There has been more than a thousand recorded disturbances on trains since the start of last year.
Rail staff have called for an immediate increase in security levels on the country’s trains following the assault of a rail worker over the weekend.
This comes just weeks after the head of the National Bus and Rail Union claimed that Irish trains are no longer safe for passengers or staff.
Staff have requested for either a private security company or Gardaí to police the trains in light of a worker receiving a broken wrist at Connolly Station in Dublin.
Irish Rail spokesperson Barry Kenny has said that gardaí have apprehended a suspect following the incident.
The NBRU have written to the Transport Minister asking for increased security to protect its members, which resulted in a response from the Shane Ross.
Following this assault, General Secretary Dermot O’Leary says that transport workers now believe that “enough is enough”.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, he said: “Irish Rail have done their best based on their own resources, and bringing in some added security. It’s important to understand that hose security are private security – they don’t have the powers of detention and arrest, and they themselves travel in teams for their own safety.
“The call from the NBRU over many years, but certainly over the last number of weeks, to the Minister is to look at a transport police like the UK, and maybe have a Garda division that covers public transport. That’s what we’re asking for.”
He added: “[Transport workers] need immediate resources. Whether that’s assisting the company in ramping up private security in the interim, or maybe using some extra Garda resources through the Minister for Justice’s office.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
