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New system on the Dart to slash the notice needed for wheelchair users to access service

Campaigners had long called for a change to the system of giving 24 hours’ notice.

IRISH RAIL IS set to launch its new accessibility programme on its Dart services this Monday.

It will mean that wheelchair users, or others who require assistance getting to and from the train, will only need to notify the relevant station four hours in advance, rather than the existing 24-hours notice.

As part of the launch, Irish Rail staff and regular users of the accessibility services will take the Dart from Connolly to Howth and then back again.

Monday will also mark the introduction of a new hub system at stations, whereby a number of fully manned rail stations will act as hubs with staff attached to these travelling to other stations to assist customers when necessary.

The issue of the 24-hours notice needed gathered momentum last year after a wheelchair user told RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline that she was forced to wait 15 minutes for Irish Rail employees to help her exit a train.

“When I got to Connolly then, I had to wait 15 minutes for someone to come get me off the Dart,” Saoirse Smith said.

They didn’t know I was on my way. Thank god for these kids that stood in the door and made sure it didn’t close. I just felt really embarrassed. I’m holding up everybody and they can’t go where they want to go, because I’m waiting to get off the Dart.

Last July, a spokesperson for the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) told TheJournal.ie that providing at least 24 hours notice is a major issue for its members.

“This is quite a major issue for quite a few of our members, especially people with disabilities living in rural areas because there are many trains and train stations that are unmanned throughout the country,” the spokesperson said.

The mandatory notice is specifically troubling to those who need to travel last-minute, according to the IWA.

It’s a barrier for people if they want to travel spontaneously, or in emergency situations they will be unable to travel because they haven’t provided the local station with 24-hour notice.

At the time, Irish Rail said it was undertaking a full review of the customer experience, including input from the Irish Wheelchair Association and the NCBI.

Read: Delays to trains through Connolly after truck hits Amiens St Bridge for second time today

Read: ‘My heart sinks’: Names for pre-booked seats still not appearing for some Irish Rail customers

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    Mute Carlin Ite
    Favourite Carlin Ite
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:05 PM

    96fm in cork have a great poster campaign at the moment saying “don’t play with the knob” printed beside a pic of a radio. It’s taking a stab at Neil Prendeville moving to red fm

    517
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:00 PM

    Great pun there, Carlin.

    58
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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Apr 13th 2014, 9:43 PM

    Of course that’s just a coincidence but he was playing with something again when he Pulled The Plug(boom boom) on a star much bigger than himself in a fit of jealousy against his former employer who saved his career when he was just another plonker with a lame excuse.

    76
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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    Apr 13th 2014, 6:48 PM

    3 million people in France probably will indeed think it’s an ad for a bikini because they probably can’t read the English of the ad..

    397
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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:29 PM

    Anyone else zoom in on that picture just to make sure.

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:02 PM

    Yup

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    See 1 more reply ▾
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    Mute brains for rocks
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:25 PM

    There was writing?

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 13th 2014, 6:46 PM

    Thanks Sinead. Some good ones in there.

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    Mute RE 3
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:59 PM

    Couldn’t agree with ye more!!

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    Mute RE 3
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:59 PM

    What’s hung up on the tree in the one for the obese patients?

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    Mute me so harney
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:06 PM

    A games console

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    Mute RE 3
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:09 PM

    Ah cheers!

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    Mute Q8K9dOAu
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:21 PM

    DHL ad is good, but the person is reading the mag back-to-front?
    Marketing actor fail.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Probably Chinese/Japanese. They read right to left.

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    Mute Mike O Neill
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:00 PM

    Neither of those are right to left.

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    Mute Anne Flaherty
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    Apr 13th 2014, 11:06 PM

    The listerine ad is a typical scene of mass every Sunday, al down the back afraid of the priest

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    Mute art vandelay
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    Apr 13th 2014, 7:00 PM
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    Mute davey p
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    Apr 13th 2014, 8:28 PM

    That man is one of the greats, you have me wanting to watch one of his gigs now

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    Mute Heliolight
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    Apr 13th 2014, 10:10 PM

    The wrestling one is the best one. The rest are only ok.

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    Mute business
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    Apr 14th 2014, 6:57 AM

    I can’t see any of those photos on my phone :(

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