"I was caught completely unaware''.
Translink passengers travelling across the border may want to ensure they have their passports handy, after a man claimed he was was questioned by gardaí last Monday, reports the Belfast Telegraph.
The Derry man was travelling from Belfast to Dublin when two garda officers boarded the bus shortly after it crossed the border into the Republic and asked passengers to show their passports or photographic ID.
Tristan Drysden said he was shocked and was completely unaware of this procedure when travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
"I couldn't believe it when the two Guards boarded the bus and started asking passengers for passports
"I didn't have my passport on me because I didn't think for a second it was necessary.
"I am not a frequent user of the bus; I usually drive across the border in my car and I have never once been stopped and asked to show a passport or any form of photographic ID.
"I explained to the Guard that I didn't have my passport or any form of photographic ID and he said, 'Why not, you are crossing a border?' which stunned me because I assumed people were free to move from one part of Ireland to the other.
"The Guard didn't say why he wanted to see my passport so I assumed it was something to do with Brexit and maybe they were preparing for a hard border.
"When he heard my accent and realised I was from the North, he said it was okay, so I was left with the impression it may have been an immigration check but that certainly wasn't mentioned and it wasn't something I had ever come across before," Mr Drysden said.
"I asked some of the other passengers if they had been asked for their passports before and they had, so it is something that is happening fairly frequently now.
"I was caught completely unaware, the last time I heard of anything like this happening was during the Troubles when there were lots of check points at the border."
Common Travel Agreement.
The Common Travel Agreement between Ireland and the UK states: ''There are no passport controls in operation for Irish and UK citizens travelling between the 2 countries''.
However, Translink suggested the checks may have been for immigration purposes.
A spokeswoman said: "Occasionally, immigration checks are carried out on cross-border services. We facilitate these checks, which are not related to Brexit."
The Citizens Information Website advises the carrying of passports for this purpose. It states: "As you are being asked to prove that you are an Irish or UK citizen who is entitled to avail of the Common Travel Area arrangements, it is advisable to travel with your passport."
