Cllr Stephen Stokes has welcomed the partial restoration of a single bench at Greystones Railway Station, describing it as “a positive first step” for passengers who rely on the station every day. He wrote to Irish rail on February 18th, with quick action taken less than two days later. However, Cllr Stokes has called for the reinstatement of the wooden bench and renewed his appeal for a full-time staff presence at the station.
The two wooden benches were temporarily removed following incidents of anti-social behaviour, including an assault on a member of Irish Rail staff. While acknowledging the seriousness of those incidents, Cllr Stephen Stokes believes that removing public seating should not become a long-term solution. Cllr Stokes stated: “I welcome the return of one bench to Greystones Station. Additionally we need a full time staff presence to ensure safety and easy communications for passengers.”
It was pointed out again that Greystones is at the end of the Dart line with a growing population. As a key transport hub and the southern terminus of the DART line, Greystones deserves the same level of staffing and passenger support as other major stations. Cllr Stephen Stokes stressed that the underlying issue is not seating, but the lack of consistent on-site supervision. He concluded: "The removal of benches does not address the root cause of anti-social behaviour. What is needed is a visible, full-time member of staff at the station. A staffed presence would provide reassurance to passengers and deter inappropriate behaviour. I will continue to press for the restoration of the second bench and for proper staffing to ensure Greystones Station remains safe, accessible, and passenger-friendly.”
