[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by HRidge

I'm sure in theory there was a better way for transport arrangements to be made for other commuters but in reality its not possible.

I don't agree. We asked Irish rail to put in place a system whereby passengers could get information from the website if there was an incident. They refused to collate and publish the information, as it would mean admitting that bus routes paralleled the rail routes and they weren't in the business of advertising bus routes.

Irish Rails main concern was the tragedy that happened and the safety of us on the train.

Without wanting to be crass, after such an incident, priority needs to be with passengers. People have real needs and responsibilities - familial, socio-economic and medical to name a few. Not being able to deal with those situations can be stressful, distressing or even harmful.

Nothing, bar human decency and decorum (and we insist on it), can be done for the deceased.

The fact is, as Dalkey-Bray wasn't operating, once the response teams were in place, CTC had a job no more difficult than than usual. Instead of turning around trains at Bray or Greystones, they had to do it at Dalkey. However, they didn't have to deal with track and platform allocations or passing trains for Bray and Greystones.

I think people have to remember that it may have taken everyone an extra hour (or 3) to get home but at least they got home.

But that needs to be multiplied by (typically) thousands of people, who are often left to fend for themselves at locations they don't know, with no information and no means of getting home.

I don't get why people get so worked up over a few extra hours and a little inconvenience for one evening.

It's not just one evening, there are regular incidents (engine or other system failures, electrical or signalling issues, track faults, bridge strikes and, yes, trespassers of various types) throughout the network. At practically every such situation, the incident response system falls apart from the passenger's point of view.