Vol. 464 No. 3
17 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the implications, if any, of the recent derailment of a chemical train from Asahi in County Offaly; and the steps, if any, he will take in the interests of public safety. [1000/96]
At 07.50 hours approximately on Saturday, 6 January 1996, the 02.50 freight train from Ballina to North Wall became derailed at Tullamore station. The train included nine empty chemical tanks en route from Ballina to North Wall port. One of the empty chemical tanks became dislodged from the train during the derailment. While some external damage was caused, there was never any danger to the public, staff or the environment. These tanks are designed and built to stringent international standards to withstand impact and did so on this occasion.
The accident was the subject of a formal inquiry by Iarnród Éireann, the purpose of which was to determine its cause and recommend any necessary remedial action. The inquiry has determined that the primary cause of the derailment was a weld failure in a wagon suspension system. Stringent measures to detect and prevent a recurrence of this problem have therefore been introduced by Iarnród Éireann. The report of the board of inquiry is also being examined by the railway inspecting officer of my Department who may recommend additional safety measures in due course. I should stress that the accident did not result in any danger whatsoever to the public. A further positive aspect was that the emergency plans which have been drawn up to deal with such accidents worked well and I take this opportunity to convey my appreciation to the personnel involved.
The safety of rail operations is of course a matter for the board and management of CIE and Iarnród Éireann who have extensive procedures in place to ensure the safe operation of railway services at all times. I have been assured by CIE that safety is the priority consideration in the operation of the railway and will not be compromised. I should also point out that for more than 19 years, Iarnród Éireann has safely conveyed chemicals by rail from Dublin to Ballina, and by road from Ballina to Killala. The methods employed in handling the traffic are in full accordance with international regulations and standards. The rolling stock used is built to International Union of Railways standards and the road vehicles are equipped to meet current stringent regulations for vehicles carrying such substances.
A scheme for the co-ordination of the emergency services and other organisations in the event of an incident or accident involving toxic chemicals or dangerous substances in transit by rail has been prepared by a committee operating under the aegis of my Department. The committee is representative of relevant Government Departments and agencies and of certain manufacturers using dangerous substances.
The scheme which covers areas through which dangerous substances are carried by rail, provides a framework for the co-ordination of the actions of the various emergency services. It also provides for the identification of substances, raising the alarm and rendering the site of an accident safe. Under the direction of my Department, exercises are held from time to time to test the operational capability of the scheme. Plans are then reviewed in the light of the experience gained from these exercises.
I have been assured by CIE that the current arrangements for the transport of these substances by rail are safe, having regard to the special equipment and procedures in use and the emergency plans which exist to deal with any incident involving these operations. They will, however, be kept under regular review in the light of experience, including the findings of the inquiry into the Tullamore accident.
I wish to emphasise that there can never be any room for complacency where safety of the public is concerned. Major investment in new equipment, rolling stock and permanent way infrastructure has taken place and will continue in the coming years. This in itself improves and enhances safety. In parallel with new investment, however, there must be a constant emphasis on such matters as procedures, training, supervision and accountability — the human factor which is central to safety and which is always the focus of attention when any accident or incident occurs. It is clearly essential that concerted attention should constantly be focused on achieving the highest standards in this area.
I am convinced that the culture of safety is as important for the railway as its physical equipment and infrastructure. In that context I have, since coming into office, requested the chairman of CIE to give the issue of rail safety his personal attention, support and encouragement. I also asked that a non-executive director with special responsibility for safety issues and direct access to the CIE chairman be appointed to the board of Iarnród Éireann at the earliest possible opportunity. I am happy to say that this has now been done. The person concerned is also a member of the CIE main board and also chairs a CIE board committee on safety in the group as a whole. In the circumstances, I am confident that the improvement of the safety environment and culture within Iarnród Éireann will remain a priority objective of the company.
