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LAST UPDATE | 19 Mar
IARNRÓD ÉIREANN IS planning new “bridge strike cameras” in a bid to tackle delays to services caused by vehicles colliding with railway bridges.
There were 80 such incidents nationwide last year.
In a market consultation document published last week, the rail company said the new systems will be focused initially on the Dublin suburban rail network.
It already has similar systems in place at four bridges and wants to expand this to at least a further 15, a spokesman said this morning.
After a reported strike, it will use the new cameras to help it assess bridges – the approach, underside and tracks – to determine the severity of the incident.
This will help it make “informed judgement calls” on the actions needed to recommence train services as quickly as possible, reducing delays.
Procurement for the new system has not yet begun. Iarnród Éireann indicated in its market consultation document that it hopes the new system will be powered by battery or solar power and require minimal construction works to install.
Dublin city Green Party councillor Feljin Jose said the proposed cameras could reduce delays after minor strikes – but added that drivers need to take more care not to hit railway bridges.
He added that more should be done to prevent bridge strikes in the first place.
Irish Rail told The Journal there were 80 bridge strikes last year.
This was down from 95 in 2023, but still up significantly on figures before the pandemic, with 69 incidents recorded in 2019.
In its 2023 annual report, the rail company said that the number of serious or potentially serious incidents had decreased, with “a number of technological solutions implemented in high risk areas”. These included advanced warning lights.
The company spokesman said rail is the safest form of land transport and technology for infrastructure maintenance is helping make it “safer still”.
“For example, drones can be used as part of the inspection regime for everything from coastal erosion assessment ot bridge assessments,” he said.
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If a driver hits a bridge they should have their licence revoked for a minimum of 6 months, and the cost of the repair should be billed to the driver’s employer. Any recurring incidents should be met with a more lengthy licence suspension.
@Alberto Balsam: some chance of that. A HGV driver crushed a cyclist causing them life changing injuries because he didn’t check his mirror before moving h off. Last week Judge Martin Nolan didn’t see cause to even disqualify him from driving.
All bridges have clearance height signs on them,and as a professional truck driver they are required to know the height of their vehicle. This is careless driving and should be punishable offence paid for by the driver and company responsible.
How about this for a radical idea, erect heavy duty steel goal posts braced with a cross bar and 45° angle bracing against the direction of travel, positioned at 50 metres from, or just after the last possible alternative route from each side of low bridges, set at the exact bridge height, so drivers that don’t know their trailer height hit those first.
@Dvsespaña: it has been recommended to DCC and Fingal Country Council and they both chose to ignore the advice.
@Dvsespaña: ah stop now, using a simple easy solution is not the way of any government or council in this country. Where are the years of consulting fees and committee payments going to materialize from then???
Why not have a system I have seen in France. Before the bridge have a heavy plastic/ rubber curtain across the road the same height as the upcoming bridge and if your vehicle hits that you know you won’t get under the bridge.This allows you time to stop.
Solution: stop vehicles hitting bridge.
@Sherry Adams – Norn Iron Drag Artiste: burn those bridges.
@Sherry Adams – Norn Iron Drag Artiste: Close the pubs
Engineers will still have to inspect the bridge so the delay won’t be much shorter.
We all get distracted while out and about it human nature, really 100 meters away from a bridge should be an automatic boom gate that will only open if you below the hight restriction.
Build better infrastructure.
@Foscam Dl: do you mean higher bridges.
@paulie: No. Lower roads.!
Most hit bridge in the country is in Portlaoise, but no let’s start with Dublin. Ya couldn’t even make this up
@DvdF: not to minimise your local
Issue, but impact is greater in Dublin
@DvdF: actually the most hit bridge is in Mulhuddart in Fingal.
Groundbreaking
Cameras are no substitute for proper safety inspection after a bridge has been hit.
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