Government criticised for opting out on rights for rail passengers

THE Government has been slammed for getting Iarnród Éireann a five-year exemption from new EU rules which give passengers compensation for late trains and lost luggage, better rights for disabled passengers and recourse to an independent complaints body.

Lobby group Rail Users Ireland are highly critical of the exemption and said it showed that Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has little regard for the thousands of passengers that rely on trains.

“The Department of Transport has no interest in protecting the rights of passengers – they let Iarnród Éireann do whatever they want,” said Mark Gleeson of Rail Users Ireland.