Cork-Dublin rail line like a 'drug corridor'
Asked if the Cork-Dublin service was particularly problematic, Dermot O’Leary, general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, said the line has been a 'hot spot' of antisocial behaviour for many years. File picture: Larry Cummins
The Cork-Dublin rail line has acted like a "drug corridor" for a long time, according to a union representative.
An analysis by The Echo of almost 120 complaints made to Irish Rail in the past year about antisocial behaviour on Cork trains found 87% related to services between Cork and Dublin.
Complaints included intimidation, assault, disturbances, racism, alcohol and drug use, and smoking and vaping on trains.
Asked if the Cork-Dublin service was particularly problematic, Dermot O’Leary, general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, said the line has been a “hot spot” of antisocial behaviour for many years.
“The people working on the train know full well the particular times of day and stops that are problematic, they know exactly where the flashpoints are,” he said.
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Mr O'Leary said that abuse, assault, and threats of assault have left some customer service staff having to leave their roles, often when repeat perpetrators recognise their faces.
He claimed people are using the train to transport drugs between the two cities. “There’s been problems on the Cork to Dublin train for a long time — sometimes it has acted like a drug corridor.
“There’s been drug mules going up and down that corridor, gardaí have been somewhat successful in dealing with that.”
A spokesperson for Irish Rail pushed back on his claims, saying: “The movement of drugs is a societal issue and we have no reason to think at the present time that it is an issue that is disproportionately affecting our Cork/Dublin service.
“If a small number of car drivers/passengers or cyclists carried drugs, we wouldn’t refer to a motorway or a cycle lane as a 'drug corridor'.”
The spokesperson said the company works closely with gardaí on proactive patrols and in supporting operations aimed at apprehending suspected offenders.
They added: “During the most stringent phases of covid-19, when there were extensive road checks for public health reasons, it is fair to say at that time that initially we saw a notable increase in this issue to 'evade' road-based patrols, but again, gardaí undertook targeted operations to counteract this at that time.”
A Garda spokesperson said officers "proactively engage" with national transport operators, including Irish Rail, through initiatives such as Operation Twin Tracks, which provides for a Garda presence on public transport aimed at preventing and detecting antisocial behaviour.
This programme “remains an integral part of Garda operations nationally, to ensure that public transport passengers and commuters continue to travel safely and without encountering anti-social behaviour", said the spokesperson.
“All incidents which are alleged to have occurred on public transport services that are reported to An Garda Síochána are fully investigated and prosecuted where possible.”
Mr O’Leary said Irish Rail has done its best with implementing security personnel onboard, but that these staff do not have the powers of detention and arrest like gardaí do.
A dedicated branch of An Garda Síochána to deal with public transport would be a better option than the transport security force committed to in the programme for government, he said.
Work is ongoing on that force, but primary legislation would be required to give them the necessary powers, which Mr O'Leary said will slow the operation down.
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