A couple who planned to travel from Belfast Grand Central to Newry on Sunday evening are furious after being refused access to the train before its departure.
We understand the passengers were told they should have been on the train two minutes before it left. As a result, they said a group of about eight people were refused access to the service by a member of staff and watched as the train took off before a two-hour wait for the next service to Newry.
The man, who asked not to be named, told Belfast Live: "It was my first time there and we were trying to remember which way to get around to it.
"There was eight people there, four of which were older people. If this is something that needs to be in place, they need to let people know. In every other major city, the doors close at the time of departure.
"We weren't even late. We sat there and waited for a minute and then the train took off. We were there for 8.04pm - the train was at 8.05pm - 15 seconds wouldn't have seen us boarded.
"We had to wait two hours for another train. We went onto the website and nowhere does it say on the website that you have to be there two minutes before."
We asked Translink if this is a new policy for Grand Central Station. They said it is not and added: "To ensure the safe despatch and prompt departure of our trains, boarding closes two minutes before departure time, as advertised in the timetable notes."
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