A PASSENGER TRAIN WENT THE WRONG WAY FOR ABOUT 300 METRES BEFORE THE MISTAKE WAS REALISED.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE 9.35 GALWAY TRAIN ON JULY 25^TH WHEN IT STOPPED AT ATHENRY STATION , HAVING COME FROM GORT.

IN ERROR THE SIGNALMAN SET THE SIGNAL AND ROUTE FOR THE TRAIN TO RETURN TO GORT RATHER THAN TO PROCEED TO GALWAY.

THE ERROR STUNNED THE 70 PASSENGERS ON BOARD, BUT IRISH RAIL IS INSISTING THAT ITS COMPUTERISED SIGNALLING SYSTEM PREVENTS ANY POSSIBILITY OF A HEAD ON TRAIN COLLISION OCCURRING DUE TO SIGNALLING ERROIRS.

THE ERROR WAS QUICKLY REPORTED AND CORRECTED AND THERE WAS NO DELAY TO PASSENGERS ACCORDING TO IRISH RAIL.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT IS NOW UNDERWAY.