Dublin County Coroner's court heard yesterday how a teenage couple were hit by a train beside the Dublin to Sligo railway track in Leixlip last July.
The Coroner, Dr Kieran Gerraghty, was told Jennifer O'Reilly (15) and David English (17) "showed no indication that they saw the train".
An Iarnrod Eireann train driver, Mr Kieran Harding, saw the couple 150 yards from him. He applied "maximum emergency brakes" and sounded the horn. His speed was 40 m.p.h.
Ms O'Reilly died instantly from "massive head, neck and chest injuries". Mr English had severe injuries and died the next morning.
Mr Anthony Kinsella was walking with his wife and saw the couple in an embrace beside the rail line. He said he had thought: "They could have picked a better place".
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and a recommendation that CIE erect fencing beside rail tracks where there were maintenance compounds.
