PAUL HEARTY,
Sir, - On March 27th I travelled on the 17.20 Heuston-Limerick train. There was standing room only by the time I boarded and I ended up between two carriages, along with several other passengers including an elderly couple.
As time passed it was very noticeable how uncomfortable the journey was becoming for this couple. The carriage they were standing into was mostly occupied by what appeared to be young able-bodied people. Not one of them offered to give up their seat to this couple. Those who did notice them buried their heads in newspapers, plugged in their Walkmans or pretended to be sleeping. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have witnessed this on a train. The restaurant car was then opened up to passengers to provide extra seating. What ensued was a battle of the youngest and the fittest to obtain one of these seats with this couple again the losers. It was shocking to behold.
I was brought up to respect the older people in our society. I hope what I have witnessed on the train in recent times is not a sign that we are becoming a self-centred, thoughtless society. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL HEARTY,
Ballycommon,
Nenagh,
Co Tipperary.