For the record, I don't think it is reasonable to expect small stations like Edgeworthstown to be staffed for a large part of the day if at all. It might make sense to have somebody there to sell tickets for the morning rush but with TVMs that isn't really necessary. The staff in Edgeworthstown are very much appreciated, particularly Ross Carr who used to be there on freezing winter nights with a watering can of hot water to defrost your windscreen before he died so tragically young. But sadly, we can no longer afford or expect this level of service from Irish Rail.
However, it is reasonable to expect there to be a number to call to report loitering youths, etc. The issue is that a lot of minor anti-social behaviour isn't criminal but it does cause distress and discomfort to the majority of passengers. This kind of behaviour does not merit phoning the guards but it does need to be dealt with before it escalates into more serious incidents such as we saw a few weeks ago. In cold financial terms, this level of messing also drives away customers who will just take the car where they don't have to put up with the hassle.
Irish Rail's response lately seems to be to institute alcohol bans which just affects the law-abiding majority. Personally an alcohol ban wouldn't affect me as I always have to drive when I get home, but there is no point in introducing yet more rules that will be ignored.
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