Number of trucks hitting rail bridges falls

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN has said there has been a dramatic reduction in the numbers of trucks hitting its bridges.

Following years of significant increases in the number of bridges being regularly struck by lorries, numbers began to reduce in late 2006.

So far this year the number of such incidents is less than 38 per cent of 2006 levels. Iarnród Éireann credits the decrease in crashes - which result in significant costs and disruption to services - to a publicity campaign it ran.

It also prosecuted offenders when they could be apprehended and signage and lighting were improved. The company also worked with the Irish Road Haulage Association to raise awareness of the issue.

The company said there was "no excuse for a bridge strike, for the safety risk it causes to rail users, road users and pedestrians alike, and for the resulting delays to rail and road traffic".

However, incidents are still occurring. Last week, a bridge at Sandwith Street near Pearse Station in Dublin was struck.

"At only 3.68m (12 feet), it is visibly extremely low, but still an idiotic driver struck the bridge, causing 15-minute delays to all rail services on one of the busiest sections of line in the network," said a spokesman.

He said the company would try to reduce incidents further and "continue our aggressive policy of highlighting the incompetence of those hauliers who drive around seemingly blissfully unaware of their load and bridge heights, and we will continue to pursue prosecutions".