[14-10-09]Bridge strike Amiens St - Services Connolly-Tara suspended

karlr42 · 14-10-2009, 22:48

Arrived into Connolly from Maynooth direction at 22:45, driver and platform announcements advising of services between Tara and Connolly suspended due to a bridge strike. IR are having a terrible few days for bridge strikes!
Saw staff out on the bridge inspecting damage, and took some(poor quality) pictures of the vehicle in question.

zag · 15-10-2009, 08:44

The city centre bridges seem to take hits relatively often - would it not be a good idea to have 'chains' in front of the bridges, similar to the ones at the bridge on the approach to the depot in Clontarf ? This helps provide an early warning to drivers who fail to notices the signs and the bridge . . . before they hit the bridge.

z

karlr42 · 15-10-2009, 10:11

In fairness, drivers should not be missing the signs and the physicality of the bridge.

Mark Gleeson · 15-10-2009, 10:26

There was the guy who hit the bridge once, backed up and tried again...

No amount of gadgets or trickery will stop ignorant drivers, bridges keep getting stuck as do level crossings. The law is clear it is the drivers responsibilty to know the height of their vehicle and to not attempt to drive under a bridge of insufficent clearance.

Irish Rail have a booklet available for free or for download will a list of every low bridge in the country.

The bridge in Clontraf is a special case, it got struck 140 times in 5 years and all traffic remotely high was forced elsewhere as the bridge physically couldn't take any more hits. The replacement bridge has better clearance, though remains a fraction below ideal due to engineering restrictions

zag · 15-10-2009, 12:06

Sure, I know we shouldn't be compensating for drivers that can't read - I was missing a smilie from the last post.

But what I meant was that if you want to alert the driver with something physical then surely chains are a better bet than using the bridge itself.

z

Mark Gleeson · 15-10-2009, 12:46

A metal girder has been fitted at a number of bridges to take the impact, such is not an option at many locations.

The clearance in Dublin city centre is very tight for a double decker bus at most bridges so any gadgets would have to be aware of that, don't want chains ripping the aerials off the top of buses

15-10-2009, 10:26	#4
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	There was the guy who hit the bridge once, backed up and tried again... No amount of gadgets or trickery will stop ignorant drivers, bridges keep getting stuck as do level crossings. The law is clear it is the drivers responsibilty to know the height of their vehicle and to not attempt to drive under a bridge of insufficent clearance. Irish Rail have a booklet available for free or for download will a list of every low bridge in the country. The bridge in Clontraf is a special case, it got struck 140 times in 5 years and all traffic remotely high was forced elsewhere as the bridge physically couldn't take any more hits. The replacement bridge has better clearance, though remains a fraction below ideal due to engineering restrictions __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

15-10-2009, 12:46	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	A metal girder has been fitted at a number of bridges to take the impact, such is not an option at many locations. The clearance in Dublin city centre is very tight for a double decker bus at most bridges so any gadgets would have to be aware of that, don't want chains ripping the aerials off the top of buses __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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15-10-2009, 08:44	#2
zag Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 199	The city centre bridges seem to take hits relatively often - would it not be a good idea to have 'chains' in front of the bridges, similar to the ones at the bridge on the approach to the depot in Clontarf ? This helps provide an early warning to drivers who fail to notices the signs and the bridge . . . before they hit the bridge. z

15-10-2009, 10:11	#3
karlr42 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Clonsilla Posts: 340	In fairness, drivers should not be missing the signs and the physicality of the bridge.

15-10-2009, 12:06	#5
zag Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 199	Sure, I know we shouldn't be compensating for drivers that can't read - I was missing a smilie from the last post. But what I meant was that if you want to alert the driver with something physical then surely chains are a better bet than using the bridge itself. z