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Translink has issued an apology following an incident in which passengers found themselves stranded on a platform because a late-night train arrived at a station that had already closed for the evening. Around 30 passengers were stuck at Newry Train Station for over 45 minutes in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Anne Greer, one of the passengers involved, spoke to BBC News NI about the situation, expressing serious concerns about safety. She highlighted that the travelers had no secure way to leave the station after arriving. Although Translink stated they were investigating the matter, the train crew remained with the passengers throughout the delay to ensure their safety while the problem was addressed.
This particular train was part of several additional late-night services operating to support travel to and from Belfast during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a major Irish music festival. Scheduled to depart Belfast at 23:59 BST on Friday, the train reached Newry around 01:20 BST on Saturday. Greer recounted, “To our surprise the entire station was closed, so we couldn’t exit,” adding that the group was effectively “trapped on the platforms for over 40 minutes.” She also noted that although the train crew tried their best to assist, there was little they could do, as they were equally bewildered by the station being locked.
Passengers attempted to reach Translink for assistance but found that the available contact numbers connected to call centres which had already closed for the night. Greer emphasized that this incident should be taken as a significant health and safety lesson, explaining that in case of an emergency or injury, the passengers had no safe route for evacuation other than the train tracks, which was clearly not a feasible option. Eventually, shortly before 2 a.m., a staff member arrived and opened the station doors, allowing the passengers to leave.
Translink has been experiencing a surge in demand for both bus and train services as Belfast hosts Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an eight-day festival celebrating Irish music and culture that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The event runs from 2 to 9 August and is regarded as the largest global gathering of its kind. According to a Translink spokesperson, the transport network has seen more than one million passenger journeys in the first five days of the festival, marking an increase of 275,000 journeys compared to the previous year.
The event’s attendance has already surpassed initial forecasts. Organisers, including Belfast City Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), and Ards CCÉ, had estimated about 800,000 visitors over the duration of the festival. However, footfall recorded by Belfast One Business Improvement District counted 900,020 visitors in the city centre alone from 2 to 6 August. The Department for the Economy had projected a £53 million economic boost from the festival but now indicates this figure is likely to be exceeded.
To accommodate the increased passenger numbers, Translink has added hundreds of extra bus services along with additional late-night trains. Earlier in the week, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmons praised the event as a “great success” and expressed gratitude to Translink’s staff for their role in delivering essential public transport during the festival period
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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