Concern over tullamore train station staffing

A Tullamore Councillor has expressed concern over what he claims is a move by Irish Rail to “un-man” Tullamore Train Station.

Cllr Declan Harvey said “it was unmanned from 3.30 yesterday and today and they are saying it is a staffing issue.”  

“I am just concerned that they are downgrading it,” Cllr Harvey remarked, adding: “It is a way of bringing it in, they are going to un-man these.”

However, in a statement today Barry Kenny from Irish Rail said, “we are not changing the manned hours of Tullamore Station.'

Mr Kenny stated that 'what we don’t do is cover absence with overtime, due to our difficult financial position (our funding has been reduced by almost 40% since the onset of the economic crisis), and at quieter times there may occasionally be hours when it is unmanned as a result.  This is not uncommon around our network – indeed Tullamore’s staffing arrangements are greater than many stations on the network.”

Mr Kenny added that “at times when the station is unmanned for any reason, we can arrange for a train to come to the more convenient platform for access. Furthermore, the station was upgraded and is fully accessible with lift facilities.”

Cllr Harvey fears Irish Rail the situation is a move towards having an unmanned station. “Tullamore is a very important station as far as I am concerned, you look at those trains, they are packed,” he said.