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A NEW CAMPAIGN by Irish Rail is aiming to highlight the dangers of people trespassing and crossing train tracks.
A video released by the train service shows people at Kilbarrack Dart Station in Dublin crossing the tracks when they believed no trains were nearby.
People walk down a slip ramp near the end of a platform and cross over to the other side.
In one case, a man narrowly avoids being hit by the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise train by a split second in December of last year. The Enterprise regularly speeds through Kilbarrack Station at speeds of 140 km/h.
Other clips show a couple and a man carrying a small child across the tracks.
The footage was released in order to highlight how dangerous trespassing on train tracks can be.
For Dart driver Aidan Martin, people crossing tracks at stations is one of the biggest worries he faces while working. He said driving through Kilbarrack Station in particular was one of the worst parts of the job.
“Kilbarrack for drivers is becoming a nightmare,” Martin told TheJournal.ie.
“Without being dramatic, it’s an absolute nightmare.
Every time you’re coming into the station… you just don’t know what’s going to happen.
He thinks that the easy access to crossing the tracks at Kilbarrack is likely the reason for so many incidents at the station. But he also said he can’t understand why people would put their lives at risk.
“I’m from the area myself and it’s a great area.
But there’s some minority that cross. It’s so dangerous.
Near miss
Martin (42) has been a driver on the Dart line for 10 years. His daily route stretches from Greystones in Wicklow to Howth and Malahide.
He said he’s had a number of near misses over the years, where his train has been close to hitting people.
“From a driver’s perspective, it’s really difficult,” he said.
“If you see someone too late, there’s nothing you can do.
It can get to you after a while, and you can question that aspect of doing the job. Every day it goes through your mind.
Martin said he knew of one driver who had left the job as he couldn’t handle the stress of potentially hitting someone.
Martin also said that anti-social behaviour along the Dart line is a big issue for drivers.
According to Irish Rail, there were 32 ‘category 1′ near misses on train lines in 2016 which required drivers to hit the brakes to avoid hitting a person.
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They should go on strike until something is done about it or until they get a raise.
@Free comment ratings: I dunno, I dont think I’d do it in the morning, you have to be switched on 100% of the time, and also just, *f
@Ben Coughlan: (sorry, posted too early in error, cant edit comments on TheJournal) I meant, “I dunno, I dont think I’d do it in the morning, you have to be switched on 100% of the time, and also just hope that nobody is going to be pushed or thrown out in front of a train at every station, nevermind lunatics who think its okay to run across the track. They need barriers that open when the train stops at the station, it would make it safer for everyone. ” =)
@Ben Coughlan: do u drive to work, are you alert l. Its no different except 9 put of 10 times the train wont stop on time.
@Paul; i get your point but I think people who are that way inclined will throw themselves in front of a train before they will a car.
@Spilt Pint: yeah they will but only because the chances of been killed are much higher.
The cases here are just people been really lazy. Its already illegal to be on the tracks without permission so in theory there is an element of IE not putting enough effort to set an example of people.
@Free comment ratings: don’t speak too soon.. they’ve done it for less.
“Without being dramatic it’s an absolute nightmare”: I’m not sure if it’s the onions but I’m bawling here.
@John B: witnessing a fatality can be distressing for some. A nightmare for others
@John B: mmmm onions for supper. just like grandma used to make for us in the old country
If people really don’t know how dangerous a train is…. Let natural selection do its job.
It’s a massive thing in Toronto subway people killing themselves, and of course it has a huge affect on the drivers involved. I was recently on holiday in Thailand and they have suicided doors at the stations plus full time track side guards seems to work a treat.
I have seen some of them cargo trains go through some stations at a fair speed,you would think they should be slowing it down a bit coming up to platforms.I’m thinking can C.I.E do anything about barriers were people can’t cross over tracks,steel mesh all along the platforms all over Ireland?When the train stops,theres an opening in line with the doors of the darts to let people on and off and it closes again as the dart pulls away.A bit far fetched I know Ted!
@Vincent Duff: they only run at 50mph, passengers up to 100mph.
They shouldn’t slow down, IE and or Government should introduce heavy fines for anybody on the line as the CCTV is there and they can be identified.
@Vincent Duff:
Rather than protecting people who feel like putting their life at risk by crossing the tracks when it is known to be dangerous (and other means are provided to do so) why not let nature take its course?
Is it impossible to either fence off stretches of said problem line ? Perhaps build a bridge I am sure it’s a bigger problem than that but surely with some investment it could change not only the drivers working environment and help to save the lives of the idiots that cross the lines.
@Pippa Maloney: why? People need to just stop being stupid and take responsibility for their own safety.
@Pippa Maloney: There is a bridge there.
They are just to lazy to use it and think they have a god given right to cross the tracks.
He obviously has a one tracked mind! Boom boom!
@Paul Radburn: I didn’t lol at the joke but I lol’d at the boom boom :-)
Smart phones and over ear headphones. Two of biggest reasons people get locked into their own little world when out in town. Very dangerous. But ultimately this is problem that fixes itself if they’re lucky enough to live after the first smack by a bike, car or Luas.
Irish rail leave the gates in Killbarrack station unlocked, anybody can walk in and across the tracck at any time,,, lock the gates-problem solved
I reckon he was about to do away with himself but bottled it at the last second
You can’t teach stupidity
@mark82: and you can’t protect people from their own stupidity.
Irish rail leave the gates in killbarrack station unlocked, lock the gates-problem solved.
Next time on fox
“My life ruined by worry over driving down the road “
We don’t know who’s
@George Brown: Damn I’m sorry for the typo. Delete it if you are willing.
Stupid is as stupid does.
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