Mayo councillors call out Irish Rail for disrespecting Mayo customers
Castlebar councillors have criticised the management of Irish Rail for not being able to 'organise a cup of tea' for Mayo customers
Mayo councillors have accused the management of Irish Rail of not treating train passengers along the Westport route with respect by not providing a trolley service.
The lack of a trolley service on the Westport to Dublin train service was once again raised at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District where councillors criticised the service provided by Irish Rail.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne told the meeting that the management of Irish Rail were not living in the real world and said heads needed to roll.
“This is an organisation which is after writing off €50 million and no heads rolling and they cannot organise a cup of tea on the local train. It is time some of them are taken out altogether because they are a liability.
“I was watching them at the committee meeting being examined by the TDs and they have no more respect for the TDs...it was unbelievable. They were not taking responsibility and there was nobody to say to them if you are not taking responsibility and sort it out we will find somebody else to do it.
“After squandering €50m and they cannot organise a cup of tea it raises serious questions,” he said.
His comments were supported by Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere who reminded the meeting that when the trolley service was raised in the Dáil, Micheál Martin said that people of Mayo should have 'a good bowl of porridge'.
His party colleague, Cllr Donna Sheridan said that she was disappointed with Irish Rail saying that they seem to be able to ‘do what you want’ and treat people with 'absolutely no respect'.
Meanwhile, Cllr Cyril Burke reiterated a call for the Department of Transport and Irish Rail to reopen the old train station at Balla saying the area was big enough for a new station.
“The station is there and it is a matter of getting it upgraded. It is vital. The trains have become important infrastructure again and people are using them and getting used to them.
“Balla is a growing town and has a large hinterland and we should write to Barry Kenny in relation to it and for a freight hub for Castlebar,” he said.