Rail officials meet about safer crossings

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0319/rail.html

Rail officials meet about safer crossings
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 08:48

Senior officials of Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Safety Commission travel to Co Mayo today for discussions on the safety of non-automated railway crossings in rural areas.

They will have meetings in Straide with the family of a man who was recently killed in a level crossing collision.

Iarnród Éireann will also meet local people who are demanding that the programme to replace non-automated crossings be speeded up.

Countrywide there are still 225 level crossings where motorists have to open and close railway gates. It costs more than €1m replace each crossing with automated barriers.

Iarnród Éireann has upgraded 98 non-automated crossings so far at a cost of €120m and will spend a further €10m this year.

Three weeks ago in Straide retired farmer PJ McGowan was killed when he drove into the path of an oncoming train after the gates had been left open.

The crossing where he was killed is one of three on 1km of track. His family is now leading a campaign to have them automated.

Nephew Paul Bourke says gated crossings are hazardous as they devolve responsibility for rail safety to road users.