[30-31/12/2009] DART services Lansdowne to Dun Laoghaire

[Mark Gleeson]

RTE have more of the CCTV, flatbed truck carrying a container possibly a generator

It pulled down both sets of contact wires, so two separate tension lengths have to be completely replaced. It appears the level crossing barriers were damaged as a result of the overhead wire flailing around afterwards

[Mark Gleeson]

The mechanical arm on the top of the truck is still extended. Note what happens to the level crossing barrier in the right centre after the truck drives off.

[James Shields]

You can see clearly in the first photo that the driver hasn't properly stored the mechanical arm, which is obviously the cause. The driver is probably lucky he wasn't electrocuted. Let's hope they get it fixed tomorrow.

[sean]

Looks like he just drove off ... hope they got his reg number. tool.

[Thomas Ralph]

IÉ previously confirmed that they had the reg number from CCTV and witnesses.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=602

UPDATE Unfortunately, due to treacherous weather conditions, work on repairing the wires has been suspended, as it is unsafe for staff to be working at height in the high winds.

As a result, disruption will continue into the afternoon of Thursday 31st December at the earliest.

Over 800 metres of wiring on both tracks were damaged by this morning's incident, as well as support structures. It is estimated to the most significant damage to overhead wires from any incident in the 25 years of the DART service.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1231/dart.html

Full DART service still suspended
Thursday, 31 December 2009 08:36

DART services between Lansdowne Road and Dún Laoghaire will stay suspended until this afternoon, according to Iarnród Éireann.

Trains are not running after overhead wires at the Merrion Gates were damaged by a truck yesterday morning.

Work to repair the wires was suspended due to poor weather.
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Dublin Bus will accept rail tickets for DART customers affected by the disruption.

Services are operating from Howth/Malahide to Lansdowne Road
and from Greystones/Bray to Dún Laoghaire.

Iarnród Éireann says the Dublin to Rosslare/Gorey services will operate with bus transfers between Dublin and Bray.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

All credit to Irish Rail, for the first time a snap shot of a level crossing incident

http://twitpic.com/vwb96

There are at least 2 other camera angles at a lower level to catch registration plates

Adds a whole new meaning to "twit"pic.

Additional photo on rte.ie http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1231/dart.html

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?articl...agena me=home

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=602

31st December, UPDATE 14.45hrs

UPDATE Works are progressing well, and it is hoped that the line will be reopened before 17.00hrs this evening.

[Mark Gleeson]

15:00 was the original plan, 16:40 is the revised time.

1st December: DART suspended Lansdowne Rd to Dun Laoghaire, truck damages overheads at Merrion by Corporate Communications

31st December, UPDATE 14.45hrs

DART services remain suspended between Lansdowne Rd and Dun Laoghaire, due to a truck causing major damage to Merrion Gates and overhead wires.

Dublin Bus will accept rail tickets for customers whose travel is disrupted.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused. DART services are operating from Howth/Malahide to Lansdowne Road, and from Greystones/Bray to Dun Laoghaire.

Dublin to Rosslare/Gorey services will operate with bus transfers between Dublin and Bray.

UPDATE Works are progressing well, and it is hoped that the line will be reopened before 17.00hrs this evening.

Over 800 metres of wiring on both tracks were damaged by this morning's incident, as well as support structures. It is estimated to the most significant damage to overhead wires from any incident in the 25 years of the DART service.

Curiously one of the repair trucks was fiddling with the overhead at Booterstown station this afternoon, well away from the actual damaged section. The DART which got stuck yesterday is still parked up for all to see as you whizz past on the bus

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...261476583.html

Dart disruption to continue until this evening
GENEVIEVE CARBERY

DUBLIN’S SOUTHSIDE Dart commuters face a second day of disruption today after a truck damaged some 800 metres of overhead lines yesterday.

The driver of the truck identified himself to gardaÃ* at Irishtown yesterday evening.

The lifting arm of the flatbed lorry pulled down wires at the Merrion Gates level crossing shortly after 9am.

It was the most significant overhead wire damage from a single incident in the Dart’s 25 years, Iarnród Éireann said.

Extreme weather conditions and safety concerns forced engineers to abandon work on fixing the lines last night.

As a result, the company revised the initial expected time for services to resume from 6am this morning to this afternoon at the earliest.

The vehicle also caused significant damage to the barriers, with one gate pulled off and a power pole pulled down as the truck crossed from the Rock Road over the Merrion Gates.

Dart services between Lansdowne Road station and Dún Laoghaire station were suspended as a result.

The driver left the scene in the truck without reporting the incident to gardaÃ* or rail authorities.

The registration number of the vehicle was noted by witnesses and Iarnród Éireann has shown CCTV footage of the incident to gardaÃ*.

Iarnród Éireann was “confident that this idiotic and reckless piece of driving, which has caused such disruption to rail services, will result in prosectionâ€�, the company said. GardaÃ* are investigating the incident.

Early statements by the company on the incident referred to the driver as a “genius� and an “idiot�.

About 30 passengers were stuck on one citybound train for more than an hour immediately after the incident because power on the section of the line was automatically cut for safety reasons.

Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny expected the costs of the incident to be “significant� due to repairs and payments to Dublin Bus for honouring Dart tickets.

Intercity trains operated as normal apart from services to and from Gorey and Rosslare which were replaced by a bus transfer between Dublin and Bray.

Dart services between Howth/ Malahide and Lansdowne Road and from Greystones to Dún Laoghaire operated as normal.

Drivers may also face disruption as Merrion Gates are due to remain closed to traffic until this evening and motorists are advised to avoid all approaching roads.

[dermo88]

I was booked on the 18.30 to Rosslare on the 30th December. I'd pity any repair crew working in those conditions. My feelings for the driver of the flatbed truck are unprintable, and it is beneath contempt.

Whatever about the inconvenience caused to myself, thousands of other commuters and travellers were disrupted by this act. I wonder how he got a drivers licence. Did he collect crisp packets and submit them to the Vehicle Licencing Department?

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=602

31st December: DART resumes Lansdowne Rd to Dun Laoghaire by Corporate Communications

31st December, UPDATE 17.45hrs

DART services have resumed between Lansdowne Rd and Dun Laoghaire, following damage to overhead wires at Merrion Gates.

Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused since yesterday morning, which was due to a truck with lifting arm causing damage to the wiring and support structures.

Dublin to Rosslare services have also returned to normal.

[Oisin88]

Originally Posted by dermo88

I wonder how he got a drivers licence. Did he collect crisp packets and submit them to the Vehicle Licencing Department?

Soft regulation of the haulage sector again.