A railway passengers' group has today called for a "massive change" in the service offered by Irish Raid in advance of the reopening of the Malahide viaduct tomorrow.
In a statement today Rail Users Ireland welcomed the reopening of the viaduct tomorrow but warned against being "sucked in by Irish Rail’s back patting exercise for completing the repair in three months".
"The viaduct should never have collapsed. The facts of the collapse make for terrifying reading, Irish Rail received a warning in advance but failed to recognise the potential seriousness of the concerns raised.
"Long before the viaduct collapsed passengers were already seeking alternative transport out of frustration with the rail service. Many found cheaper and faster alternatives. Given the positive experience of many of the alternative bus services, in terms of journey time and the guarantee of seat many will never return to the train unless there is a massive change in the quality and value of service offered," Rail Users Ireland said.
The organisation called for a reduction of journey times to one hour, 40 minutes and an hourly service; a revision of the fare structure to eliminate "ridiculous abnormalities"; and the immediate withdrawal of car parking charges at all stations between Dundalk and Dublin until at least 2010.
Rail Users Ireland also called for an immediate introduction of refunds in cash and discounts to monthly and annual ticket holders "where punctuality and reliability of the service fail to meet European standards".
Rail Users Ireland was set up in 2003 to campaign for improved services and conditions on Ireland’s rail infrastructure.
On August 21st when a train driver spotted the signs of subsidence on the track, all trains were stopped before a 20m section of the viaduct collapsed into the sea.
Although a full report into the incident will not be published until the new year, the Irish Rail maintains that erosion of the weir at seabed level caused the support to one pier to be undermined.
Repair works costing €4 million to restore the viaduct included rebuilding the pier and strengthening foundations, strengthening all the piers along the viaduct and relaying the track.
Rail Users Ireland was set up in 2003 to campaign for improved services and conditions on Ireland’s rail infrastructure.