Fingal Independent, Nov. 04 2009
http://www.fingal-independent.ie/new...s-1932009.html
Quote:
Passengers safety has been paramount in repairs
RAILWAY LINE OVER VIADUCT TO REOPEN ON NOVEMBER 16TH
Wednesday November 04 2009
THE safety of passengers has been 'paramount' in preparing the railway line over Malahide Viaduct for reopening on November 16th.
Iarnród Eireann have confirmed that is the date when the line which collapsed into the estuary this summer, will reopen for rail passengers. Deputy Darragh O'Brien TD (FF), has held a recent meeting with Department of Transport officials on the matter where he said that the safety of passengers had to be the 'number one priority' in preparing the line for its relaunch.
Deputy O'Brien said: 'I have raised this very point at every meeting that I have had with Iarnród Eireann and the Department of Transport.
'I have been absolutely assured that the works are being carried out to the highest specification, with safety being the paramount consideration.' Deputy O'Brien also revealed that the reports into the collapse of the viaduct from Iarnród Eireann and the Rail Safety Authority will be made public.
The deputy said: 'I have called for, and I am glad that it has been agreed to, that the reports of the viaduct collapse from Iarnród Eireann and the Rail Safety Authority be made public for all to see.
'Very important lessons in relation to the inspection regime need to be learned. It is only a miracle that we were all not dealing with a catastrophic tragedy.'
Deputy O'Brien said the period that the railway line was inoperable has given rise to a lot of direct city bus routes using the port tunnel from Fingal towns like Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. The TD believes a demand for these kind of services has been proven and that as many as possible should be retained even after the railway line reopens. Deputy O'Brien said: 'The Port Tunnel is one of the finest pieces of infrastructure in the country and it is not getting used enough.'
He said: 'I would also like to see the retention of the school bus service from many of our towns. For example the direct bus from Donabate to Malahide and Portmarnock Community Schools.'
Deputy O'Brien said: 'I recently met with the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey and separately with the Chairman of CIE, Mr John Lynch, and have formally called for the retention of these services.
'As I have stated previously every cloud has a silver lining. The retention of these buses is one part of this.'
- John MANNING
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Interesting enough maintaining the bus corridor is mentioned. As I pointed out before there is interest among previous train users to get the bus if available. Last week households in Lusk also recieved a flyer where a local FF TD asked for responses about the prefered options of travel. There might be more to come.