asked the Minister for Transport the number of train crashes in this country in each of the past ten years; and the number of dead and injured in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Train Crashes.
17.
Statistics of train crashes which occurred over the past ten years, in which people were killed and/or injured, are set out in a table which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the table:
Summary of Train Crashes, 1970-1980 (to date)
|
Year |
Number of train crashes |
Number of dead |
Number of injured |
|
|
1970 |
2 |
— |
— |
|
|
1971 |
3 |
— |
— |
|
|
1972 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
1973 |
4 |
— |
— |
|
|
1974 |
3 |
1 |
— |
— |
|
1 |
— |
3 |
||
|
1 |
2 |
6 |
||
|
1975 |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
|
1 |
5 |
26 |
||
|
1976 |
3 |
— |
— |
|
|
1977 |
2 |
— |
— |
|
|
1978 |
2 |
— |
— |
|
|
1979 |
4 |
1 |
— |
— |
|
1 |
— |
29 |
||
|
1 |
— |
— |
||
|
1 |
— |
16 |
||
|
1980 (to date) |
1 |
18 |
42 |
A "Train crash" is defined as a derailment of a passenger train or a collision between a passenger train and another railway vehicle, or between a passenger train and a buffer stop.
An "injury" is defined as an injury requiring detention in hospital.
Does the Minister agree that over the last ten years there has been a regrettable increase in such accidents and that such an increase is related in part to the lack of investment in rolling stock for mainline operations by CIE? Will the Minister indicate to the House whether it is possible to make capital available to CIE to avoid any further deterioration in the statistics he has circulated?
The total number of railway accidents, including derailments and collisions, on the CIE railway system has declined.
Since when?
In 1970 the figure stood at 335 and in 1979 it was 212. There has been a big reduction in numbers in the first half of this year also although there have been more serious accidents.
What about the question of new rolling stock?
I understand that when the McKinsey Report is finalised that matter will be attended to.