Passengers in Tullamore faced disappointments as they found themselves locked out of the train station on April 22, unable to board the the 7.00 am train. A passenger contacted Offaly Express, claiming that she was among the approximately 15 people queuing outside the station. The gates were locked and the shutters were down, surprising the waiting passengers. The train from Dublin eventually arrived, forcing panicked passengers to climb over the barred steel gate in a rush to board. However, many lost valuables and older passengers required assistance during this uncomfortable scenario. When the train driver learned of the problem, he alerted Irish Rail, and waited until all the passengers had boarded before departing. An apology was issued by Irish Rail, who promised: “We are investigating…to ensure that it does not happen again.”
