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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Tall Ships travel difficulties | Tall Ships travel difficulties |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people hoping to travel to Belfast to see the Tall Ships have been left stranded at stations. | Hundreds of people hoping to travel to Belfast to see the Tall Ships have been left stranded at stations. |
| There are reports that packed trains on the Londonderry line passed through stations without stopping. | There are reports that packed trains on the Londonderry line passed through stations without stopping. |
| A number of callers to the BBC complained about the situation, but many train passengers have been able to take buses to the event instead. | A number of callers to the BBC complained about the situation, but many train passengers have been able to take buses to the event instead. |
| Ciaran Rogan from Translink said they had "every available bus and train in service". | Ciaran Rogan from Translink said they had "every available bus and train in service". |
| He said "thousands and thousands" of people had been brought to the event very successfully. | He said "thousands and thousands" of people had been brought to the event very successfully. |
| "There has been congestion on some services but this is a huge event and literally every bus and train that we have available is out on our network. | "There has been congestion on some services but this is a huge event and literally every bus and train that we have available is out on our network. |
| "We're just asking for a bit of patience." | "We're just asking for a bit of patience." |
| Maeve Magowan wanted to catch the 1028 BST train from Ballymoney to Belfast to visit the Tall Ships with her family. | Maeve Magowan wanted to catch the 1028 BST train from Ballymoney to Belfast to visit the Tall Ships with her family. |
| 'Bunged' | 'Bunged' |
| She told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that the train arrived late, travelled very slowly towards the station and when it stopped the guard immediately shouted that no one was to board the train. | |
| She said "The train was absolutely bunged and they wouldn't allow anybody on the platform." | She said "The train was absolutely bunged and they wouldn't allow anybody on the platform." |
| She estimates there were around other 100 people affected at the station, including lots of children. | She estimates there were around other 100 people affected at the station, including lots of children. |
| Ms Magowan it was very disappointing, especially as Tall Ships visitors "were urged not to bring cars and take public transport". | Ms Magowan it was very disappointing, especially as Tall Ships visitors "were urged not to bring cars and take public transport". |
| Colin from Marble Hill in Donegal did manage to get on a train, but he told the Talkback programme: "I'm in the last available seat - which is the toilet." | Colin from Marble Hill in Donegal did manage to get on a train, but he told the Talkback programme: "I'm in the last available seat - which is the toilet." |
| He travelled with his wife and children by train from Derry to Coleraine where passengers were transferred to a Belfast service. | He travelled with his wife and children by train from Derry to Coleraine where passengers were transferred to a Belfast service. |
| However, he said it already full and many people had to get a bus instead. | However, he said it already full and many people had to get a bus instead. |
| He added "Every station we go past people aren't getting on because there's no room. | He added "Every station we go past people aren't getting on because there's no room. |
| "My children are sitting on the floor with my wife. | "My children are sitting on the floor with my wife. |
| It's very disappointing, maybe it's just outside the big smoke people aren't catered for." | It's very disappointing, maybe it's just outside the big smoke people aren't catered for." |
| Bus driver | Bus driver |
| There are also reported problems on some bus routes, and a bus driver in Newry described the situation as "chaos". | There are also reported problems on some bus routes, and a bus driver in Newry described the situation as "chaos". |
| He said "Our buses are getting packed with people coming up from Newry City Centre. | He said "Our buses are getting packed with people coming up from Newry City Centre. |
| "We are getting packed and then taking them to the train station in Newry and it is full and people are just being told there is no room". | "We are getting packed and then taking them to the train station in Newry and it is full and people are just being told there is no room". |
| He said "There is no organisation whatsoever". | He said "There is no organisation whatsoever". |
| A resident of Dromore in County Down who was making his way to the Tall Ships festival said 20 people were waiting at his bus stop because the 0953 BST express service to Belfast did not arrive. | A resident of Dromore in County Down who was making his way to the Tall Ships festival said 20 people were waiting at his bus stop because the 0953 BST express service to Belfast did not arrive. |
| He added that only one person was able to board the next bus which arrived at 1115 BST as all other seats were taken. | He added that only one person was able to board the next bus which arrived at 1115 BST as all other seats were taken. |
| However, other callers to the programme reported that the park and ride facilities organised for the event appeared to be working well. | However, other callers to the programme reported that the park and ride facilities organised for the event appeared to be working well. |
| Are you affected by the travel difficulties? Send your pictures to nipics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Are you affected by the travel difficulties? Send your pictures to nipics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |