There is a "predictable risk" of a fatal train derailment within two years unless immediate action is taken, according to a new report on the railway system.
The Cabinet is to be asked next week to approve immediate spending of £23 million on the rail network next year, following receipt of the report, which proposes total investment of £590 million in the system over 15 years. The Review of Railway Safety in Ireland was commissioned by Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, in the wake of the train derailment at Knockcrokery, Co Roscommon, last year.
She received a draft report from the British-based International Risk Management Services last week. A full report is expected to be ready by the weekend, in time for Cabinet next Tuesday.
A spokesman for the Minister said no comment would be made until the final document was put to Government. However, sources said the report suggested an initial investment of £23 million next year. It is understood this will be cleared by Ministers. In spite of the fact that there has been no passenger fatality on the network since 1981, the report identifies the risk before the turn of the century as "predictable, intolerable and unacceptable". Problems of wearing have arisen on some sections of the 600 miles of jointed track in the Republic. The report urges the extension of "continuous welded track" on concrete sleepers to all parts.
The areas most seriously affected in this respect are understood to be between Mullingar and Sligo; west of Athlone to Ballina and Westport; between Mallow and Tralee; between Kilkenny and Waterford; between Arklow and Rosslare, and between Limerick and Rosslare.
Signalling is also identified as a serious problem in the report, with the authors warning of the risk of collision, in particular, at Heuston Station in Dublin. The report also refers to the need for staff training in the area of safety management.