Chaos for train passengers

HUNDREDS of train passengers had their travel plans disrupted by a lightning industrial action by Irish Rail workers yesterday.

The stoppage by members of the National Bus and Rail Workers Union in Cork meant all services out of the city’s Kent Station from lunchtime until 5pm were affected.

Friday afternoon is one of the busiest periods of the week for the rail company, and a number of busy intercity services were either disrupted or cancelled.

An estimated 1,500 passengers were affected.

All Cork-Cobh line services were cancelled between 1pm and 5pm, the 1.35pm Heuston to Tralee service terminated at Mallow and the 2.25pm and 2.55pm Cork to Heuston services were cancelled.

Hundreds of people travelling from Cork and Kerry to Dublin for today’s anti-war protest were also affected.

The disruption meant many people with urgent business or travel plans faced fares of up to 400 to make their journeys by taxi.

Irish Rail had to carry passengers on scheduled trains between Tralee and Dublin by bus to or from Mallow.

The work stoppage came to an end just before 5pm when union officials and management agreed to discuss the situation at a meeting next Monday.

More than a dozen rail workers had walked off the job in support of a colleague who was deducted a day’s pay because he didn’t work while a grievance was being dealt with. The member of permanent way staff was in dispute with local Irish Rail managers over an allowance entitlement, but the union said yesterday’s walkout was the culmination of ongoing problems.

“This is the result of two-and-a-half years bullying and intimidation against some workers in this worker’s section,” said NBRU national executive member Dermot O’Leary.

However, an Irish Rail spokesperson said the non-payment to the worker was in accordance with procedures agreed with unions, that staff must work while grievances are being sorted out.

“We have been actively working with the unions and the Labour Relations Commission over the last two years on improving pay and conditions within the infrastructure division of the company,” he said.