Irish Rail wants warning system to stop HGVs hitting railway bridges

Iarnród Éireann has advertised for a new safety system to help prevent lorries hitting railway bridges such as in Co Kildare.

The publication for tender for an early warning system including “bridge warning, prevention and pre-emptive systems and technologies” follows the company’s comments last year that “ dumb truckers” were to blame for interruptions to services.

The company called on lorry drivers to “wise up” to height restrictions after bridge strikes rose from 72 for 2012, to 92 in 2016 and some 65 already this year.

The company said the yearly total of bridge strikes continues to increase with more, larger vehicles taking to the roads due to the continued economic recovery.

This brings added road safety risks, particularly where routes intersect with railway lines.

Last year Iarnród Éireann said: “The basic intelligence and competence of drivers involved in these incidents must now be called into question”, but now the company has decided it needs a new warning system

Bridge strikes are most frequent in the Dart area where they can disrupt the daily commute of tens of thousands of travellers.

Engineers are required to assess bridges that have been hit, often causing lengthy delays to train services and traffic.

Iarnród Éireann has encouraged truck drivers to download a map on its website showing the heights of bridges around the country, and the company has produced a video which outlines the dangers posed to road users when a bridge is struck.

Iarnród Éireann said bridge strikes were one of the railway’s biggest safety risks despite repeated awareness campaigns.