€4m reconstruction work begins on damaged rail line

THE PIER over the Broadmeadow Estuary viaduct in Malahide which collapsed into the sea last week will not be replaced, Iarnród Éireann has said.

Work on the €4 million reconstruction of the viaduct began yesterday and the company is sticking by its three-month time frame despite concerns by senior engineers that the timetable is too ambitious. Instead of replacing it, Iarnród Éireann will strengthen the two piers on either side of the one that collapsed into the sea last Friday week. Work began yesterday on rebuilding the eroded weir which is believe to have led to the collapse of the pier.

An investigation into the accident concluded there was a breach in the causeway as a result of heavy rain in recent weeks which undermined the foundations on which the pier stood, causing it to be washed into the sea.

Yesterday, Iarnród Éireann started bringing rock on site to rebuild the eroded weir. The rock will fill the breach, normalise water flows and protect other adjacent piers.

The preparatory work will be followed by piling for platforms to allow for the crane required for the reconstruction work. The adjacent piers will be strengthened and beams will be placed across the two spans.

“All of the options have been assessed and that is the optimal solution,” said Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny.

The pier collapse will disrupt northern line services, particularly the Dublin-Belfast rail link, for the next three months.

The Railway Safety Commission (RSC), which audits Iarnród Éireann safety regime, has refused to comment on its claim in its 2008 report that it was too busy with new railway projects and did not have enough staff to audit the whole railway network. A spokeswoman said they would not be commenting while the investigation into the incident continues.

Iarnród Éireann and the RSC will both appear in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport on September 23rd.

Iarnród Éireann had been warned about the dangers by some members of the Malahide Sea Scouts.

Committee chairman Frank Fahey TD said he did not accept that there were insufficient inspectors.

“I take that as an excuse,” he said. “There is also the safety regime of Iarnród Éireann and there is no reason why in co-operating together, they should not be able with the resources they have to provide adequate safety.”