Kennedy welcomes report on Malahide Viaduct Collapse

Dublin North T.D. Michael Kennedy has welcomed the publication of the report into the Malahide Viaduct Collapse but says the report highlights deficiencies in Iarnród Éireann’s maintenance regime which must be addressed to ensure commuters are safe and have confidence in the rail network.

“This report is a very important step in rebuilding confidence among the travelling public in Iarnród Éireann’s network.  The collapse of the Malahide Viaduct into Broadmeadow Estuary on August 21^st 2009 was extremely serious and could have killed or seriously injured many people.  Thankfully there were no fatalities or injuries to any members of the public or Irish Rail staff and the train driver is to be commended for the quick action taken on the day,” said Deputy Kennedy, who is a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport.

“I welcome today’s report which highlights a very serious lack of maintenance and inspection within Iarnród Éireann.  This is something that was widely suspected at the time of the collapse but the report details that this was the case for a period in recent years.  It is now clear that the systems in place at Iarnród Éireann failed to safeguard the viaduct structure from erosion, something that could have had the most horrifying of results.  I want to acknowledge the warning that was given by Malahide Sea Scouts on days before the collapse of the viaduct.”

The report of the Rail Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) makes a series of recommendations in areas such as future inspection standards and implementation of such, training for key personnel, risk assessment of structures and the provision of physical and flood protection for structures at high risk.

“The Minister for Transport has informed me that he has been advised of significant changes within Iarnród Éireann to deal with the issues raised in the report.  These changes must ensure the safety of the travelling public and must include extensive underwater surveys of the bridges in the rail network.”

“I will be urging my colleague Frank Fahy, Chairman of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, to invite Iarnród Éireann management to come before the committee at the earliest possible opportunity to respond to this report and to detail exactly what new procedures are in place or are being put in place to ensure there is no repeat of what happened at the Malahide Viaduct,” added Deputy Kennedy.

“I understand from Minister Dempsey that there is a thorough review of technical standards being conducted at Iarnród Éireann.  The Railway Safety Commission also completed an independent compliance audit in March of this year.  It is vital that Iarnród Éireann implement any and all recommendations many by the RSC and those made in the Rail Accident Investigation Unit report into the Malahide Viaduct collapse,” concluded Deputy Kennedy.