Massive changes have been called for in the services offered by Irish Rail ahead of the Malahide viaduct reopening tomorrow by a railway passengers group.

Rail Users Ireland said in a statement that while they welcomed the viaduct’s reopening, they also warned against being sucked in by the back-patting Irish Rail organisation who has trumpeted their achievement in completing the project in just three months. The group points instead to the fact that the viaduct should never have collapsed in the first place and that Irish Rail knew well in advance of the dangers but failed to be sufficiently concerned to take proactive steps.

Rail Users Ireland said that in the lead up to the collapse many passengers had shied away from train travel, instead preferring to travel by bus which proved an easier and cheaper alternative. The group also said that until rail travel can guarantee seats and faster journey times the disillusion would continue. Accordingly, the group called for massive changes in the value and quality of Irish Rail’s services.

Among the changes called for were reduced journey times including hourly services, the elimination of ridiculous abnormalities in fare structuring and the removal of existing car parking fees at all train stations between Dublin and Dundalk.

There were also calls for refunds to monthly and yearly travel ticket holders when services failed to meet standards.

Rail Users Ireland was established in 2003 to promote improvements in both conditions and services across the Rail Ireland infrastructure.