What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on public transport?

People can spend years of their lives on the bus, train or Luas – so it is no wonder that all types of weird and wonderful behaviour are observed on the commute.

Speaking to Newstalk’s Henry McKean for Moncrieff, Irish Rail’s Barry Kenny said he has seen and heard just about everything in his three decades at the company.

“In terms of animals, there was a famous story that supposedly a tiger had got loose on the line in Booterstown,” he said. 

“A circus had happened to pitch up beside it and they kept their tigers right beside the line. 

“Most times, things are fairly normal and straightforward.” 

Irish Rail security staff at Heuston Station. Image: Emma Tyrell/Newstalk

As with all other aspects of life, smart phones have changed the nature of travel and Mr Kenny said they have impacted people’s behaviour on the train as well. 

“Obviously, we have the issue of people having loud phone calls,” he said. 

“Listening to music, watching videos on loud - I think that’s something that we very much ask customers not to do. 

“You’re in a confined space.” 

Mr Kenny said many people think what they are doing is unobtrusive - but other passengers disagree. 

“I think that some things are quite short - a TikTok video can be quite short,” he said. 

“You’re thinking, ‘Well, I’m only on something for 10 seconds’ - but then you’re on the next one, it’s another 10 seconds.” 

Security staff walk the platforms at Heuston Station, Dublin in November 2017. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Brian Lawless

Despite this, Mr Kenny said there is one thing he personally views as far worse than watching videos without headphones.

“We each have our own foibles - even those of us who work here in Iarnród Éireann,” he said.

“For me, it’s the nail clippers and next thing you’ve got these [nails] firing across at you.” 

“Nails are not for rails,” he added. 

Out and about in Dublin, Henry encountered football fan Kevin who recalled one particularly uncomfortable journey coming back from Sligo. 

“I noticed that people were drinking what looked like water,” he said. 

“But in actual fact, it was vodka - in ordinary water bottles. 

“So, they were quite drunk on the train.” 

An Irish Rail train standing at the platform at Claremorris station in Co Mayo. Picture by: Keith Heneghan / Alamy Stock Photo

Another man, who had just come down from Newry said he particularly objected to sitting next to people who eat sandwiches with onions - something that he described as “brutal”. 

“I hate smelly sandwiches,” he said. 

“I don’t like it all.” 

Where annoying behaviour crosses the line into anti-social behaviour, travellers on Irish Rail can report it by messaging 51444.

Main image: A tiger at Dublin Zoo. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo