Wheelchair-user left alone on locked, dark train in Dublin station

Hollister11

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/wheelchair-user-left-alone-on-locked-dark-train-in-dublin-station-330155.html

This is an absolute disgrace. The fares are going up, and the service is going down. There should be a button to press beside the opening button, not notifies the drive that a ramp is needed, and someone is there to help them get off.

A man who uses a wheelchair was last week left alone on a locked train in Dublin as there were no staff available to help him disembark.

Gerard Gallagher was travelling between Sligo and Connolly Station in Dublin and was left alone on the train in an empty station after the other passengers had departed. There was no staff member available to provide a ramp and assist him from the train.

He told the Irish Examiner that it is not the first time he has experienced something like this on a train, but it was the first time in many years that he felt "completely disabled".

"I had to leave my mobility scooter in a wheelchair area and find a seat in a nearby carriage," Mr Gallagher says.

HeidiHeidi

:eek:

Words fail me.

Hilly Bill

I see someone was on a certain Facebook page :-)

LXFlyer

Bottom line is that someone should walk through the train once it has arrived at the terminal to check for anyone that may need assistance.

No one should be left in the position that man was - it's frankly degrading a human being.

end of the road

absolutely no excuse or defence for this. none

Jamie2k9

it's frankly degrading a human being.

Not excusing it but are you being a little over dramatic...

Jamie2k9

There should be a button to press beside the opening button,

There is, one beside the doors and the other beside the scooter. Had it being pressed whoever turned off the train provided it wasn't auto shutdown would of saw it on screen.

The man could of used the emergency exit handle but guess in darkness may of being difficult to see.

bigpink

Shur they prob want extra pay to do a walk through

LXFlyer

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Not excusing it but are you being a little over dramatic...

Not particularly - the man was left locked inside a train for over half an hour for no reason other than he was disabled. And if you read the article, it was at least the third time this has happened to him.


I suspect if you were in his shoes, you would have a different perspective.


What happened should never be allowed to happen. All it needs is for someone to walk down the train after it arrives at the terminus.

n97 mini

lxflyer wrote: »

Bottom line is that someone should walk through the train once it has arrived at the terminal to check for anyone that may need assistance.

What if someone wanted to get off an an intermediate station? They wouldn't be discovered till the train reached the terminal.

"I've been trying to get off since Collooney" he told staff in Connolly station.

Customer service would go up, and fare evasion would go down if all intercity trains had conductors.

LXFlyer

n97 mini wrote: »

What if someone wanted to get off an an intermediate station? They wouldn't be discovered till the train reached the terminal.

Customer service would go up, and fare evasion would go down if all intercity trains had conductors.

At an intermediate stations the driver would have been in the cab to answer the emergency call button.

This kind of thing really only could happen at a terminal.

end of the road

lxflyer wrote: »

At an intermediate stations the driver would have been in the cab to answer the emergency call button.

This kind of thing really only could happen at a terminal.

it should not be the drivers job to deal with such situations. conductors on intercity trains are a must. the driver has enough to do without being expected to deal with passenger issues.

Infini

Wouldnt be suprised myself if it turned out a factor in this was the complete lack of staff. Ridiculous that it could happen but im not suprised either since staffing levels on the ground are abysmal thanks in no part to management refusing to hire ground staff that are badly needed.

Jamie2k9

lxflyer wrote: »

Not particularly - the man was left locked inside a train for over half an hour for no reason other than he was disabled. And if you read the article, it was at least the third time this has happened to him.


I suspect if you were in his shoes, you would have a different perspective.


What happened should never be allowed to happen. All it needs is for someone to walk down the train after it arrives at the terminus.

I accept its unacceptable however it's not outrageous which it's being played out as and informing TD and so on.

1 - It is not Irish Rail's job to charge his mobile phone, given the person had 3 hours next to a plug and didn't use it it is his own fault.
2 - This person could walk so they could of easily walked to the door by the platform and looked out
3 - There is emergency door handle which he could of used, I don't buy an excuse as to why it was used as when you board the train you are advised to familiarize yourself with safety and evacuation notices.
4 - The red button should of being pressed long before by the OP, had it being then it would of being noted by staff member shutting down provided it wasn't automatic.

This person is more mobile than others and had power to do something more about it. As I say it shouldn't of happened but IE staff and assisting customers who are disabled is one of the more positive things about them across all staff levels.

it should not be the drivers job to deal with such situations. conductors on intercity trains are a must. the driver has enough to do without being expected to deal with passenger issues.

Driving the 22's is like riding a bike, simple very little work, no conductors are needed.

Wouldnt be suprised myself if it turned out a factor in this was the complete lack of staff. Ridiculous that it could happen but im not suprised either since staffing levels on the ground are abysmal thanks in no part to management refusing to hire ground staff that are badly needed.

Pay extra for them?

Hilly Bill

he would have got off the train if the staff knew he was there. If he was ment to get off in colooney then how was the staff in Connolly ment to know he was on it? They look after more than just the Sligo train.

end of the road

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I accept its unacceptable however it's not outrageous which it's being played out as and informing TD and so on.

1 - It is not Irish Rail's job to charge his mobile phone, given the person had 3 hours next to a plug and didn't use it it is his own fault.
2 - This person could walk so they could of easily walked to the door by the platform and looked out
3 - There is emergency door handle which he could of used, I don't buy an excuse as to why it was used as when you board the train you are advised to familiarize yourself with safety and evacuation notices.
4 - The red button should of being pressed long before by the OP, had it being then it would of being noted by staff member shutting down provided it wasn't automatic.

This person is more mobile than others and had power to do something more about it. As I say it shouldn't of happened but IE staff and assisting customers who are disabled is one of the more positive things about them across all staff levels.

debatible. there obviously was an excuse otherwise he would have done more.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Driving the 22's is like riding a bike, simple very little work, no conductors are needed.

bull. yes they are needed. trains have become a free for all in my experience since these vital staff were removed from the trains. i don't care if driving the train is like riding a bike (i don't buy it) the driver is not a customer services person, he/she is a train driver and must be allowed to concentrate on driving the train.

end of the road

Hilly Bill wrote: »

he would have got off the train if the staff knew he was there. If he was ment to get off in colooney then how was the staff in Connolly ment to know he was on it? They look after more than just the Sligo train.

i think the point is here that he wasn't able to inform someone he needed to get off at his stop because there is nobody aboard apart from the driver who has enough to do in driving the train and should only have to concentrate on doing that.

Hilly Bill

There is a button to press if need be. I'm baffled as to why he chose to go to a different carriage than his scooter Especially if he got on in Sligo. Why didn't he alert someone in Longford even? It doesn't add upup. If he was getting off in Connolly then it's a possibility that Sligo didn’t make the call to Connolly or tell the driver seeing that the driver didn't take him off at Connolly.

end of the road

Hilly Bill wrote: »

There is a button to press if need be. I'm baffled as to why he chose to go to a different carriage than his scooter Especially if he got on in Sligo.

no seats in the same carrige and he felt he couldn't be bothered with the hassle of asking someone to move maybe?

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Why didn't he alert someone in Longford even? It doesn't add upup.

maybe he did try alert someone in longford but there was nobody there?

Hilly Bill wrote: »

If he was getting off in Connolly then it's a possibility that Sligo didn’t make the call to Connolly or tell the driver seeing that the driver didn't take him off at Connolly.

who knows. i'm sure the truth will out. in saying that, the driver has enough to do without being expected to assist passengers.

Carawaystick

end of the road wrote: »

in saying that, the driver has enough to do without being expected to assist passengers.

It's hardly overly taxing a driver to walk through the train and make sure no passengers are left aboard. I mean bus drivers do it and they have to deal with turning left and right and opening doors, as well as starting and stopping.

noelfirl

I don't see anything about Collooney in the attached article. I think that is an imaginary embellishment on the part of a poster.

LXFlyer

Someone should have walked through the train - it doesn't have to be the driver.

That should be standard procedure at a terminal station.

The reference to Collooney was by n97 mini and was as I understand it purely hypothetical.

Jamie2k9

Carawaystick wrote: »

It's hardly overly taxing a driver to walk through the train and make sure no passengers are left aboard. I mean bus drivers do it and they have to deal with turning left and right and opening doors, as well as starting and stopping.

Bus drivers stand up and look back hardly walking through a train of up to 7 coaches. The driver who took the train to Connolly would of left the train seconds after it arrived. It would of being another staff member who shut it down if it was manually done.

bull. yes they are needed. trains have become a free for all in my experience since these vital staff were removed from the trains. i don't care if driving the train is like riding a bike (i don't buy it) the driver is not a customer services person, he/she is a train driver and must be allowed to concentrate on driving the train.

Once the free for all does not exceed the 30-34k salary annually per member off staff then its worth it.

As for driving the 22's. it really is, not a lot keep foot down and play with a few switches. The 201's are really easy to. I mean activating emergency equipment dons't stop the 22's unless the driver decides to.

If every employee in the country only performed what's in their contracts then our unemployment rate would be wiped out overnight. Anyway assisting a passenger is carried out when the train is not moving so he can concentrate on the passenger when it's stopped and driving when it's moving!

No an idea situation and some communication breakdown along the way.

LXFlyer

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I accept its unacceptable however it's not outrageous which it's being played out as and informing TD and so on.

1 - It is not Irish Rail's job to charge his mobile phone, given the person had 3 hours next to a plug and didn't use it it is his own fault.
2 - This person could walk so they could of easily walked to the door by the platform and looked out
3 - There is emergency door handle which he could of used, I don't buy an excuse as to why it was used as when you board the train you are advised to familiarize yourself with safety and evacuation notices.
4 - The red button should of being pressed long before by the OP, had it being then it would of being noted by staff member shutting down provided it wasn't automatic.

This person is more mobile than others and had power to do something more about it. As I say it shouldn't of happened but IE staff and assisting customers who are disabled is one of the more positive things about them across all staff levels.



Driving the 22's is like riding a bike, simple very little work, no conductors are needed.



Pay extra for them?

No matter what way you try to paint this, it should not have happened, and I'm sorry, but it is a disgrace that this man was left in the situation he was in.

It's the fact that this is at least the third time that this has happened to him that does (to me at least) make it unforgivable.

It just simply should not happen to anyone - able bodied or not.

Proper procedures and following them, something that the railway is founded upon should prevent this sort of thing from ever happening.

Speculating that he should have done this or the other is pointless as neither you nor I know ho mobile he is or not. The fact is that he shouldn't have to do any of the things you list above, and he well not have been able to do so.

Frankly I can't understand why anyone would even try to come up with an excuse or things that he ought to have done - at least Irish Rail have not done that - they've admitted it straight out.

end of the road

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Once the free for all does not exceed the 30-34k salary annually per member off staff then its worth it.

not if it causes customers to leave to the alternatives its not

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

As for driving the 22's. it really is, not a lot keep foot down and play with a few switches. The 201's are really easy to. I mean activating emergency equipment dons't stop the 22's unless the driver decides to.

If every employee in the country only performed what's in their contracts then our unemployment rate would be wiped out overnight. Anyway assisting a passenger is carried out when the train is not moving so he can concentrate on the passenger when it's stopped and driving when it's moving!

no, i expect the driver to be able to remain within his cab even when the train is stopped unless the train is at the terminus to ensure quick reaction to a train related problem

Hilly Bill

end of the road wrote: »

no seats in the same carrige and he felt he couldn't be bothered with the hassle of asking someone to move maybe?




maybe he did try alert someone in longford but there was nobody there?

.

who knows. i'm sure the truth will out. in saying that, the driver has enough to do without being expected to assist passengers.

He would have got a seat at Sligo at the wheelchair access tables, people tend to move if they see someone get out of a scooter/chair
The drivers do it every day on that line at unmanned stations.

lxflyer wrote: »

Someone should have walked through the train - it doesn't have to be the driver.

That should be standard procedure at a terminal station.

The reference to Collooney was by n97 mini and was as I understand it purely hypothetical.

It was in a quote so dont know where that came from.

Slippin Jimmy

Read this earlier on today. It's disappointing that this happened to this gentleman. I've often wondered what the procedure is for people with mobility issues when it comes to trains. Do they need to give the driver advanced notice, press the button just before the station? What happens in unmanned stations, does the driver get out to assist?

Hilly Bill

end of the road wrote: »

not if it causes customers to leave to the alternatives its not



no, i expect the driver to be able to remain within his cab even when the train is stopped unless the train is at the terminus to ensure quick reaction to a train related problem

How are wheelchairs meant to get off at unmanned stations?

GLaDOS

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

Read this earlier on today. It's disappointing that this happened to this gentleman. I've often wondered what the procedure is for people with mobility issues when it comes to trains. Do they need to give the driver advanced notice, press the button just before the station? What happens in unmanned stations, does the driver get out to assist?

My cousin is a wheelchair user and regular enough on the dart to visit her boyfriend. I know she has to phone the station she is disembarking at in advance and they get the ramp ready for her and assist her off the train.

Jamie2k9

Frankly I can't understand why anyone would even try to come up with an excuse or things that he ought to have done - at least Irish Rail have not done that - they've admitted it straight out.

I am not defending what happened however a little common sense would also of helped in this avoidable situation from the person. Don't twist what I have said.

no, i expect the driver to be able to remain within his cab even when the train is stopped unless the train is at the terminus to ensure quick reaction to a train related problem

Like what?

Any sort of faults with the train would require a system search, the driver would have to wait until any results are shown up

Should drivers be banned from going to the toilet at stops to or fag breaks?

Read this earlier on today. It's disappointing that this happened to this gentleman. I've often wondered what the procedure is for people with mobility issues when it comes to trains. Do they need to give the driver advanced notice, press the button just before the station? What happens in unmanned stations, does the driver get out to assist?

They are required to request assistance from staff and give details of them journey. The staff the call that station and let them know. If unnamed then it's up to driver.

Hilly Bill

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

Read this earlier on today. It's disappointing that this happened to this gentleman. I've often wondered what the procedure is for people with mobility issues when it comes to trains. Do they need to give the driver advanced notice, press the button just before the station? What happens in unmanned stations, does the driver get out to assist?

I agree that its disappointing that it happened.
All they need to do at a manned station is inform the staff member of what time train they want to get and their destination. The staff member would then put the passenger on the train and inform the driver that he has a chair and in which coach its in and where its going and would also ring the destination station. If the destination is unmanned the driver will assist.
If a wheelchair wants to board at an unmanned station the driver would assist and would ring control who would then ring the passengers destination telling them that they have a wheelchair on a certain train by giving the train i.d.
I believe it was a communication error with this one.

end of the road

Hilly Bill wrote: »

He would have got a seat at Sligo at the wheelchair access tables, people tend to move if they see someone get out of a scooter/chair

you would think, some don't.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

The drivers do it every day on that line at unmanned stations.

well, they shouldn't have to. their job is to drive the train, and they should be able to remain in the cab. another member of staff should be on the intercity trains to deal with passengers and ensure no fare evasion.

end of the road

Hilly Bill wrote: »

How are wheelchairs meant to get off at unmanned stations?

bring back the conductor. they can deal with this and other passenger issues, ensure order aboard our trains, ensure no fare evasion and more

Hilly Bill

end of the road wrote: »

you would think, some don't.



well, they shouldn't have to. their job is to drive the train, and they should be able to remain in the cab. another member of staff should be on the intercity trains to deal with passengers and ensure no fare evasion.

I wasnt aware that you are a DTE.

Hilly Bill

end of the road wrote: »

bring back the conductor. they can deal with this and other passenger issues, ensure order aboard our trains, ensure no fare evasion and more

So you want a babysitter?

Aard

ScienceNerd wrote: »

My cousin is a wheelchair user and regular enough on the dart to visit her boyfriend. I know she has to phone the station she is disembarking at in advance and they get the ramp ready for her and assist her off the train.

Yikes what an ordeal just to get the Dart! Compare it to the Luas where I've seen people with extremely restricted personal mobility use the service without needing help from a single other person. This model of completely independent public transport use is what we should strive for.

end of the road

Hilly Bill wrote: »

I wasnt aware that you are a DTE.

DTE?

Hilly Bill wrote: »

So you want a babysitter?

no, just someone specifically to deal with passenger issues, deal with fare evasion, and ensure people behave themselves.

Hilly Bill

Aard wrote: »

Yikes what an ordeal just to get the Dart! Compare it to the Luas where I've seen people with extremely restricted personal mobility use the service without needing help from a single other person. This model of completely independent public transport use is what we should strive for.

She is doing the right thing, and a few people do the same visually impaired and wheelchair users. Its an extra precaution in case one station didnt ring the other for whatever reason.

markpb

Aard wrote: »

Yikes what an ordeal just to get the Dart! Compare it to the Luas where I've seen people with extremely restricted personal mobility use the service without needing help from a single other person. This model of completely independent public transport use is what we should strive for.

It's much easier for Luas to be accessible. It was built with that in mind and all the trams are identical. The heavy rain network was built in a different era and has a combination of DMUs, EMUs, locos and even the odd fright train operating on it so the platforms need to be the right width and height to allow them all to pass. It's a laudable goal though.

Aard

Oh I know, I'm sure there's countless difficulties wrt retrofitting train stations. Also wrt to calling ahead -- absolutely a necessary precaution to ensure smooth travel. Whatever can be done to improve the mobility of people with mobility impairments, should be as far as practicable. Things look like they're generally going in the right direction though.

cython

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I accept its unacceptable however it's not outrageous which it's being played out as and informing TD and so on.

1 - It is not Irish Rail's job to charge his mobile phone, given the person had 3 hours next to a plug and didn't use it it is his own fault.

The article begs to differ on being beside a plug, perhaps it was a 29k?

"The power to the train was turned off and I was left in complete darkness for 35 minutes. All the doors closed around me. I tried contacting the office for Connolly Station by phone but there was no reply, shortly after this my phone died as there were no charge points on this train.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

2 - This person could walk so they could of easily walked to the door by the platform and looked out
3 - There is emergency door handle which he could of used, I don't buy an excuse as to why it was used as when you board the train you are advised to familiarize yourself with safety and evacuation notices.

Is this announcement on misused 29000 series trains (i.e. those on long haul duty), one of which may have been used for this in light of the lack of charging facilities? I don't seem to recall ever hearing it on one.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

4 - The red button should of being pressed long before by the OP, had it being then it would of being noted by staff member shutting down provided it wasn't automatic.

The OP? I didn't see anything to suggest the OP here is the impacted party.......

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

This person is more mobile than others and had power to do something more about it. As I say it shouldn't of happened but IE staff and assisting customers who are disabled is one of the more positive things about them across all staff levels.

The bolded is about the only part of this post that I can agree with, to be honest.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Driving the 22's is like riding a bike, simple very little work, no conductors are needed.

If it increases dwell times at stations because the driver has to go to the opposite end of the train (up to 7 cars as noted by other posters) while a conductor could position themselves in the area at a previous stop, I would beg to differ.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Pay extra for them?

end of the road

cython wrote: »

misused 29000 series trains

couldn't agree more. retchid junk

may06

Not excusing what happened..it shouldnt have happened...But given this isnt the first time that it happened to this person perhaps they themselves should have being more pro-active in preventing the situation from arising?
Why couldn't the passenger ask another passenger to assist? I travel the Sligo line every day, assisting another passenger is not that alien on it, i've done it myself on many an occasion. Quite simply get off the train (in my case, having been asked to assist) - either look for a member of staff at the station or if not possible, inform the driver. Either go out to the window of his cab or contact him on the intercom between carriages. On both occasions i helped a passenger, a member of staff at mullingar came to assist and another time, i made contact with the driver, who offered assistance.

There obviously was some break down in communication through out the journey, and unless the passenger couldnt speak for himself and request help, then i feel he should have erred on the side of caution to protect himself. The train drivers will oblige if asked for help, or they will ring ahead. There was enough people/passengers on that train that the disabled individual could have turned to for help.
It's very unfortunate it happened I agree but a bit more pro-activity with hindsight in mind, from the passenger himself may have gone some way to preventing this happening again. I find it bizzare almost coincidental in fact that it happened to the same person 3 times?

end of the road

may06 wrote: »

Not excusing what happened..it shouldnt have happened...But given this isnt the first time that it happened to this person perhaps they themselves should have being more pro-active in preventing the situation from arising?
Why couldn't the passenger ask another passenger to assist? I travel the Sligo line every day, assisting another passenger is not that alien on it, i've done it myself on many an occasion. Quite simply get off the train (in my case, having been asked to assist) - either look for a member of staff at the station or if not possible, inform the driver. Either go out to the window of his cab or contact him on the intercom between carriages. On both occasions i helped a passenger, a member of staff at mullingar came to assist and another time, i made contact with the driver, who offered assistance.

There obviously was some break down in communication through out the journey, and unless the passenger couldnt speak for himself and request help, then i feel he should have erred on the side of caution to protect himself. The train drivers will oblige if asked for help, or they will ring ahead. There was enough people/passengers on that train that the disabled individual could have turned to for help.
It's very unfortunate it happened I agree but a bit more pro-activity with hindsight in mind, from the passenger himself may have gone some way to preventing this happening again. I find it bizzare almost coincidental in fact that it happened to the same person 3 times?

how do you know he didn't ask other passengers, and they weren't in a position to help him. there should be another member of staff aboard long distance trains to deal with this sort of thing. thats it.

may06

end of the road wrote: »

how do you know he didn't ask other passengers, and they weren't in a position to help him. there should be another member of staff aboard long distance trains to deal with this sort of thing. thats it.

Seriously? Not one passenger could help, or go for help, from an entire carriage IF he did ask?
There is staff on board the train - there's the driver and often enough the trolley attendant. If you don't speak up in life then you won't be heard.

end of the road

may06 wrote: »

Seriously? Not one passenger could help, or go for help, from an entire carriage IF he did ask?
There is staff on board the train - there's the driver and often enough the trolley attendant. If you don't speak up in life then you won't be heard.

the drivers job is to drive the train. i expect them to be able to concentrate on it without having to deal with passenger issues. the trolly person does not actually work for irish rail, therefore it is not their job to be dealing with passenger issues nor should they be expected to. there needs to be a person of irish rail staff aboard the train to deal with passenger and revenue issues. getting rid of the current RPU and changing the staff's job description to deal with passenger issues as well as revenue, and having them on long distance trains at all times will deal with issues like this, and ensure fare evasion is actually dealt with.

Carawaystick

I saw dart drivers do this often in Malahide, walk through the train and check there were no passengers left on when it was going out of service.

colosus1908

I believe their should be some kind off people employed for the sole purpose of this.

Peppa Pig

may06 wrote: »

Seriously? Not one passenger could help, or go for help, from an entire carriage IF he did ask?

In fairness he was waiting on a ramp, which IR provide. It would be strange to ask a passenger to get one for him. It's also normal not to be looked after until all the other passengers have disembarked.

Assuming he used a ramp in Sligo (presume he had to) then IR were aware he would need one in Connolly. Their communication broke down and this is what must be fixed.

foggy_lad

end of the road wrote: »

the drivers job is to drive the train. i expect them to be able to concentrate on it without having to deal with passenger issues. the trolly person does not actually work for irish rail, therefore it is not their job to be dealing with passenger issues nor should they be expected to. there needs to be a person of irish rail staff aboard the train to deal with passenger and revenue issues. getting rid of the current RPU and changing the staff's job description to deal with passenger issues as well as revenue, and having them on long distance trains at all times will deal with issues like this, and ensure fare evasion is actually dealt with.

We would all like to see conductors back on buses and trains and the bars serving draught stout to wash down a feed of chips and the famous railway hang sandwiches back on Mk3's on all intercity routes, but the reality of the ever changing Irish Rail is that these yesteryear pheasantries are gone for good in favour of low cost highly efficient rail travel for the masses rather than catering for people who might want to stand at a bar all the way to cork or sligo.

The way people use the trains has changed and the demographic of passengers has also changed and Irish Rail had to change with the times or fail and bring out the lifting train for a full sweep of the country.

Conductors and train hosts all cost money and that is why there are less and less of them, a conductor years ago might have earned enough to keep himself and family well off in a council house or low cost housing estate but now nobody will work for less that minimum wage and when employers costs are included on a persons salary the cost is just too high. Fares are increasing but nowhere near as much as the cost of living and the rise in earnings for train staff.

People harp on again and again about "they bought new trains and left perfectly good almost new trains to rot", This is simply not the case!

What was done was protecting the future of rail travel in Ireland by modernising the rail fleet to such a degree that costs well into the future will only be a fraction of what they would have been with the Mk3's and Mk4's(This includes costs of buying the 22000's or refurbishing the Mk3's and Mk4's).

As for this unfortunate man, well he could really have done more for himself but unfortunately we are fast becoming so reliant on "what someone else should have done" that we are becoming unable to look out for ourselves!

In many countries disabled people are left to make their own arrangements for getting on and off trains, the company or station provides ramps etc but if your destination station has no ramp it is up to you to find this out and have someone there to assist you.

Jem72

Having a combined conductor / ticket checker (like they had 10 years ago) would be revenue positive on the Sligo line. Most of the smaller stations are unmanned for half of operating hours and even if they were manned, that still doesn't help with enforcement. Even the 1705 down train these days rarely has a ticket checker. You can be sure that on a Friday evening a good 10 to 20% of passengers are travelling on Sydney Parade to Booterstown tickets.

It is just silly to expect the driver to potentially have to walk back 7 cars to help a person with restricted mobility off. It could easily take him 10 minutes to get a single passenger off the train. You can't expect passengers to help - even if they wanted to, the ramps are usually locked. A conductor would also be in a position to help defuse the seat booking rows that happen all too often.

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect there be a single customer service staff member on board a train that carries nearly 500 passengers. We're not talking about the old days of Mark 2s where every train carried a guard, a ticket checker, a barman and a trolley attendant along with a driver or two.