Real time information app needed as Storm Chandra causes chaos for Laois commuters

As commuters from across Ireland and Laois faced heavy delays on Tuesday, January 27 due to Storm Chandra, a Real Time Information App has been called for to tackle the ongoing problems with commuting. 

With parts of the M50 completely blocked by flooding from the storm on Tuesday, the knock-on effect was felt by many of the 13,000 commuters from Laois who travel to work along the M7 everyday.

Not only this, but the Status Yellow storm caused major disruptions across bus and rail services on Tuesday which exacerbated the problem for commuters dependent on them. Iarnród Éireann has said that almost all services are operating on Wednesday.

Following the chaotic scenes on Irish roads on Tuesday, Labour TD for Kildare South, Mark Wall, has called for the development of a Real Time Information app by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Deputy Wall said: "The fact that there is no centralised information repository when it comes to data and information on our roads is crazy. With a yellow weather warning commuters were left utterly reliant on radio updates regarding road conditions and public transport. While we are lucky at the level of detailed provided to us across broadcast, it is beyond time for TII to invest in a real time information app that can provide centralised information for all commuters."

The Kildare South TD added: "Persistent and consistent issues with congestion have become the norm now. One of the biggest issues people report is the lack of information available about delays, route changes or cancellation of public transport services.

"If people had full and objective information about what options are available to them in terms of public transport, and what level of delays are being experienced on motorways, they could adjust their schedule or their route."

He went on to say that the lack of such resources for commuters in times of weather warnings especially is "beyond belief." Deputy Wall added that online map applications were routing people through flooded areas, "making people's journeys unnecessarily difficult."

He concluded: "We need to address the root causes of congestion, but we also need to see a greater level of ambition from TII about the service they are providing the public with."

The Leinster Express / Laois Live spoke to commuters in December about their experiences. There was widespread consensus among commuters that something needs to be done to tackle delays on motorways and the general culture of commuting in Ireland right now.

READ MORE: Demands to end 'motorway misery' intensify as Laois commuters face daily nightmare

With commuters in Laois spending hours everyday in traffic, they all agreed that it is having a detrimental impact on their mental and physical health.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme