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Unread 16-02-2016, 09:19   #1
James Howard
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Default Irish Rail and anti-social behaviour

So last night there was a fight on the 1905 to Sligo - in the middle of nowhere between Mullingar and Edgeworthstown. It didn't progress beyond roaring and shoving but one of them stormed off muttering about getting a hammer. I think the trolley attendant came close to getting himself a slap for looking at one of the protagonists the wrong way. There were elderly people and children on the train who were quite shaken but nobody got up to do anything about it - there is nothing the driver can do really except ring ahead to get the guards. Using the comms buttons is not really a solution as you have to walk the length of a carriage to get to them and this is likely to make you a victim.

I've rang the anti-social behaviour number before but this is very poorly publicised and as the last time I rang it went to messages, this is a waste of time. Really all I could do was let the station attendant in Edgeworthstown know what was going on and ask him to ring control. He's on his own in the middle of nowhere as well so he can't get involved.

This is an issue that goes beyond Irish Rail and it is tough to see how they can deal with it. All that can be done is to get the guards at a properly staffed station like Longford or Mullingar - anything else will just make the situation worse. Having a ticket attendant or security on board can help as it sends a message that low-level anti-social behaviour won't be tolerated but it's expensive. Another really cheap thing that would help a lot would be to have a text message number and publicise it on the trains that would allow people to discretely alert somebody. This could be monitored by an external security company if necessary.

I'm on a train where there is some sort of anti-social behaviour a couple of times a month - almost always the 1905 to Sligo. This varies from crowds of roaring and shouting undesireables getting pissed out of slabs of beer or 2-litres of cider to people fighting. In fairness, it is usual just the former but should the vast majority of people who just want to travel in peace with their children have to put up with this? Irish Rail seem to just wash their hands of it and I wouldn't be surprised if the trolley disappeared off this service in the near future as the poor person operating it has to put up with a lot of crap.
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Unread 16-02-2016, 11:19   #2
Dublin13
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At some DART and commuter stations I see them being treated every single night like a venue for young people to hang out and have a rave, including someone bringing a huge ghetto blaster, massive amounts of cans and they can party quite freely for many hours, the stations are a complete mess the next morning but nobody really cares, since the stations are the unstaffed ones, so since there is no staff there, as far as Irish rail are concerned, nothing happens.
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Unread 16-02-2016, 12:11   #3
Thomas J Stamp
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combating anti-social behaviour is one of the things we are highlighting with the political parties

http://www.railusers.ie/news/news.ph...2016&no=1.html
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Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 16-02-2016 at 12:37.
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Unread 16-02-2016, 12:53   #4
James Howard
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I saw that. However I don't think the focus on Transport police outside of Greater Dublin (and perhaps Cork commuter) area will be much help for inter-city and outer commuter services. It is certainly a good idea for high-population areas but any realistically-sized force will be spread way too thinly to be able to do much for inter-city services.

Even having a simple phone number (or preferably text / internet) service that you could use to discretely call for help would be a major improvement. It is absolutely unacceptable that the present phone number to call isn't manned for the entire hours of operation.

I never even got a response to the tweet I sent about this. They've got loads to time to be retweeting pretty pictures yet addressing a stand-up row on a train is outside their area of interest. I guess they don't want to be highlighting it.
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Unread 17-02-2016, 10:15   #5
Thomas J Stamp
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the twitter account is very selective.

in relation to rural areas the idea would be that a protocol be established between IE and the Garda Districts. TBH we thought such detail is beyond the basics of a four point plan ( ) and we live in the real world and realise that Garda resources outside the cities are pretty much decimated.

Case in point is that there would be around 21 Garda on duty in the whole of north tipp at any one time. Trains can only stop at stations, and transgressors cannot get off, but what if there is no Garda available till the fourth next station, or not at all till Dublin?
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Unread 17-02-2016, 10:46   #6
James Shields
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People are only resorting to Twitter because they don't get a response through other channels.

There needs to be a service that ensures an appropriate response at all times services are running, but particularly late at night when people are most likely to be drunk and rowdy. I would like a discrete sticker on every window of trains (and other public transport) with numbers to call or text in the event of antisocial or threatening behaviour, and assurances of a speedy response.

The sticker should include a unique reference for the train coach (or tram/bus) to quote in a call/message, and the operator should be able to identify the route and (hopefully) location, alert the driver, and if necessary arrange for Gardaí to meet the train at the next station.

I realise outside the major cities Garda availability is likely to be a problem.
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