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Safety Statistical Report 2009

01 May 2009


Publication cover - Safety Statistical Report 2009

This is the first separately published annual safety statistical report of the Railway Safety Commission (RSC). It has been prepared for the general public in line with section 9(A) of the Railway Safety Act 2005 (the Act), as amended by S.I. No 61 of 2008 European Communities (Railway Safety) Regulations 2008, which requires that the RSC operates in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent manner. This report provides background statistics to a number of key performance indicators with discussion when appropriate.

The RSC is the independent railway safety regulator in the Republic of Ireland and is responsible for overseeing the safety of all railway companies, including Iarnród Éireann, Veolia (Luas Operator), Bord Na Móna where their railway interfaces with public roads, a number of heritage railways and the approval of projects undertaken by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA).

The safety performance of both Iarnród Éireann and Veolia is generally positive. However there were two exceptional events in 2009, the first being the partial collapse of the Broadmeadows Viaduct on the Iarnród Éireann network just north of Malahide Station and the second being the Dublin Bus / Luas tram crash operated by Veolia on O'Connell Street. These two accidents could have had much more serious consequences. Fortunately there were no fatalities in either incident and the RSC are actively engaging with both Iarnród Éireann and Veolia to ensure similar incidents do not reoccur.

Available data indicates that Iarnród Éireann's continuing investment in assets and safety management systems is delivering significant safety benefits. However, imported risk, i.e., from third parties interfacing with the railway, continues to be an issue. While there were no passenger fatalities or serious injuries in 2009, one employee and three trespassers lost their lives. The employee fatality occurred to a contractor involved in the building of the Dunboyne (M3) Commuter Rail line and this accident is subject to a Health & Safety Authority (HSA) investigation. In terms of train operations, there was a moderate increase in the number of Signals Passed at Danger and broken rails. The number of bridge strikes (114) was the same as that in 2008. However, on a positive note, there were decreases in the number of train collisions, derailments and a continued reduction in the number of rolling stock incidents.

The LUAS safety performance, excluding the O'Connell Street accident has been very positive. There were no fatalities in 2009, but four people were seriously injured due to the O'Connell Street accident. The number of road traffic accidents involving a tram was 23, a decrease on the 2008 figure by some 28%. In 2009, tram/pedestrian accidents also reduced by 10% which is encouraging.

Bord Na Móna experienced two derailments in 2009 at level crossings and neither resulted in any injury, with circa 30 minute delays to road traffic being the only negative. There was just one notable accident reported by a heritage railway: a train derailed on the Tralee-Dingle Railway at very low speed and no injuries were sustained.

2009 was a good year overall in terms of railway safety with the exception of the Broadmeadows Viaduct and O'Connell Street accidents. Nonetheless, the RSC continues to foster and encourage railway safety within the railway industry and whenever possible with third parties and the public.