Severe weather lockdown

RAIL’s reports of stranded passengers in early March were frightening ( RAIL 848). In Ireland, not one passenger was stranded or delayed.

Why? The system here is different. There is a National Emergency Coordination Group, which comprises every group likely to be affected by the severe weather. It includes railways, buses, airlines, road transport and ambulance services.

If they are advised by the weather service that a possible major event is on its way they issue a ‘RED ALERT’. This is, in effect, a government order putting the country into lockdown for the specified period.

It works. No train was stranded anywhere. No passengers were stranded anywhere. Not one single death resulted from the storm. And when it was over, there were no abandoned cars littering the roads. Every train was in its home depot, ready to go once the ploughs cleared the lines. Crews were in the right place.

I think a similar system would have worked well in the UK. People are not stupid, and do not expect miracles from the railway. Give enough advance notice, and they make plans. These storms are well signposted.

It would appear the UK system should have been totally closed from about 1700 on March 1 to 0500 on March 4. This also would apply to the road system. Tell everyone to get in enough supplies, stay at home or where they are, and sit it out. Why can the UK not do that?