More maintenance problems at Irish Rail

Hungerford

In summary, the RAIU found that a maintenance machine derailment at Limerick Junction was caused by life-expired points [which were 60 years old] and a failure to carry out proper inspections of the wheels of the maintenance vehicle itself. The vehicle had derailed several times in the past but it never occurred to them to check the wheels.

And guess what? Once again, some of IE's inspection records were found to be missing. :eek:

http://www.raiu.ie/uploads/raiu/IE%20OTM%20Derailment%20Limerick%20Junction%20Investigation%20Report%20R2010%20003.pdf

foggy_lad

from their twitter earlier today

# 12:30 Cork Heuston departed 45mins late about 10 hours ago via UberTwitter


Services to and from Heuston are returning to normal after earlier disruption about 12 hours ago via UberTwitter


Services to and from Heuston are running approx 30mins late. This is due to the breakdown of a maintenance machine overnight at Portlaoise about 15 hours ago via UberTwitter


05:15 Westport Heuston is running 60mins late about 15 hours ago via UberTwitter

saya a lot about their reliability when their own maintenance vehicles cause more disruption.

important part of the report

The immediate cause of the accident was:
 The derailment of the wheels as a result of the wheels taking diverging routes on the track due to the poor interface created by degraded condition of the switch rail and the wheel profile.
The causal factors identified were:
 The poor condition of the number 27A points;
 The flange sharpness of the wheels on the leading wheelset of the On Track Machine.
The underlying factors were:
 The lack of measurement of the wheel profiles as part of the maintenance of the On Track Machine;
 The lack of measurement of the wheel profiles following previous derailments of the On Track Machine.
Recommendations
 Iarnród Éireann should put in place a formalised process to ensure that life expired points are removed from service, where this is not possible a risk assessment should be carried out and appropriate controls should be implemented to manage the risks identified;
 Iarnród Éireann should ensure On Track Machine maintenance personnel are trained and competent to examine the wheelsets.

Rud

[QUOTE=

http://www.raiu.ie/uploads/raiu/IE%20OTM%20Derailment%20Limerick%20Junction%20Investigation%20Report%20R2010%20003.pdf[/QUOTE]

great link!!

Judgement Day

Great trainspotting stuff there! Once again CIE/IE's maintenance standards are found to be like something from "Oh Mr.Porter" - try watching this clip (1.40 to 2.50 in particular). Should be compulsory for IE engineers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1XxG33PE3k

Hungerford

foggy_lad wrote: »

from their twitter earlier today saya a lot about their reliability when their own maintenance vehicles cause more disruption.

That incident was apparently another derailment. Cue another interesting RAIU report in 12 months time...

foggy_lad

Hungerford wrote: »

That incident was apparently another derailment. Cue another interesting RAIU report in 12 months time...

from that report and others there seems to be an awful lot of minor derailments and accidents due either to driver/staff error or dodgey track/equipment. suddenly i dont feel as safe getting the train!