DART Closure post Christmas

[Mark Gleeson]

There was a series of logistical screw ups which delayed track laying during the week. The track panels were not built based on a survey of the line so some had to be cut to size on site, fishplate holes drilled and in one case an insulated block joint had to be spliced in.

Track was laid from the Dun Laoghaire end instead of from Glasthule end. Ballasting was done manually instead of using hopper waggons

An 8 series tamper can easily handle 1000m in an hour

No work was done on Christmas day or St Stephen's day

The gardai were called out several times to shutdown drilling at very early hours of the morning. Strangely drilling was silent for hours on end during the day.

An investigation has been launched by the RSC into an alleged serious breech of the Rail Safety Act.