Irish Rail keeping users in dark
Monday August 30 2010
I would like to draw your attention to a new take on a policy being operated by Irish Rail of keeping its customers in the dark.
For the past two months, passengers on the 23.10 Heuston to Kildare train have had to make do with travelling on a bus (save for the time, of course, when the bus failed to turn up and a fleet of taxis had to be hastily organised).
This is the second occasion in the past 18 months that train passengers have been handed a bus service and a tardy arrival to their destinations.
Last year, we were told it was caused by upgrading of "engineering works".
Despite repeated inquiries as to when these "works" would finish, the response from Irish Rail staff and their offices varied between total silence to the classic "it's out of our hands as we're depending on the contractors".
In this day and age, isn't the company obliged to give the contractor a deadline for a finishing date?
It comes as no surprise, then, that Irish Rail can't reveal how long this bus substitution will operate.
Not even a ballpark estimate.
Two months, three months, two years, three years? No, I'm afraid there's absolutely no confirmation from the company.
More worryingly, a new problem has been foisted upon customers.
For the three nights of August 24, 25 and 26, when passengers were dropped off at Newbridge Railway Station at around a quarter-past midnight, they were left in the pitch dark as the lights for the car park were all switched off.
This, by the way, is a "refurbished" car park, which they have to pay extra to use, and is operated by a parking contractor.
Apart from not being able to see where you are walking and the inherent danger of tripping over some object, this latest development is particularly disquieting from a security point of view.
One young woman the other night asked me if I would walk her to her car, as she was afraid of getting attacked.
The mind boggles at the dangers that exist with turning the lights off in a car park at night.
I cannot figure out the reasoning behind this open invitation to local vandals -- I have tried to get a response over the phone and was directed to (don't laugh) Portlaoise Railway Station with my query, but I got no answer.
Then again, is this Irish Rail's new policy of keeping customers in the dark in every possible way?
It was only a couple of days ago that I heard company spokesman Barry Kenny boasting on the radio that Irish Rail don't operate their old trains any more and possess one of the best fleet of trains in Europe.
Indeed, Mr Kenny, impressive new rolling stock, but same old laughing stock.
Shane Scanlon
Newbridge, Co Kildare
Irish Independent
