[PR] Iarnród Éireann to mark Level Crossing Safety Awareness Week

[Colm Moore]

http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=812

Iarnród Éireann to mark Level Crossing Safety Awareness Week by Corporate Communications

Iarnród Éireann is marking International Level Crossing Safety Awareness Week from 21st – 28th June, by holding a series of live outside broadcasts with local radio stations across the country.

Live discussions on level crossings will be held on air and details of Iarnród Éireann’s new signage at level Crossings will be available from outside the Outside Broadcast units.

Iarnród Éireann representatives along with the outside broadcast units will be at the following locations during next week to raise awareness of the critical issue of safety at Level Crossings.

Monday 21st June: The Tommy Marren Show on Mid West Radio will be broadcast live from outside �ras an Chontae, Castlebar

Tuesday 22nd June: Northwest Today with Niall Delaney on Ocean FM will be broadcast live from outside Sligo Station

Tuesday 22nd June: The Joe Finnegan show on Shannonside Radio will be broadcast live from the Market Square, Carrick-on-Shannon

Wednesday 23rd June: Talkabout with Anna Curtin on Radio Kerry will be broadcast live from outside the Killarney Outlet Shopping Centre

Thursday 24th June: Tipp Today with Séamus Martin on Tipp FM will be broadcast live from outside the Showgrounds Shopping Centre, Clonmel

Iarnród Éireann together with the Railway Safety Commission are working hard to ensure that road users are constantly reminded of the importance of the safe use of user operated level crossings and the dangers of misuse. Iarnród Éireann has commissioned a new sign which is currently being installed at every user operated level crossing in the country. This sign has been designed to clearly communicate the correct way to use these crossings and the danger that misuse can lead to.

As part of our network wide Level crossing elimination programme, Iarnród Éireann is working to eliminate as many level crossings as practicable. In 1999 there were 2,035 live level crossings on the network in 2010 there are 1,095 a reduction of 47% and this project is ongoing.

To ensure safety at crossings, however, the user must operate them correctly. Level crossing accidents account for 2% of road deaths in Europe but a third of all rail fatalities. Although Ireland’s record is far stronger than the European average, vigilance is essential and Iarnród Éireann are bringing the message of International Level Crossing Awareness Week to Irish crossing users.

[Mark Gleeson]

Man dies in Co Clare train incident
A 62-year-old man has died after being hit by a train near Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co Clare last night.

The incident happened on the Ennis to Colbert line shortly after 10pm. It is believed the man was moving livestock beside the railway lines.

A driver and one passenger were on the train at the time. The driver alerted emergency services but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Iarnród Éireann said they were conducting an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, a teenager died on Saturday afternoon after being struck by a train in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

Eddie Shoer (18), from St Joseph’s Park in the town, was killed after being struck by the Limerick to Ballybrophy train at 5.50pm. The incident occurred about a mile on the Cloughjordan side of Nenagh railway station.

Emergency services went to the scene but efforts to resuscitate the teenager failed. He was pronounced dead at the Mid-West Regional Hospital in Limerick.

Insp Bernard Barry from Nenagh Garda station confirmed Mr Shoer was with a number of friends who were walking along the railways tracks on the outskirts of the town when the incident occurred. He confirmed gardaÃ* are treating the incident as a “tragic accidentâ€�.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking14.html

[ACustomer]

One passenger on the Ennis-Limerick train. Makes the South Wexford line look good!

Incidentally, who but a stupid journalist would ever refer to an "Ennis to Colbert" train?

[sublimity]

The new trains are too quiet. You really can't hear them unless the horn is sounded and even then the horns on the railcars aren't the best!

Locomotives on the other hand can be heard far away.

[Mark Gleeson]

Safety at level crossings was always based on sighting distances, if the distance is below standard there are speed restrictions and whistle boards. The horns all meet the required sound level at a set distance. All this is tested post incident and I'd bet the RAIU will investigate the Ennis incident.

The Ennis incident was at dusk where the train would have been extremely obvious in the distance. Sounds like an animal got loose up the line

Nenagh was a case of trespass

The rules are simple, cross only if safe to do so, if you can see the train approach regardless of distance wait. If you have any concerns call the signalman and seek clarification. The number of user worked gates left open I've seen on my travels on the network is scary.

[Colm Moore]

Slightly different on RTÉ - "It is believed the man was moving animals along the track at the time."

The photo caption refers to the "Newmarket line".

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0628/clare.html

Man dies after being hit by train
watch Monday, 28 June 2010 20:25

A 62-year-old man has died after being hit by a train in Co Clare last night.

The accident happened on the Ennis to Colbert line in the townland of Ralahine South, Newmarket-on-Fergus, just after 10pm.

It is believed the man was moving animals along the track at the time.

The train driver alerted gardaÃ* and emergency services. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

He is the second person to be killed by a train over the weekend.

On Saturday, an 18-year-old man died after he was struck by the Limerick to Ballybrophy train close to Nenagh shortly before 6pm.

He was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, where he later died.

It is believed he was with friends at the time but may have been following a dog that strayed onto the track when the incident occurred.