Part of Dublin to Belfast rail line collapses

**Ringo** · 22/08/2009, 6:31 AM

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0821/rail.html

A section of the main Dublin to Belfast railway line has collapsed in Malahide in north Dublin.

It happened this evening north of Malahide station on the viaduct across the estuary.

Iarnród Éireann has said the collapse had the potential to be a serious tragedy.

Could have been a real disaster. Hard to understand how this could happen in this day & age. Questions will have to asked about safety checks.

**brianw82** · 22/08/2009, 6:45 AM

A 20 metre section of viaduct on the Broadmeadow estuary, between Malahide and Donabate gave way at around 6.20pm.
The damaged line was noticed by the driver of the 6.07pm train travelling from Balbriggan to Pearse station.
He drove to Malahide station and reported what he had seen.
All other trains were immediately stopped from using the line.
There were 40 to 50 people on the train, but no one was injured.

Absolutely, serious questions. All credit to the driver for spotting it and stopping the train in time. It had the potential to be even more serious if the train had been travelling in the other direction, full of commuters going home.

**Rovers1** · 22/08/2009, 11:20 AM

This was waiting to happen IMO. Now i've only been on the Dub-Bel line once or twice, but even on the Sligo/Dub line, just after Carrick there's a bridge you cross over, the train slows down when it crosses it, which has had its own problems in the past. It's another accident waiting to happen. I would assume Iarnrod Eireann new about this (Malahide), but did a typical Irish thing and said nothing till it became a real problem.

**brendy_éire** · 22/08/2009, 6:20 PM

Apparently it'll take 3 months to fix. It'll probably be just as quick to get the bus now. Quite inconvenient really.

**Infadel** · 23/08/2009, 8:21 PM

This is going to make travelling down to College on the M1 a nightmare for me

**mypost** · 24/08/2009, 3:01 AM

Originally Posted by brianw82

Absolutely, serious questions. All credit to the driver for spotting it and stopping the train in time.

He didn't. He drove on to Malahide, then stopped.

We had the Cahir Viaduct collapse some years ago which was fairly serious, but most of those bridges are hundreds of years old and designed for far less train traffic on a daily basis. The Malahide Viaduct collapsing is one thing, but if say, the Boyne Viaduct was unstable, the consequences of an accident don't bear thinking about.

In most countries, if a rail line has a problem, there is a plan B line to use. Unfortunately here, there is no Plan B if a problem occurs. The whole line is paralysed. In this case it covers hundreds of kilometres from Rosslare to Derry. It's a joke.

**Ringo** · 24/08/2009, 5:59 AM

In most countries, if a rail line has a problem, there is a plan B line to use. Unfortunately here, there is no Plan B if a problem occurs.

it seems crazy alright. Wonder if the whole viaduct will have to be replaced, if one part failed, maybe the whole thing could.

**Fr Damo** · 24/08/2009, 9:22 AM

At least Tom Parlon will be happy!

Bridge was built in 1960s, Irish Indi yesterday.

My brother uses that train alot and that's why it struck accord with me... the consequances would have been horrific. The NAMA/Recession would be forgotten about in an instant.

**Umberside** · 24/08/2009, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Ringo

it seems crazy alright. Wonder if the whole viaduct will have to be replaced, if one part failed, maybe the whole thing could.

3 months to rebuild one part, so I don't think they will replace the whole viaduct, especially as it costs €25 million to do the missing section.

**brendy_éire** · 24/08/2009, 12:17 PM

41 minutes is the time to get from Drogheda to Dublin, according to people today. Which isn't too bad considering it takes half an hour normally.

**OneRedArmy** · 24/08/2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

41 minutes is the time to get from Drogheda to Dublin, according to people today. Which isn't too bad considering it takes half an hour normally.

41 minutes from the time the train arrives in Drogheda, for everyone to get off train, with luggage, go to coaches, put luggage in the boot of coach, get on coach and drive to Busaras/Connolly (admittedly through the Tunnel)?

I'd say thats about the absolute best you could do it in.

Its a journey I do regularly and it would take me 30-35 mins in a car.

**MariborKev** · 24/08/2009, 1:00 PM

Aye, but the coaches just fill up and head on.

Survival of the fittest. If you have no luggage and are first off you are away first.

30 minutes? Ye are slowing down in your old age.

**OneRedArmy** · 24/08/2009, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by Maribor

Aye, but the coaches just fill up and head on.

Survival of the fittest. If you have no luggage and are first off you are away first.

30 minutes? Ye are slowing down in your old age.

In the morning rush hour there is zero chance of doing it in 41mins whilst work is ongoing on the M1/M50 junction and that doesn't even take account of extra road traffic caused by the loss of Northern Commuter services.

I'd say an hour for the Drogheda-Dublin bit is much more realistic, which aligns with the 30 minute delay over the scheduled rail time Ianrod Eireann are advising.

**brianw82** · 24/08/2009, 1:56 PM

Originally Posted by Maribor

Aye, but the coaches just fill up and head on.

Survival of the fittest. If you have no luggage and are first off you are away first.

30 minutes? Ye are slowing down in your old age.

Not going to be much luggage with commuters, in fairness. A work colleague who usually goes Donabate -> Clontarf had to take the replacement bus, and it only took him 15 minutes longer than usual.

**OneRedArmy** · 24/08/2009, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by brianw82

Not going to be much luggage with commuters, in fairness. A work colleague who usually goes Donabate -> Clontarf had to take the replacement bus, and it only took him 15 minutes longer than usual.

Reference above was to the Enterprise service.

**brendy_éire** · 24/08/2009, 4:32 PM

From BBC News:

"The first three Enterprise services into Belfast on Monday were delayed by 20 minutes, 32 minutes and 52 minutes."

**Cosmo** · 29/08/2009, 7:41 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

I'd say an hour for the Drogheda-Dublin bit is much more realistic.

I get the train (well now the bus from the train station

) to and from dublin every day - all the buses Ive got so far have ranged from 40minutes to 50 minutes (though ive heard of some taking up to an hour but have yet to get one taking that long).

Great service theyve laid on since the collapse and 100% credit to them for it - , bus fills up, off it goes. Have got up at the same tiem as i wouldve for the train, and leave work at the exact same time - and Im in my office 10/15 minutes earlier and home 10/15 minutes earlier every day so far

(though i expect it to even out during the winter months maybe)