More 'dry trains' threatened

More "dry trains" will be introduced if alcohol problems arise on routes, Iarnród Éireann has said. For the past year, alcohol has been banned from two trains returning from Waterford to Dublin on Sundays following major disruption caused by drink.

Abusive behaviour, aggression, drunken stripteases and urinating in public were just some of the problems that faced harried staff and other passengers on the route.

Boisterous stag and hen parties returning to Dublin after weekends in Kilkenny and Waterford were blamed for the disruption.

Since last year, passengers on Sunday's 2.30 p.m. and the 6.20 p.m. trains to Dublin have neither been able to buy alcohol on board, nor bring their own supplies with them.

Mr Barry Kenny, Iarnród Éireann spokesman, said the problem was confined to those two trains. He said there had been isolated incidents on other train routes, but nothing to equal the Waterford route.

However, if the situation worsened on other routes, Iarnród Éireann would take the same course of action, he said.

Mr Kenny said the "dry train" concept had been successful. There were not many complaints about the alcohol ban, as regular passengers knew the extent of the problem and were relieved it had been dealt with. The problem did not arise on other trains from Waterford.