Crowding on trains ‘not a safety issue’, says safety commission

A Railway Safety Commission report has supported Iarnród Éireann’s view that crowded conditions which are a result of a reduced number of carriages per train are not a safety issue.

However, the report recommends continued random and targeted inspections by the commission itself, and training for Iarnród Éireann staff in crowd control.

The commission, which is the statutory body for rail safety, was asked by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar to investigate rail safety, following complaints of packed conditions last year.

It carried out inspections and reviewed Iarnród Éireann’s own strategy in December and January.

Cut costs
The report found that almost all of the complaints relating to crowded conditions on Iarnród Éireann trains and Darts came after the company reduced the numbers of carriages per train at selected times on some routes, in a bid to cut costs.

But the report concluded “all instances of reported ‘over crowding’ have been determined to be well within the design capacity of the vehicles”.

Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny said the report supported the company’s position that crowded conditions on some services, particularly peak-hour Darts, were “a comfort issue rather than a safety issue”. Mr Kenny said the carriage capacity was designed “to European norms” and crowded trains were a feature of all European commuter trains, particularly at peak hours.

Evacuation
Asked specifically about passenger evacuation in the event of a crash, when aisles and doorways could be blocked up with people standing, Mr Kenny said the advice to passengers in the event of a crash was usually to stay on board the train.

This is especially important in areas where there was double track, and another train travelling in the opposite direction presented a potential risk.

He said all trains were fitted with emergency buttons to open the doors, and hammers to break windows, if passengers needed to disembark.

The design of the trains took into account the potential need to evacuate, he said.

Mr Kenny also said the size of Dart trains was very flexible and, while the number of two-car Darts had been increased at off-peak times, this allowed for more eight-carriage Darts at peak times.

In relation to intercity services, Mr Kenny said 55 trains were reduced in size, while 50 trains were increased in size, since September 2013.