‘Crowded’ DART services are criticised

SERIOUS concerns have been expressed about crowded conditions on Southside DART services during peak times.

Dun Laoghaire TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) is to raise the issue with the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, after receiving a large number of complaints from her constituents.

Along with party colleague Simon Harris TD, she has launched an online survey urging commuters to make their views known on Irish Rail’s services.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor has called on the rail company to immediately increase the number of carriages on peak DART services to alleviate the situation.

“This is a problem that affects commuters throughout the Dun Laoghaire constituency,

? she told Southside People.

“In some cases there is not enough room for people to board the trains, making them wait for the next one. This results in them being late for work, school or college.

“I have heard reports of distressed children crying on trains due to crowded conditions and it can be next to impossible for parents with buggies to board. This makes for a very stressful commute at a time when we should be encouraging people to use public transport and leave their cars at home.

?

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said she appreciated that Irish Rail is attempting to make savings by scaling back on the number of carriages it provides at different times.

“However, people pay a lot of money to travel by train and have a right to expect a reliable service,

? she added.

“Deputy Harris and I plan to seek a meeting with the chief executive of Irish Rail to relay the concerns of commuters.

?

A number of comments posted by commuters on the SurveyMonkey.com website were highly critical of the DART service.

“They are going to turn people off using the DART by packing us in like sardines,

? one passenger said.

Another stated:

“Very uncomfortable, a den of winter germs. Schoolchildren unable to get on, young children panicking.

?

In response to Mary Mitchell O’Connor’s complaints, Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said the company had made recent changes to off-peak time trains, which now operate predominantly as two-carriage DARTs.

“This is with the exception of times of events and other heavier demand, when we scale train sizes upwards,

? Mr Kenny told Southside People.

“At peak times we have over the past 18 months operated a mix of four-carriage, six carriage and eight-carriage DARTs.

“We’ve closely monitored numbers travelling to ensure we provide as efficient a service as possible by matching train size to actual demand. This includes allowing for full loading with high levels of standing, which is the norm in urban rail systems internationally at peak times.

?

Mr Kenny pointed out that exchequer funding to Irish Rail had reduced by e64.5m, or 34 per cent, since 2008 with further reductions next year.

“We therefore must operate as efficiently as possible in managing our costs and deliver fuel savings with associated environmental benefits,

? he added.

“We want to maintain our service frequency so train size is our main means of adjusting to current demand levels.

?

Mr Kenny said Irish Rail would increase train sizes if services were unable to cater for the numbers travelling.

“Indeed we have already done so with some peak and off-peak services as demand patterns change,

? he stated.

“This will be a process of ongoing monitoring and review.

“Should we see significant growth in demand, we have the fleet capacity to respond to this.

?