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19th Oct 2020

Windows to be left open on some Irish Rail trains over winter to combat spread of Covid-19

Conor Heneghan

Irish Rail

You might need to wrap up well if travelling on any of the affected trains in the near future.

Windows in carriages on some trains operated by Irish Rail will be left open over the winter months to combat the spread of Covid-19, the company has confirmed.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast on Monday, Barry Kenny, a spokesperson for Irish Rail, said that the measure would be taken to “aid ventilation” in trains that don’t have air conditioning systems.

Kenny said that the majority of Irish Rail carriages – approximately 75% – would not be affected, but that notices would be put up in some trains to inform passengers that windows would be kept open.

Kenny said some of the older DART trains and commuter trains that primarily operate in the Cork and Limerick areas would be amongst those where windows will be left open in carriages.

“We have to do everything that we need to do to address Covid-19 and this isn’t Iarnród Éireann alone, we’ve been working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and all public transport operators around public health measures,” Kenny said.

“Obviously, the key measures remain the same on public transport; wear face coverings, only sit on the unmarked seats, and maintain distance.”

Saying that it wasn’t a regulation but an “additional guidance” to customers, Kenny added: “Obviously there will be days when weather conspires against this, but we are into a season where people will be wrapping up, I suppose, more usually when they commute.

“And we’d stress again that people should only be travelling at Level 3 and any further levels above that if their journey is essential if they’re essential workers or if it’s for essential purposes.”

Kenny added that compliance with public health regulations and the requirement to wear masks on Irish Rail trains has been very high so far, saying it was “virtually total” on peak journeys in particular.

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