Iarnród Eireann denies warning
COMPANY WAS NOT AWARE OF DANGERS
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IARNRÓD Éireann has denied it was warned about erosion at the Malahide viaduct three years before its collapse. In the week it published its findings into the August 21st accident, which closed the northern rail line for nearly three months, the company said reports it was aware of the dangers posed at the bridge were 'untrue'.
'The 2006 bridge scour inspection of the Malahide viaduct, carried out for Iarnród Éireann by independent specialist diver engineers, did not state that there was any reason for concern about scour at that time,' spokesperson said.
'It stated that as the bridge was susceptible to scour, that underwater examinations should continue at intervals not to exceed six years.
'It was Iarnród Éireann's investigation into the accident which, using external hydrological expertise, assembled available data on the viaduct and surrounding area, allowing modelling of the viaduct and the likely effects of water over time.
'It was this postaccident investigation, and not the 2006 report, which retrospectively concluded that scouring may have commenced at the time of the 2006 investiga-
a tion, albeit some distance away from the piers.'
The investigation found the weir supporting the viaduct had required maintenance, but over time, the company had become unaware the structure comprised of both the weir and viaduct.
The construction of viaduct was found to be 'unusual', in that its piers did not extend down to the bedrock, but were instead built upon on the man-made weir, which made then prone to erosion.
Changes in water flows increased that erosion and a rock at the base of the fourth pier washed away a week before the collapse, a fact that was reported to Íarnród Éireann.
However, a ' misunderstanding' between an engineer sent out to inspect the bridge meant they searched for damage to the pier itself, rather than its foundations and three days later, the structure collapsed, narrowly avoiding a major accident.
The investigation, which was independently chaired by chartered civil engineer, John Buxton, and was also advised by a panel of experts led by Dr Eamon McKeogh of University College Cork, was submitted to the Rail Accident Investigation Unit last month, who will considered it in the preparation of their own report.
- Robin KIELY
