his bare arse to young girls' in January. There were a number of complaints about couples engaging in 'sexually explicit acts' on trains. On October 11, an individual reported that two fellow passengers were 'openly fingering each other and making out'. In August, a troubling text message reported that a child had been sexually assaulted by a group of adolescents on a train early in the evening. The child disembarked at Bayside station, according to the report. Also in August, a passenger was made to feel very uncomfortable by a man who was walking up and down the train dressed as a clown. In March, a man boarded a train to Maynooth with a sword, according to two reports. In late July, a passenger reported that a man and woman were punching each other on board a train, noting that 'she had him in a headlock at one point'. On April 9, a knife fight was reported on the Sligo-Dublin service around 11am, while a man 'slapped' a girl during a 'lovers' quarrel' on the Howth train near Connolly Station in January. There were frequent instances of racist abuse on train services last year. In March, it was reported that two males were racially abusing 'a little boy' on a train, while a woman and her child were the targets of racist abuse near Connollly Station in September. In May, passengers on a train at Howth Junction had a rock thrown through the window, while one commuter reported that a group of 'young lads' had been travelling on the outside of the train before jumping off at Lansdowne Road. A man was reported to have defecated on a train in January and, in an unrelated incident, a passenger discovered 'an actual bag of faeces' in the middle of a carriage in September while travelling to Bray. There were several complaints about the presence of blood on walls, windows and seats on carriages, as well as 'puddles' of vomit on floors, and 'dog poo' on some of the seats. A number of passengers who reported antisocial or criminal behaviour to Irish Rail via the text line said they had to get off the train for their own safety. Reaction Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin described the incidents described in the text messages as 'awful', and said there was a need to expedite plans for public transport policing contained in the Programme for Government. 'What's proposed at this stage is a standalone public transport service. My own preference would be that it would be a unit of An Garda Síochana,' he said. 'This is why we definitely need to have more monitors, more proactive and visible deterrents on public transport – on carriages and platforms. Nobody wants to see these awful elements, particularly for youngsters. We need to ensure they are safe.' A spokesman for Irish Rail said antisocial behaviour was a societal issue to which train services were not immune, but added that there were a range of proactive and preventative measures in place to address it. 'The text line allows people to discreetly alert us to issues of concern, and is live monitored through our central security hub, who are in direct contact with our security teams on the network to co-ordinate response,' he explained. 'The vast majority of 50.1 million journeys on our network take place without incident, but we will continue to prioritise prevention of incidents, and rapid response working with our partners.' Read More Gardaí rostered at Cork hospital due to violence towards staff
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Drug use, defecation, and sexual assault: 4,300 messages sent to Irish Rail text line
Irish Rail received nearly 4,300 messages to its dedicated text line for reporting antisocial behaviour on train services last year, with passengers complaining about drug use, violence, sexual assault, and indecent exposure. The shocking incidents that were reported in 2024 include a man defecating in the middle of a carriage, a fist fight involving a man and a woman, a passenger brandishing a sword, and a child being sexually assaulted. Advertisement The appalling insight into criminal and antisocial behaviour on the country's rail network has prompted a government TD to call for a dedicated public transport unit of An Garda Síochána. Records released under freedom of information laws suggest that drugs are regularly being openly abused on train services, with children even observed smoking cannabis on the Dart in January of last year. In February, one commuter texted Irish Rail to report a couple openly using cocaine on a train service with their baby in a pram in front of them, while a man on a train near Killiney last May was reported to have removed his trousers while smoking cannabis. Alcohol consumption was also a recurring problem. On February 29th, a 'violent, aggressive drunk man' was removed from a train at Clara, after which distressed passengers watched him 'vomiting and trying to fight'. Advertisement In July, a passenger contacted Irish Rail to report that a 75-year-old man had exposed himself to a young girl on an afternoon train service. She was 'visibly upset', they added. Similarly, a man on a train heading for Sydney Parade in Dublin last June was reported for 'exposing his d**k', and a man on a train at Booterstown was 'exposing his bare arse to young girls' in January. In May, passengers on a train at Howth Junction were shocked when a rock was thrown through the window, while one commuter reported that a group of 'young lads' had been travelling on the outside of the train before jumping off at Lansdowne Road. A man was reported to have defecated on a train in January and, in an unrelated incident, a passenger discovered 'an actual bag of faeces' in the middle of a carriage in September while travelling to Bray. Advertisement There were a number of complaints about couples engaging in 'sexually explicit acts' on trains. On October 11th, an individual reported that two fellow passengers were 'openly fingering each other and making out'. In late July, a passenger reported that a man and woman were punching each other on board a train, noting that 'she had him in a headlock at one point'. The woman subsequently disembarked at Sandymount. There were several complaints about the presence of blood on walls, windows and seats on carriages, as well as 'puddles' of vomit on floors, and 'dog poo' on some of the seats. In August, a troubling text message reported that a child had been sexually assaulted by a group of adolescents on a train early in the evening. The child disembarked at Bayside station, according to the report. Advertisement There were frequent instances of racist abuse on train services last year. In March, it was reported that two males were racially abusing 'a little boy' on a train, while a woman and her child were the targets of racist abuse near Connollly Station in September. In August, a passenger was made to feel very uncomfortable by a man who was walking up and down the train dressed as a clown. In March, a man boarded a train to Maynooth with a sword, according to two reports. On April 9th, a knife fight was reported on the Sligo-Dublin service around 11am, while a man 'slapped' a girl during a 'lovers' quarrel' on the Howth train near Connolly Station in January. A number of passengers who reported antisocial or criminal behaviour to Irish Rail via the text line said they had to get off the train for their own safety. Advertisement Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin described the incidents described in the text messages as 'awful', and said there was a need to expedite plans for public transport policing contained in the Programme for Government. 'What's proposed at this stage is a standalone public transport service. My own preference would be that it would be a unit of An Garda Síochana,' he said. Ireland Housing target of 41,000 'not realistic', Minister... Read More 'This is why we definitely need to have more monitors, more proactive and visible deterrents on public transport – on carriages and platforms. Nobody wants to see these awful elements, particularly for youngsters. We need to ensure they are safe.' A spokesman for Irish Rail said antisocial behaviour was a societal issue to which train services were not immune, but added that there were a range of proactive and preventative measures in place to address it. 'The text line allows people to discreetly alert us to issues of concern, and is live monitored through our central security hub, who are in direct contact with our security teams on the network to coordinate response,' he explained. 'The vast majority of 50.1 million journeys on our network take place without incident, but we will continue to prioritise prevention of incidents, and rapid response working with our partners.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major delays alert after multi-vehicle collision on M50 as Irish Rail service SUSPENDED until ‘further notice'
THERE are multiple delays facing road users this morning as a number of incidents are causing disruption. And 3 The M50 faced major delays this morning Credit: Alamy 3 And Irish Rail passengers are facing disruptions this morning Credit: Getty Images - Getty The first incident is a multi- Lane three has been affected. Traffic bosses are warning "delays may occur" due to this multi-vehicle collision. Transport Infrastructure Ireland said: "Some delays to your journey may occur. Read more in Motors "When approaching the collision location, drive with caution, reduce your speed and please obey instructions from emergency services." And on the But the incidents has now been cleared, but drivers may still see some delays. Traffic bosses also posted a congestion report on Most read in Motors Posting on "Delays on routes approaching Dublin: N2 (S) Finglas, N3 (E) Blanchardstown. N4 (E) J3 - J2, N7 (E) J4 - J1a. I'm an Irish driving instructor and here is how you can pass your test the first time "Currently there are no delays on routes around Cork." CLEAN UP But the rest of the M50 motorway is clearer than usual this morning following the clear up of two earlier incidents. Hours ago, a pedestrian on the M50 between Junction 16 Cherrywood and Junction 15 Carrickmines (Northbound) has affected the hard shoulder. And in a separate location, debris on the road caused delays to traffic. This occurred on the M50 between Junction 12 Firhouse and Junction 13 Dundrum (Southbound). RAIL DELAYS And The issue arose following "a signalling damage" due to an ESB fault. And replacement bus transfers will operate "until further notice." Posting on social media to alert passengers this morning rail bosses said: "Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh: Replacement bus transfers will operate until further notice. Due to a signalling issue on this route." As a result of this the bus transfers are in place from Limerick to Ballybrophy. Rail bosses have said that three bus routes have been placed for commuters following this disruption. They added: "Bus transfers will operate: 9am Ballybrophy to Limerick via Nenagh. 5.10pm Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh. 7:05pm Ballybrophy to Limerick via Nenagh. "Repairs are taking place following signalling damage due to an 3 Traffic bosses are warning 'delays may occur' due to a multi-vehicle collision on M50 Credit: TIITraffic
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork's €1.5bn commuter rail service will have 'multi-generational impact', says project leader
The €1.5bn investment in developing a commuter rail service in Cork will have a 'multi-generational impact' lasting up to a century, the man overseeing the massive project has said. Irish Rail's AJ Cronin, the delivery manager for the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) programme, was speaking as Irish Rail launched a public consultation on the second phase of the programme, which includes proposals for eight new commuter rail stations in the metropolitan region, five of which could be built by 2030. The company has now published detailed maps and a raft of reports linked to Phase 2 and invited feedback on its preferred locations for: the train stations at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water-Rock; two new park-and-ride facilities on the city's northside, one at the Blarney station near Blarney Business Park, and one at the Blackpool station near Blackpool Shopping Centre; for a new fleet depot near Water-Rock in East Cork; its proposals for the full electrification of the fleet. A second round of consultation will be held before a planning application is made next year. Mr Cronin said Irish Rail wants to fast-track the delivery of the stations, with demand-study reports already justifying the construction of five, which could be built by 2030 pending planning and funding approval. Other stations, including Monard and Ballynoe, are in areas earmarked for thousands of new homes, and will be delivered as the housing is delivered. The CACR is the largest ever investment in the region's rail network and aims to provide high-frequency capacity for trains to run up to every 10 minutes across each of the three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton, and Cobh – handling up to 16 million passenger journeys a year. Mr Cronin said: The impact of delivering significant rail infrastructure is for 100-plus years. It's multi-generational, and will support long-term growth in the economy and in the city and country region. Work on Phase 1 of CACR involves an estimated €400m investment in the twin-tracking of the line to East Cork and new signalling systems along the three commuter lines, both due for completion next year, and construction of a new through-platform at Kent Station, completed in April. Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party Cllr Dan Boyle, said new stations at locations like Blackpool and Dunkettle could actually be built by 2028, and said it's a case of build it and they will come. 'It will be used. We have made the start, we are doing more than we've done before, and we can physically see the changes having a benefit, in terms of more train services, more people using public transport,' he said. 'If we don't invest and don't do the work quickly, we are running to stand still. In fact we are running backwards up a hill." Chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O'Sullivan, said for every euro the State invests in projects like this in Ireland's second city, 'the country will get it back in spades'. 'This is an exemplar of plan-led development – looking at where our growth is going to be and building for that growth,' she said. 'Cork City won't be a car-focused city in the future. It cannot be, it's just not sustainable as we grow to 335,000 people.' Read More Funding to electrify Cork rail reaches next EU round
The Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
CART Bai: Ireland's second city is getting its own electrified rail line
IRISH RAIL HAS announced plans to build eight new stations and electrify the commuter line in Co Cork to build the county's equivalent to the capital's DART network. Eight new stations will be added at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water-Rock. The introduction of an electric fleet hopes to reduce current congestion levels and cut carbon emissions from the line. A new depot at Ballyrichard More will be required for these new carriages. 'CART' services or, as Irish Rail calls it, the 'Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme' will operate every ten miinutes across three commuter lines to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh. Advertisement Those three stops are now set to get a facelift to cater for future increases capacity. All stations will also receive upgrades to their accessibility obligations, to make sure passengers gain unassisted access to services. Two of the new stations, Blarney/Stoneview and Dunkettle, have also been identified as stops best-suitable for park and ride services. It is hope that the upgrades will lead to better connections between rail, bus, cycleways and Cork's future Luas line . Members of the public are asked to come forward during one of its seven upcoming consultation events placed around the Rebel county and online . Transport minister Darragh O'Brien has asked the public in Cork to come forward and read Irish Rail's proposals. Junior transport ministers Seán Canney and Jerry Buttimer have welcomed the second phase of Iarnród Éireann's Cork upgrades. Irish Rail boss Jim Meade and the National Transport Authority's investment manager Marcello Corsi have both encouraged the public to engage with the consultation events. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
