Gardaí patrol Cork trains in bid toimprove safety on public transport

Gardaí patrolled Cork train services on Tuesday as part of a national day of community engagement aimed at improving rail safety.

An Garda Síochána, in partnership with Iarnród Éireann, Luas operator Transdev Ireland, and the National Transport Authority (NTA), conducted a national day of engagement as part of Operation Twin Tracks, which aims to prevent and detect antisocial behaviour on public transport services.

The objectives of the day of engagement were to ensure public safety by addressing antisocial behaviour, protect life and property, engage with the public, provide crime prevention advice, and to support Irish Rail and Transdev personnel in tackling these issues.

Vindicating the human rights of each individual, preventing crime, bringing criminals to justice, through the detection, investigating of crime, and improving rail safety were also among the priorities.

Engage

Chief superintendent Jane Humphries, Garda National Community Engagement, said: “An Garda Síochána, as part of Operation Twin Tracks, encourages and supports this ongoing opportunity to engage positively with the users of public transport, Iarnród Éireann, Transdev Ireland (Luas), and the NTA.

“This engagement day affords An Garda Síochána the opportunity to maintain a visible presence on board these services, encouraging security and safety on board while preventing and detecting antisocial behaviour.”

Luas and Dart services in Dublin were patrolled, as were Intercity routes including Cork city, as well as Glounthane, Cobh, Midleton, Charleville, Mallow, Banteer, Millstreet, and Rathmore train stations.

Local community policing members, supported by crime prevention officers, also operated community engagement stands at Connolly and Heuston stations and at various hubs across the regions.

Complaints

Earlier this year, on foot of a Freedom of Information request, The Echo highlighted complaints made to Iarnród Éireann about physical violence, open drug use, theft, sexual assault, verbal abuse, and people drinking and shouting on Cork trains.

At the time, National Bus and Rail Union general secretary Dermot O’Leary told The Echo: “Our people and people who travel on trains are exposed to, quite frankly, thugs and scumbags. Our members are at the end of their tether, saying they are afraid to go to work in the morning and there’s certain trains they don’t want to travel on.”