[ThomasJ]

irish rail have commented on it!
http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_news.jsp?i=4504&p=116&n=237

06 March 2012

Iarnród Éireann has commenced an investigation into an incident in Bray this morning in which a DART driver was injured. Other agencies have also been advised, including the Health and Safety Authority, the Railway Accident Investigation Unit, and the Railway Safety Commission.

At 08.09hrs this morning, after the DART driver had entered the driver’s cab of the 08.00hrs Greystones to Malahide DART service, the detonators in the driver’s kit bag exploded. The driver was injured. There were no other injuries.

The train was taken out of service at Bray as there was damage to the cab, and to allow for investigation of the incident. The emergency services attended the scene, and the driver was treated in hospital for his injuries, which includes assessment of impact of the incident on his hearing, and stitches to his hand.

Detonators are used in railway operations as part of the safety regime, and are placed on railway lines by drivers and other staff, and detonated by the pressure of a train passing over them, emitting a loud bang which serves to alert drivers to specific issues.