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Unread 22-12-2016, 12:01   #7
Colm Moore
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I concur with the anti-social behaviour issue being important, but it is unlikely to result in a fatality or mass-fatality situation. In a risk assessment one needs to balanced severity of risk with likelihood of risk. We have had two viaduct collapses, one station roof collapse, multiple embankment collapses and any number of signals passed at danger (SPADs) and level crossing issues.

With safety issues, the greater the shift from normal operations, the greater the risk of an incident and/or casualties. Time and again Irish Rail have been shown to (a) be relaxed about safety issues and (b) not have any supporting documentation (or having supporting documentation that is strangely unsigned).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie2k9 View Post
The Midleton incident was completely blown out of proportion.
However, it is only one of a series of incidents. Importantly, it seemed to be a decision to deliberately breach the safety case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Howard View Post
at least with a manual door, you have to lean out the window and it is pretty hard to miss the train not being at a platform
What if the door was left open by someone else? What if it is dark or foggy? What if the alighting passenger has poor sight or is a very young or elderly person or just never expected there to not be a platform? What if they are a wheelchair or pram user?

Back in the 19th century, railways realised that if passengers felt travelling by train would mean they wouldn't use them and so they acted. Irish Rail might need to re-learn that message - both with anti-social behaviour and greater incidents.

While the railway is relatively safe for passengers, people are still dying - workers, level crossing users, trespassers and others.
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Last edited by Colm Moore : 22-12-2016 at 12:08.
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