Train services across the Malahide viaduct on the Dublin-Belfast rail line will be restored in the middle of next month, Iarnród Éireann has announced.
There has been significant distruption to the Northern commuter and Belfast Enterprise services after a 20-metre section of the viaduct collapsed across Broadmeadow estuary, north of Malahide station on Friday August 21st.
The collapse occurred just minutes after a train full of passengers had passed over the viaduct.
In a statement on its website today, Iarnród Éireann said it was pleased to inform customers that work was “well advanced” on the reconstruction of the viaduct, and said ervices were on schedule to resume by Monday November 16th.
It again apologised for the “severe inconvenience” caused to customers.
Up to 20,000 rail journeys a day, split evenly in and out of the city centre, have been replaced by road transport since the viaduct collapsed. Dublin Bus has put extra services on routes from towns in north Dublin affected by the disruption to the rail service.
Iarnród Éireann has worked around the clock and spent over €4 million repairing the pier that collapsed, rebuilding the weir upon which the viaduct stands, reinforcing the other piers and replacing the bridge.
At the time of the collapse, some estimates suggested the repair work could take up to a year.
Separate investigations by Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Safety Commission are continuing.
Additional reporting: PA