Why do we still let train drivers drink?

They’re allowed pint and a half – but new law will cut this

SHANE Ross is moving to cut the amount of legal drinking train and tram drivers can do before they drive – however they will still be allowed a certain amount of alcohol, even under the new rules.

The change comes because they are allowed four times the amount bus drivers are.

The Transport Minister wants to bring the 80mgs limit for rail drivers down to 20mgs, which has applied to bus drivers for the past eight years.

The 80mg per 100mls of blood limit allows drivers roughly a pint-and-a-half. It remained in place for them after changes were made to road safety laws governing bus drivers, taxi drivers and hauliers in 2010.

Mr Ross said: ‘An anomaly exists whereby train drivers had a limit of 80(mgs) and the bus drivers had a limit of 20(mgs). The train drivers were allowed four times as much alcohol in their blood as bus drivers and others. This is to correct that.

‘In 2005, everybody was equal. Then there was modernising legislation in 2009 and 2010, which changed the motorists’ limits. But it didn’t change the train drivers’ limits. This is just to get them in line.’

Asked by the Irish Daily Mail if a specific incident triggered the update, he replied: ‘No, absolutely not.

‘There was no specific incident, but it was kind of stimulated by the Commissioner for Rail Regulation. He was very concerned the level was so high and there was a big difference’ he said.

Minister Ross is hoping for a speedy introduction, saying: ‘It was a general scheme, so the legislation will come fairly soon.’

It will also allow for the drug testing of rail drivers, using a similar system as the one that was introduced last year to test motorists.

The National Bus and Rail Union, which representing the majority of train drivers, has welcomed the move.

General Secretary Dermot O’Leary has said his members have ‘no concerns’ about the proposals, saying it had ‘always been a matter for legislators’ to address the anomaly.