asked the Minister for Communications if he will direct the attention of CIE to the fact that on Tuesday, 4 June 1985 passengers travelling to Dublin from Portlaoise had to stand as there were not sufficient carriages on the train and passengers were sitting on the floor and standing between the carriages which is against all regulations; if he will insist that such regulations are complied with; if it is a fact that the 8.55 train from Portlaoise did not arrive from Limerick as the doors of the carriages could not be opened and travellers had to await the 9.35 train which was overcrowded.
Written Answers. - Overcrowding on Trains.
16.
I am informed by CIE that it is their policy to provide, within the resources available to them, seats for all mainline rail passengers. The incidence of overcrowding is rare and arises from unforeseen or unforeseeable events. I understand that the overcrowding on the occasion mentioned by the Deputy resulted from such an event, that is, the failure of a valve in the compressed air system on an earlier train.
The board advise me that standing on trains, while not desirable, or in accordance with CIE policy, does not infringe any regulations. I should explain that the criteria used in assessing standards for safety in CIE trains are determined by CIE. The board's principal safety rules and regulations are contained in the CIE rule book, the regulations for train signalling, the working timetable and its appendix, the locomotive drivers' manual, periodic operating notices, the weekly circular and the working instructions for electrified lines.