The next two Adjournment debate matters relating to the train cash at Kiltoom are being taken together. Each Deputy will have five minutes and the Minister will have ten to reply.
Adjournment Debate. - Roscommon Train Crash.
(Mayo): The train incident at Kiltoom, County Roscommon, could have been a holocaust. Four school buses use this level crossing from Monday to Friday. Dozens of cars, lorries, tractors, cyclists and pedestrians use it daily. There was no loss of life because the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning. There are 23 level crossings on the railway line between Ballina and Athlone. There have been five almost identical incidents at this level crossing. On 22 December 2000, another freight train smashed through its gates. After eight weeks we do not know the circumstances surrounding that incident. Last Friday, a representative of Iarnród Éireann stated in the media that it was conducting a formal investigation into the December incident which was almost completed. This is not the situation because there is not a formal inquiry. Only disciplinary proceedings against the driver concerned were instituted.
There should always be a formal inquiry into incidents like this. It is not automatic but it is normal in Iarnród Éireann. It is usually conducted by company managers to establish the cause of the accident. Following this, management can determine if the mechanical signalling system or human error was responsible. Will the Minister of State explain why a proper formal inquiry was not undertaken? Why is there no report from the incident on 22 December? There is no compli cated technology involved. There is a gate which is supposed to open as a train approaches and close when it has passed. We must establish why the gates closed against the train on 22 December 2000 and last Friday. Was it mechanical failure? If so, why? If it was human error, who was responsible?
In a case involving human safety, a report should be completed within a week, so that the cause can be established, lessons learned, and corrective measures taken. Instead of a report of the incident eight weeks ago we have a similar occurrence at the same location. The report on last Friday's incident should be available now. I have raised the issue of rail safety each week since the Dáil reconvened. I am critical of the Government's tardiness in bringing forward the rail safety Bill which extends the powers of the railway inspectorate. It will not be published until the middle of the year nor be law before the end of the year.
Last week, I raised the concerns of the railway safety inspectorate that Iarnród Éireann do not supply vital information. The mini CTC system, which is supposed to equip 28 stations and four main lines with modern safety signalling, is at a standstill because of the handling of the contract and the rise in cost to £42 million. The problem of rail safety must be addressed before a major tragedy occurs.
The rail incident at Kiltoom, where a freight train destroyed the level crossing gates last Friday, is of concern to all people residing close to these crossings. At least eight similar incidents have occurred at this level crossing which is used by 200 cars and two school buses every day and other vehicles including the army travelling to and from the Carnagh rifle range. The Friday incident is a repeat of one on 22 December 2000. Contrary to media reports, Irish Rail did not instigate a formal inquiry. My colleague, Deputy Jim Higgins, has raised already the questions about this. Such an inquiry should take place and the conclusions published for both incidents.
The people of Kiltoom deserve this at least, as do others who reside alongside similar crossings.
The line between Athlone and Ballina is one of the most dilapidated. Irish Rail is upgrading the line but not the level crossings, many of which are 100 years old. There have been twice as many incidents at this level crossing as at all similar crossings on this line. The drivers who travel this line daily are more prone to accidents at this crossing. This raises serious questions.
The distance between the gates and the signals has not changed in more than 100 years. The track has been upgraded and trains' speeds increased. A paraffin oil lamp as the warning signal is not acceptable today. Since last Friday a 25 mph sign was erected at this crossing. This should have been done before the last incident or the one before. The Minister should respond to the fact that following a similar incident in 1996 it was recommended that the distance between the signal and the gate be increased. Irish Rail say this crossing is not a priority for upgrading but there have been a litany of accidents there. The semaphore signals are outdated and ought to be replaced by the colour signals which should be at all level crossings. The Minister should ensure that Irish Rail does this immediately.
I also hope the Minister will bring forward the legislation as quickly as possible. The Minister said that Irish Rail had not furnished information sought by the rail inspector. This means that Irish Rail is not answerable to the House. This is unacceptable. There are serious question marks over the handling of this and previous incidents by Irish Rail. There is huge concern locally about the level crossing because Irish Rail has ignored the safety issues involved on numerous occasions. I hope the crossing will be upgraded. Must we wait for a tragedy similar to the one that happened at Slieve Corbally in Donamon when a young girl was killed crossing the railway line? Must we wait for a similar occurrence before the level crossing is upgraded?
I thank Deputies Higgins and Naughten for raising this important matter.
The level crossing at Kiltoom is a CX designated crossing with the level crossing gates normally closed across the railway. It is protected on either side by semaphore signals. At approximately 5.15 a.m. on Friday, 16 February 2001, a freight train travelling from Ballina to North Wall in Dublin ran through and broke both gates at the level crossing. No injuries were sustained. Iarnród Éireann has commenced a formal internal inquiry into the matter and the Minister has asked the company for its speedy completion and a report on its conclusions as a matter of urgency. Pending completion of the inquiry, the Minister has also asked to be provided with an interim report setting out the causes of the incident as soon as these are ascertained.
The chief railway inspecting officer visited the site of the incident and reported that he found the area around the level crossing to be in good condition with new track laid, good sighting of signals, good curvature of track and the vegetation cleared from the trackside. He has sought clarification from Iarnród Éireann on a number of issues, including details of the communication between the signalman at Knockrockery and the gatekeeper, the training details for the driver and gatekeeper, previous inspections of the level crossing by Iarnród Éireann and details of the braking distances required.
It is too early to ascertain the cause or causes of the incident pending completion of the Iarnród Éireann internal inquiry. In the meantime, the company has put in place a speed restriction of 25 mph through Kiltoom level crossing. The normal permitted speed through the crossing was 70 mph for passenger trains and 50 mph for freight trains. Iarnród Éireann is also reviewing the operation of the level crossing with a view to the introduction of colour light signals and other remedial works.
The previous incident to which the Deputies referred occurred on 22 December and involved a passenger train which collided with one of the gates at the level crossing. A formal inquiry was established in this instance also. Iarnród Éireann has advised that the immediate cause of the incident was a failure by the driver to stop short of the gate. The inquiry was investigating whether there were underlying causes of the incident, but this has been suspended pending completion of the inquiry into the latest incident. The Minister has been advised that the driver involved in the incident has been retrained and disciplinary action against him has been instigated.
The railway inspectorate also requested additional information from Iarnród Éireann on this incident which is awaited. The information requested relates to the distances from the signals to the level crossing and the braking distance required at the crossing, taking into account the line speed, gradients and train type.
The latest incident is the fifth to have occurred at Kiltoom level crossing since May 1994. While no injuries have been sustained in any of these incidents, the frequency of the incidents is nevertheless worrying. The Minister has, therefore, directed the railway inspecting officers to undertake an inquiry into the causes of the incident at Kiltoom level crossing on Friday last and into the previous incidents at the level crossing and to furnish her with a full report on these incidents. The Minister also proposes to introduce a new regulatory framework for railway safety. Earlier this month she published a consultation document, Proposals for New Railway Safety Legislation, copies of which she sent to each Member of the Oireachtas.
The consultation document is in the form of a general scheme of a proposed railway safety Bill. The principal features of the proposed Bill are the establishment of an independent railway safety authority with wide-ranging powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement. The proposed Bill will also introduce a "safety case" approach to railway safety and will place a duty on railway operators to operate a safe railway. It will also establish a railway safety advisory council to consider issues relevant to railway safety. The council will comprise representatives of the railway industry, railway unions, bodies representing the public interest, bodies representing employee or public safety and other experts in railway safety. The consultation period finishes on Friday, 2 March 2001, and the Minister would welcome comments on her proposals from Deputies and all other interested parties.
The Dáil adjourned at 8.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 21 February 2001.