© Collins Intercity trains

Gardaí removed a group from a train after reports of anti-social behaviour on one of Irish Rail's busiest routes.

Innocent people were abused and left frustrated after four "intoxicated" passengers took up booked seats and started arguing and smoking on the Heuston to Galway route.

The incident led to the train being delayed 30 minutes, while Irish Rail have also been criticised for a pitiful reply to a customer who asked them about her booked seat which a member of the gang occupied.

The passenger messaged them asked what she can do to use her seat as the person refused to move, they replied "Please show the person your reservation and that it is your seat."

When the woman told them the group were ignoring the reservation they replied "are there other seats available?".

Speaking to Dublin Live the passenger said the group, three men and one woman, later started "creating havoc by giving out to other passengers" before the driver was informed and gardaí removed them in Kildare.

© Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Train

She said: "I just walked over to my seat which was already occupied. I politely told them it was my seat but was shushed straight away by the heavily intoxicated group.

"They told me it was a disabled seat pre-reserved and all sorts of crap.

"I was just standing there helplessly trying to figure out where to sit in the busy train.

"Luckily there was a non-reserved seat which I sat in and wrote to Irish Rail to see what can be done.

"They (the gang) started creating havoc by giving out to other passengers and walking up and down the aisle.

"They started smoking inside. One of the gentlemen reported it to the driver.

"The train was stopped and Gardaí removed them."

A garda spokesperson has been contacted for comment.

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