Security on DART trains in Dublin has been increased since last month by Iarnrod Eireann's private security firm and the Garda to eliminate trouble involving two rival gangs of teenagers from Harmonstown and Kilbarrack, on the north side of the city.
Passengers had felt intimidated by the altercations between the youths on trains and at stations.
DART staff, including drivers, had also expressed worries about security on north Dublin services. Earlier this year drivers threatened to withdraw northbound night services because of increased attacks by teenage hooligans.
More than 50 DART drivers sent a letter to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, stating that unless ticket-checkers and extra security guards were placed on northbound trains they would halt the service at 6.40 p.m. each evening.
Mr Tony Tobin, branch secretary of SIPTU's rail workers union and a former DART driver, said the situation on the northside DART line had improved since surveillance was strengthened. Staff were satisfied with the mobile patrols provided by gardai, but wanted Iarnrod Eireann to establish its own transport police, with powers of arrest and detention.
Gardai are investigating a claim by a teenage boy that he was held against his will for some hours on the DART and was forced to drink alcohol. The boy has been interviewed about the alleged incident. Other passengers who were travelling that day have also contacted gardai.
The incident is said to have occurred on the night of the St Patrick's Festival fireworks display in Dublin city centre.
Mr Tobin said there had been attacks on ticket-checkers and drivers on trains, platforms and stations along the DART line in the past.
One ticket-checker suffered a broken arm and one ticket-office worker was kidnapped during an early-morning robbery and eventually dumped out of a car on the city's north side.
"Iarnrod Eireann is reluctant to establish a railway police, but it is extraordinary because every European country has a railway police which is armed with powers of arrest and detention," said Mr Tobin.
"Iarnrod Eireann has not approached this in any positive way down through the years. They expect the gardai to solve all their problems, but the gardai have their own difficulties."
A spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann said yesterday that arrests had taken place following the increased security placed on the DART because of the problems caused by the teenage gangs.
About 10 people had recently appeared in court regarding trespass and fare evasion on the DART, he said.
On the introduction of a railway police, the spokesman said Iarnrod Eireann was satisfied with the security provided by a private security firm and gardai. Monthly meetings were held between gardai and DART management, and security was increased when necessary.
According to Insp Brian Fenton, of Raheny Garda station, the DART was "a great source of information to the gardai". Petty criminals used trains because they offered a fast means of travelling from one end of the city to the other and removed the risk of meeting a patrol car. However, security cameras were in operation at the majority of DART stations and assisted in identifying criminals.
"There have been incidents, and we meet regularly with DART management, not just about crime on the trains, but about trespass and the flow of criminals who use it. We avail of it ourselves to see who else is travelling on it and it is a great source of information," said Insp Fenton.
Uniformed gardai travel on the DART from about 8 p.m. at weekends and at other times when the Garda's limited resources allow. Plainclothes officers occasionally patrol the trains, particularly after trouble has been reported.
According to Insp Fenton, drink plays a part in the disturbances which occur late at night, although he said no serious incidents involving passengers had been reported to gardai recently.
"It is a great form of transport, and Iarnrod Eireann runs a good service. As regards public order, crime is not rampant on the DART by any means and we would be happy with that," he said.