IARNRÓD ÉIREANN’S failure to carry out an immediate underwater examination of the Broadmeadow estuary rail viaduct following warnings from local sea scouts was “unacceptable” and a “systems failure”, Fine Gael transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd has said.
Mr O'Dowd said he was disturbed by a report in The Irish Timesyesterday that Iarnród Éireann was warned about possible damage to one of the piers supporting the viaduct five days before it collapsed.
On foot of the warning by a member of the Malahide Sea Scouts, Iarnród Éireann carried out an inspection of the viaduct on the following day.
Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny said the inspection revealed no visible structural issues and that markings to the piers were cosmetic in nature.
“We are satisfied that this is accurate, and that the markings identified were unrelated to Friday’s collapse,” he said.
“This is consistent with the evidence of our Track Recording Vehicle which travelled this line on Thursday, August 20th, which did not detect any deviations in track level.”
Some 20m of the viaduct, over the estuary between Malahide and Donabate in north Co Dublin, collapsed shortly after 6pm on Friday last, August 21st, moments after a train had passed over it.
Mr O’Dowd said Iarnród Éireann, the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) and the Department of Transport should appear in front of the Joint Committee on Transport next month.
Labour TD Tommy Broughan said the response of Iarnród Éireann to the Malahide Sea Scout’s warning raised “profound questions” over the safety and inspection regime at the company.
A passenger who was on the train that was just minutes away from going over the viaduct after its collapse said Iarnród Éireann’s claims that it had carried out a proper inspection regime was “incredible”.
Alex Staveley from Donabate was on the 6.13pm out of Pearse Street station which stopped at Howth junction when the alert was raised by the driver of a train in front of him.
“I am sure I’m not the only commuter who is extremely angry how such categorical failures in Iarnród Éireann could have meant a very large number of fatalities had it not been for an observant train driver,” he said.
Iarnród Éireann also announced yesterday that it has brought in some extra services for schoolchildren who are returning to school early today.
The Dundalk/Drogheda to Skerries rail service is to be extended to Donabate.
There will also be a dedicated schoolchild bus service from Donabate to schools in Malahide and Portmarnock, and enhanced off-peak bus connections between Donabate and Malahide Dart station.
A contingency traffic management group has also been set up to co-ordinate a traffic management plan when the rest of the schools re-open on Monday.
