[Article] Dramatic crash destroys Castletown railway bridge

[Colm Moore]

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/me...y-county-road/

Dramatic crash destroys Castletown railway bridge on busy county road

A truck driver was lucky to escape with his life on Friday when he crashed into a railway bridge on the Kells to Ardee road near Castletown at around midday.

The truck, which was transporting a digger hit the bridge, which collapsed onto the truck, including the cab.

The driver had to be helped from the truck, but escaped serious injury. The road was closed for several hours and re-opened at 8.30pm on Friday evening.

Barry Kenny, spokeperson for Iarnrod Eireann, said that a local contractor had assisted the rail company's own team in clearing the site and making the bridge secure, before re-opening the road.

He said it was fortunate nobody was killed or seriously injured in the incident.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy also said it was very lucky nobody was killed. He pointed out the entire top of the bridge is gone, but the uprights are still perfect.

"There are plans to open the railway line as a cycling and walking route between Navan and Kingscourt and I hope this won't impact on those proposals," he said.

[dowlingm]

The new heads of IE and CIE should be looking to dispose of lines like this as soon as possible. While it may be possible to get some costs back from the truck's insurers, there will likely be some loss to IE in this matter. If a line has had no revenue service for say 5 years it should be transferred to the NTA and let them figure out what to do with it.