New arrangements at Maynooth

[drumcondra commuter]

Since early September, exiting and entry to Maynooth station's platforms have been an all-ticket affair. Once IE activated the newly-installed ticket reading machines - with smart card readers - they closed off the turnstile at either end of the westbound platform (No. 1). That's generally not a problem, despite the fact they installed ticket readers at each turnstile as recently as March 2011.

The problem now arises with early morning arrivals from Dublin Connolly/Pearse. For example the 08.05 from Connolly arrives in at about 8.50 and then several hundred students, staff and other commuters from Dublin and other stops exit the Maynooth station. All passengers are funneled through the station building with resultant delays. It can take up to 10 mins to get through some days if the station's doors are not opened (something the staff seem resistant to do in advance of its arrival) EDIT and all tickets are accepted. Goodness knows what it is like for the user of a wheelchair or someone with a visual impairment.

I understand why IE want people to use the ticket readers but why can the staff not be asked to prepare for the arrival of one of the busiest trains of the day? I mean it is not as if Maynooth has the Dublin region's fourth largest university or anything??