Random drink and drugs tests for train drivers

RANDOM drug and alcohol testing for rail drivers is to be introduced by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan in a bid to improve rail safety.

Driving a train while intoxicated is also to become a criminal offence. Presently there is no direct legislation making it illegal for train drivers to consume alcohol or narcotics while on duty.

Alcohol and drug use is banned under internal Irish Rail guidelines however any cases of drink driving discovered are dealt with internally by the company. It is understood that Minister Brennan is now determined to implement the proposals even in the event of strike action by rail workers. The plans, which will apply to all safety critical rail workers are contained in an amendment to the Railway Safety Bill 2001 which is due to be discussed by the Oireachtas Transport Committee on May 6.

Liam Tobin general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) said rail workers had no problem with any measure that would increase rail safety but stressed measures needed to be put in place to assure the income of anyone who was found to have a drug or alcohol problem before it would be agreed.

“Our members will not allow random testing, or any other kind of testing, while there is not adequate protection for them,” Mr Tobin said.

“Nobody wants more safety than the drivers themselves. They wouldn’t want anybody in the midst of them up to their necks in drink and drugs. The first person to be whacked will be the train driver at the front of the train so it’s in their interest that this doesn’t happen.”

Mr Tobin said union representatives had held meetings with the minister and the chief medical officer of Irish Rail nine months ago but had since heard nothing.

Other amendments added to the Railway Safety Bill at the Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday included new measures to create a railway incident investigation unit, headed by a full-time chief investigator tasked with investigating all railway incidents. The chief investigator is to be appointed by the Minister for Transport who will also decide the level of resources available to the unit.

The committee also discussed an amendment proposed by Fine Gael transport spokesman, Denis Naughten that maximum capacity levels be set for passenger and goods trains. Currently there is no legal guideline as to what the maximum capacity of any train should be. Minister Brennan agreed that capacity limits had to be set but warned of the resource implications of limiting numbers on trains.