IARNRÓD ÉIREANN closed the Roscommon to Westport rail line yesterday after a man was killed when a freight train collided with a tractor in Co Roscommon.
The man has been named as Jack Hoban, who was in his 60s and was married with children. He was a farmer and a prominent member of Oran GAA club.
Both Iarnród Éireann and the Garda are investigating the incident which occurred at the Ballymacrane manual level crossing near Dunamon shortly before noon.
Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny extended his sympathies to Mr Hoban’s family. He said the 9.30am freight train from Ballina to Dublin’s North Wall was involved in the collision.
“The train was passing through Ballymacrane in Co Roscommon at a manually operated level crossing. The tractor was on the crossing and the train struck it and tragically the man was killed,” Mr Kenny said.
The train driver was taken to hospital suffering from shock. Iarnród Éireann provided buses for those travelling between Roscommon and Westport, Co Mayo, yesterday.
Local Fine Gael councillor and family friend Dominic Connolly expressed his shock. He described Mr Hoban as a “pillar of the community” who was highly regarded by all. He expressed his sympathies to the family.
Mr Connolly said that Roscommon County Council had asked Iarnród Éireann to upgrade such crossings. “We have been on to them a few times, Iarnród Éireann have ignored our pleas.”
Roscommon Mayor Luke “Ming” Flanagan said he had been calling on Iarnród Éireann to install automated gates or lights at such crossings.
“There is one crossing near where I live at Beagh where the people living there have contacted me and other politicians just to say how dangerous it is,” he said. “It is inevitable that this is going to happen.”
When contacted about the issue, Iarnród Éireann said it would cost €1 million to install lights at the crossing.
Mr Flanagan said he was almost struck by a train at a similar crossing while returning from collecting turf a few weeks ago.
“Seven weeks ago we missed a train by the width of a trailer and tractor, this thing just came out of nowhere,” he said.
Mr Kenny said there had been a 50 per cent reduction in the number of manual crossings in the past 10 years.
In relation to the €1 million price tag for lights, Mr Kenny said installing lights was essentially automating the rail crossing. “There is a significant cost involved.”
He said priority for upgrading work carried out on level crossings was determined by the level of usage at each point.