Translink has issued an apology after a late-night train arrived at Newry Train Station to find the facility already locked for the night, leaving around 30 passengers stranded on the platform. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
One passenger, Anne Greer, described the situation as a safety concern, noting that the stranded travelers had no secure way to exit the station. "To our surprise the entire station was closed, so we couldn't exit," Greer told BBC News NI. "So we're all trapped on the platforms for over 40 minutes."
She added that the train crew appeared surprised by the circumstances, stating, "They were completely gobsmacked as to why they've arrived into a completely closed and locked train station." The crew reportedly remained with the passengers to ensure their safety while the issue was being resolved, according to Translink.
Passengers attempted to contact Translink for assistance, but discovered that the available phone numbers led to call centers that had also closed for the night. Greer highlighted the potential safety implications, suggesting the incident should serve as a "learning point" for health and safety protocols. "If something had happened.. the only options we had were the tracks in front of us, which obviously nobody was going to try walking on," she said.
The train was part of a series of extra late-night services being operated between Belfast and Newry to accommodate attendees of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the Music Festival of Ireland. The service in question was scheduled to depart Belfast at 11:59 p.m. on Friday and arrived in Newry around 1:20 a.m. on Saturday.
Shortly before 2:00 a.m., a worker arrived at the station and opened the doors, allowing the passengers to leave. Translink confirmed it is investigating the incident.