Bus and rail drivers may boycott city no-go zones
BUS and rail drivers want company backing to pull services in ‘no-go zones’ following a series of terrifying attacks.
A union has written to Bus Éireann and Irish Rail seeking the extension of a protocol that allows Dublin Bus drivers to halt operations following a set number of incidents.
Dart drivers have described the line north of Connolly as ‘bandit country’ and claim drugs are openly pedalled, while fights and other aggressive behaviour are a regular occurrence.
There were 740 anti-social incidents on Irish Rail up to December 2, up from 643 by the same time last year. There were 14 assaults on staff.
A copy of the Dublin Bus protocol for Tallaght West, seen by the Irish Independent, says if an incident warranting withdrawal of the service – like stone throwing – happens before 8pm, buses will be withdrawn for a minimum of an hour.
If a second incident occurs, buses will be withdrawn for the rest of the day, and if it happens after 8pm, they will be pulled for the rest of the night.
It also gives a list of curtailed services that could come into force along routes including the 27, 65B, 77A, 56A and 65.
It says all incidents of stone throwing and anti-social behaviour must be recorded by the radio controller. The bus should be brought to a Garda station and the investigating officer shown any damage.
“The members of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (and indeed other staff ) have had enough of having to endure constant threats to their own safety and that of the customers they serve on a daily basis,” said a letter to the CIÉ companies from the union. “While accepting the decision of the provision of a dedicated Garda unit lies with Government, our members are now seeking assurances from the company with regard to the appropriate protocol/s which they can initiate in the event of anti-social behaviour and/or serious incident.”
It said Dublin Bus has an agreed protocol in place governing how staff should react in particular volatile situations and a similar protocol should be urgently set up at Irish Rail and Bus Éireann.
“The withdrawal and/or curtailment of services is a last resort,” it said. “However, the safety of staff and customers has to be paramount in any circumstance.”
Unions are pushing for the establishment of a dedicated Garda transport police, arguing that existing security officers do not have power to arrest.
An Irish Rail spokesman said it will meet unions to discuss the issue of protocols.
He said the company recognises there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour in the last 18 to 24 months.
“However, it should also be noted there were 45.5 million passenger journeys in 2017, with a further increase in 2018, the overwhelming majority of which occur without incident.”
He said the company has been actively encouraging employees to report all safety issues, including anti-social behaviour.
“Our security patrols 2016 vs 2018 have increased by 35pc as we enhance general security cover, and provide for enhanced security patrols for major events,” he added.
He said the Department of Transport gave an extra €115,000 for security measures including patrols on evening and night services over the Christmas period.