Irish transport 'free for all'

Travellers on the Enterprise train could face problems in Irish Republic

Bus and rail passengers in the Republic of Ireland have enjoyed a day of travelling free of charge because of industrial action by transport unions.

Staff refused to collect fares in protest at plans to break up CIE, the Republic's public transport body.

A quarter of Dublin's bus services would be rented out to the private sector under these proposals.

The "no fares day" protest is set to cost CIE about £1m.

The company warned that the action could lead to overcrowding and that passengers could be left stranded at stations and bus stops.

The unions have said they are prepared to carry out similar action in the coming months.

The Irish Government says it is open to constructive dialogue on the whole issue.

There were appeals for passengers to only use the public transport system as they would normally and not to exploit the protest.

Cross-border travellers on Enterprise trains were not be able to take advantage though, as the Northern Ireland transport company Translink were collecting fares as normal.