Passenger asked to move from prebooked seat stops train and calls gardaí

Most of us have been in the uncomfortable position of moving someone from our prebooked train seats - but this might be the first time the gardaí have been involved.

A female passenger on the 17.05 Dublin Connolly to Sligo train today took offence at a man politely asking her to move from a seat he had prebooked for the journey.

What followed surprised nearby passengers, including Shane Gillen, who has been tweeting about his experience.

The train stopped at Maynooth and an announcement informed passengers that there would be "a short delay here as we await the Gardai to attend the train."

On @IrishRail train.
Announcement comes on:

"There'll be a short delay here as we await the Gardai to attend the train"

So,there's that.

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

Passengers soon discovered that the woman had called gardaí after she had moved from her seat.

"A passenger STOPPED our Irish Rail train and called the guards because a man asked her politely to move out of the seat he had PREBOOKED," Shane tweeted.

A passenger STOPPED our @irishrail train & called the guards because a man asked her politely to move out of the seat he had PREBOOKED.

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

"She is now arguing with the driver. Everyone in the carriage backed up the man who she had claimed was aggressive. We are still stopped."

She is now arguing with the driver. Everyone in the carriage backed up the man who she had claimed was aggressive. We are still stopped.

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

"Train is still sitting in Maynooth. Irish Rail staff dealt well with her. She was moved to another seat. Elephant in the room much..."

Train is still sitting in Maynooth. @IrishRail staff dealt well with her. She was moved to another seat. Elephant in the room much...

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

"She did it sneakily without anyone knowing. First the passenger knew of it was when train was stopped and she pointed him out. He was gobsmacked."

Like,she did it sneakily without any1 knowing.1st the passenger knew of it was when train was stopped&she pointed him out.He was gobsmacked.

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

She just got off the train.

*whole carriage breathes sigh of relief*#prebookedseatgate #traingate #seatgate #iamstillonthetrainanyway

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

Another @IrishRail staff member came over to verify with a few of us what happened. In fairness, they handled the whole thing excellently...

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

And so ends THAT train journey... #prebookedseats #prebookedseatgate #seatgate

— Shane (@ItsGillen) February 6, 2015

Worst train journey ever? We think it's a contender.