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Unread 17-09-2009, 07:25   #55
roamling
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http://www.independent.ie/national-n...k-1888764.html

Independent September 17 2009

Quote:
Rail bosses deny putting lives at risk

By Fergus Black

Thursday September 17 2009

IRISH Rail chiefs have vowed to put a new safety inspection regime in place in the wake of the catastrophic collapse of a bridge on a busy rail line.

The company yesterday attempted to defend its safety procedures after being accused of "taking a chance" with the lives of hundreds of passengers.

It promised a new safety inspection regime in the wake of the collapse, which happened minutes before a train packed with 1,100 passengers was due to cross the Malahide viaduct outside Dublin.

Irish Rail chairman John Lynch admitted the company's reputation had been damaged by the accident and that the event had "shaken" officials.

But he denied they had taken a chance with safety procedures.

He revealed that once the major investigation into the collapse was completed, and now that they knew what they knew about the accident, he was certain that the regime of inspections -- which currently involve two-year structural examinations and underwater inspections every six years -- would change.

He was commenting as members of the Joint Committee on Transport angrily accused the company and the Rail Safety Commission of failing to do their jobs in the lead up to the Broadmeadow viaduct collapse on August 21.

Vigilance

The busy line is expected to be re-opened by late November.

The rail company was also criticised for failing to carry out an underwater inspection of the viaduct after a member of the public raised concerns days before the accident.

Labour's transport spokes- man Tommy Broughan said that, but for the grace of God and the vigilance of alert train driver Keith Farrelly, hundreds of people could have died.

- Fergus Black
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