Mayo councillors push for train carriage increases due to overcrowding

Westport based councillors called for action from Irish Rail, urging the addition of extra carriages on the increasingly busy route from Westport to Heuston Station.

At a municipal district meeting with Irish Rail regional representative, Derek Curran, Independent councillor Johno O’Malley said he had received numerous complaints from constituents forced to stand for the duration of the journey, a situation he believes is unacceptable.

“One thing I find very hard to understand is how so many people are left standing,” said Cllr O’Malley. “It’s not a proper way to travel, it’s a health and safety issue.”

Recalling a recent journey of his own, the councillor described how he left early in the morning to attend a funeral in Dublin and was left without food or drink for the entire day.

“I left at 7.10 a.m., had to get a taxi, got the 5.15 p.m. train after the funeral, and there was nothing to be had on the train, no tea, no food, nothing. I didn’t get anything until I was back in Westport. I’ve heard the same story from many people,” he added.

Irish Rail representative Derek Curran responded by stating that while standing passengers were a concern, it was not classified as a health and safety issue by the company.

“People standing isn’t a health and safety issue, it’s a comfort issue,” said Mr Curran.

“We encourage people to pre-book and reserve their seat," he added. "But if someone turns up and buys a ticket, we’re not going to turn them away.”

Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn also raised the lack of onboard amenities, pointing to the availability of coffee and snack vending machines on trains in other European countries such as Italy.

“It would be a huge addition,” said Cllr Flynn. “Having some form of refreshment service on board is appreciated by commuters, especially when they’re travelling long distances.”

Mr Curran acknowledged that the trolley service, which had been discontinued during the pandemic, had recently resumed on the Cork route.

He said he would seek further information on the possibility of reintroducing similar services on the Westport line, pending internal discussions and guidance from the National Transport Authority.