I wish to share my time with Deputy Sargent.
Adjournment Debate. - Rail Safety.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle for permission to raise this important matter of whether, in view of public concern about safety on the railways, the Minister for Public Enterprise will order an inquiry into the circumstances in which, because of the crush at Tara Street on Monday, 8 November, between 5 p.m. and 6.10 p.m., a blind person was pushed over the edge of the platform and had to be rescued by fellow travellers and his guide dog was shoved off the platform onto the tracks between two carriages.
I have been concerned about safety on our trains for some time. On 3 November I asked a parliamentary question on the measures being taken to improve safety on the Clonsilla-Connolly railway line in view of fears expressed by a large number of my constituents. In her reply the Minister informed me that the safety of railway operations rested with Iarnród Éireann and that "accordingly it is a matter for Iarnród Éireann to satisfy itself that the number of passengers being carried on any particular train or carriage does not compromise overall passenger safety". The Minister went on to say:
There are no safety standards in place in relation to overcrowding of trains either in this country or at EU level. However, my Department's railway inspecting officer has been in contact again recently with Iarnród Éireann drawing their attention to the importance of keeping this matter under review.
The Minister's reply surprised me. I have travelled on the Clonsilla-Connolly train and experienced the gross overcrowding at peak periods. Passengers are crushed together like the proverbial sardines and stand between carriages with nothing to hold onto. In the event of a sudden stop, for whatever reason, there could be a serious injury. If an accident occurred, as happened in London recently where a fire broke out, the consequences could be very serious.
In the circumstances, safety standards should be laid down in relation to overcrowding. I note from the reply to my parliamentary question, which stated that rail safety was a matter for Iarnród Éireann, that the Minister was sufficiently concerned to arrange for her railway inspecting officer to talk to Iarnród Éireann. I find, as a result of a report I received yesterday and an article in today's issue of The Examiner, that we should be concerned not only about overcrowding on trains but on the platforms.
On the day in question at Tara Street station a blind man, his blind wife and his guide dog were on the platform awaiting the 5.31 p.m. train to Balbriggan. The train was delayed and did not arrive until 6.10 p.m., by which time the platform was packed with commuters. Mr. Tom O'Neill, the person to whom I have referred, describes what happened then. He said:
It was like a football crush because three scheduled trains were late and everyone pushed to board the one train. I was towards the front and my dog got pushed onto the tracks between two carriages. I left the platform too but ended up hanging by the side of one of the carriages.
Fellow passengers managed to pull Tom O'Neill back and a number of others climbed down to the tracks to rescue his guide dog.
Being caught in a rush can be a terrifying experience for any of us but for a blind person the experience is traumatic. Tom O'Neill is of the opinion that his experience underlines the necessity for a member of Iarnród Éireann staff to be on the platform to control crowds and to ensure people, particularly the disabled, can board trains safely. I agree with him. The terrifying ordeal which Tom O'Neill experienced should concentrate our minds on rail safety generally and the problems for incapacitated persons in particular. Crowd control and supervision is essential. Waiting would-be commuters must be kept informed of what is happening. Too often the public address system is not sufficiently utilised and in some stations is non-existent. Regulations must be introduced and enforced to control the number of passengers on trains and the efficiency of the railway system must be improved.
I do not know the reason for the delays on that Monday evening which resulted in a large build-up of frustrated would-be passengers on the platform. What happened was predictable in the circumstances. I made the point on another occasion in relation to the Clonsilla-Connolly line that if there were more trains there would be less overcrowding. If a would-be passenger for Clonsilla or Castleknock knows that if he or she does not get on board the 5.52 p.m. train they will have to wait three hours and eight minutes for the next train, they will make a determined effort to board the train irrespective of overcrowding.
I hope the terrifying ordeal experienced by Tom O'Neill, his wife and guide dog will concentrate the minds of those in the Department and in Iarnród Éireann who have not given as much attention and focus to this problem as they should. If they do so now it will give some consolation and satisfaction.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Currie as roinnt ama a thabhairt dom ar an gceist tábhachtach seo. Tagaim go mór leis an méid a dúirt sé. Tá aithne agam ar Tom O'Neill, an fear a thit den ardán, agus ar a bhean Bríd agus ar a gcuid leanaí. Is uafásach an éagóir a bhuail é agus a mhadra inné. Is fear mór láidir é Tom agus is ball é den Disabilities Committee ag Iarnród Éireann féin. Conas a bheadh an scéal inniu dá mba shean duine a thit den ardán. Gach seans go mbeimis ag caint ar bhas duine. Is gá láithreach a leithéid de thimpist a sheachaint amach anseo. An príomh rud go gcaithfí a dhéanamh láithreach ná fear faire a chur ar dhualgas ar ardán mar seo a mbíonn slua ann. Is gá go mbeadh braille line, sé sin, ní hamháin go mbeadh líne buí péinteáilte ar an ardán ach go mbeadh braille i gceist chomh maith. Is gá freisin go mbeadh plean i bhfeidhm aon uair go mbeadh slua mar seo ar ardán.
Gabhaim buíochas leat a Chathaoirligh as deis a thabhairt dom é seo a rá. Is uafásach an scéal é agus tagaim go mór leis an iarratas chun iniúchadh poiblí a dhéanamh ar an gceist.
I compliment Deputies Currie and Sargent on raising this matter. I share their concerns about what happened to this man and his dog. While the person involved was not injured, I am sure he got quite a shock from the ordeal. I wish him the very best and hope he has now fully recovered from the experience.
The incident was reported to one of my Department's railway inspecting officers by Iarnród Éireann. I understand the background to it was that on the evening in question northbound trains from the city centre were running late due to the failure of a DART train at Howth Junction. This led to a larger than usual group of passengers gathered on the platforms of Tara Street Station.
It appears that a blind man and his guide dog were among the group waiting at the station for the 17.28 Pearse Station to Drogheda train. Due to the earlier DART failure this train arrived approximately 40 minutes late by which time the platform was crowded. While attempting to board the train it appears that this man and his dog were pushed by the crowd to the gap between the train and the platform but was pulled back by passengers and did not fall to the track. His dog however fell between the train and the platform but was also rescued by some of those present. While neither suffered physical injury both were traumatised by the event.
I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that crowd numbers on the platforms at Tara Street Station are monitored by a closed circuit television unit at the entrance point. Staff are instructed to ensure when the numbers become too great passengers are not allowed up to the platforms until the numbers reduce. My Department's railway inspectorate has already been in contact with Iarnród Éireann regarding this incident and will follow up on all relevant matters.
Safety on the railway is one of my Department's major concerns. The House will recall that the Government has approved the implementation of the Iarnród Éireann safety investment programme, 1999 to 2003, which will cost £430 million. The programme has already commenced and some £80 million will be spent on rail safety this year with £100 million to be spent next year. It covers improvements to track, signalling, level crossings, bridges, fencing and railway stations. More importantly, it also covers the management of railway safety and rail safety culture. Incidents like this serve to emphasise the importance of safe management systems in the operation of a railway.
As the safety investment programme is implemented we will, I hope, begin to see the fruits of the investment coming through in improved railway safety. What we cannot lose sight of however is the fact that no matter how good the equipment used on railways or how vigilant are those who work on and manage the railway, accidents will happen and ultimately rail safety cannot be guaranteed. What is incumbent on all of us is to ensure such accidents are minimised as much as possible. We all have a responsibility. All the safety regulations in the world will have no effect if passengers do not exert proper caution and due care for themselves and other passengers when boarding or while travelling on trains.
In this instance it appears that the jostling and pushing of the crowds waiting to board the train were major factors in causing the man concerned to lose his footing. The situation could have been far more serious. I remind all passengers who use the railway that while rail is a very safe mode of travel, such safety is dependent on all of us behaving in a safe manner when travelling on trains.
The forthcoming national development plan will, among other things, make provision for investment for the upgrading and improvement of railway stations. I expect Tara Street Station to be a prime candidate for such investment.
Was the closed circuit television system not working? Why were so many people allowed on to the platforms?
It was not working.