Maintained to the highest standards of Iarnrod Eireann?

Judgement Day · 12-09-2010 5:08pm #1

The pedestrian footbridge at Gorey has to be 'experienced' and then examined to be believed. These pics were taken today but I recall that the bridge was in much the same state at least two years ago. Its sponginess is quite unnerving which is what led me to take a closer look. Many of the strips of metal covering the joints in the decking underneath the bridge are heavily corroded and in some places have fallen off. On the top of the bridge some of these joints have been patched but nonetheless the bridge remains very spongy (sorry for the high tech description) and in my non-engineering opinion is an accident waiting to happen. Comments? Am I just being an alarmist?
Anybody know of similar structures that could be a cause for concern?

L1011 · 12-09-2010 5:46pm

Citybound platform at Confey, surface cracking as its subsiding in to the canal - so they just resurface it. Back barrier is still alarmingly leaning towards its eventual fate in the Royal.

admiralofthefleet · 12-09-2010 8:11pm

the bridge at arklow is horrible, i hate walking over it, the concrete slabs are loose too.
if your heading to dublin on a 19:15 train and your in a wheelchair how are you meant to get over to platform 2, there is no lift or disabled access

mickydoomsux · 12-09-2010 8:33pm

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

if your heading to dublin on a 19:15 train and your in a wheelchair how are you meant to get over to platform 2, there is no lift or disabled access

If you contact the station ahead of time (which passengers with special needs are instructed to do in the passengers charter) then arrangements will be made for you. Either the train will be brought in on the station side or you'll be taxied to the next station where you can gain access the train.

enterprise · 12-09-2010 8:46pm

I didn't realise Gorey was now Arklow?

Judgement Day wrote: »

The pedestrian footbridge at Arklow has to be 'experienced' and then examined to be believed. These pics were taken today but I recall that the bridge was in much the same state at least two years ago. Its sponginess is quite unnerving which is what led me to take a closer look. Many of the strips of metal covering the joints in the decking underneath the bridge are heavily corroded and in some places have fallen off. On the top of the bridge some of these joints have been patched but nonetheless the bridge remains very spongy (sorry for the high tech description) and in my non-engineering opinion is an accident waiting to happen. Comments? Am I just being an alarmist?
Anybody know of similar structures that could be a cause for concern?

trad · 12-09-2010 8:53pm

Send the photo's to the Health and Safety Authority but you won't be popular locally if they close the station.

dowlingm · 12-09-2010 8:55pm

JD - considered writing to the RSC to see if they rattle their cage?

Judgement Day · 12-09-2010 9:21pm

dowlingm wrote: »

JD - considered writing to the RSC to see if they rattle their cage?

Might well do. I actually like the bridge and would hate to see a concrete replacement but the whole structure needs a makeover. I will drop them a line next week and report back - may even go the whole hog and get the location correct too.

highlydebased · 12-09-2010 9:33pm

IE and Standards dont belong in the same sentence I dont think.

Lifelike · 12-09-2010 9:57pm

So that's the bridge you were talking about...

patrickbrophy18 · 12-09-2010 10:00pm

I suppose the low frequency of trains through this particular station lowers the priority for the maintanance of it's assets. Despite the bye-laws relating to railway trespassing, it wouldn't surprise me if passengers with sketchy opinions of that particular bridge decided to cross the tracks the improper way. Then again, you never know when Irish Rail might be doing a freight run or returning rolling stock to Dublin on The South-Eastern Suburban line. Nevertheless, if the metal holding the bridge in place is corroding, then it is an accident waiting to happen. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed.:eek:

Judgement Day · 12-09-2010 10:09pm

patrickbrophy18 wrote: »

I suppose the low frequency of trains through this particular station lowers the priority for the maintanance of it's assets. Despite the bye-laws relating to railway trespassing, it wouldn't surprise me if passengers with sketchy opinions of that particular bridge decided to cross the tracks the improper way. Then again, you never know when Irish Rail might be doing a freight run or returning rolling stock to Dublin on The South-Eastern Suburban line. Nevertheless, if the metal holding the bridge in place is corroding, then it is an accident waiting to happen. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed.:eek:

Don't understand most of your post. The frequency of trains should have no bearing whatsoever on the maintenance of assets - things are either maintained in a safe condition or they are not. I don't think most passengers notice things like the state of footbridges but they probably would assume that they are properly maintained. I had to use the bridge today for the 15.26 train for Enniscorthy and did not cross by way of the track. As for a freight run on the DSER section.....:rolleyes:

Hungerford · 12-09-2010 11:16pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Am I just being an alarmist?

Nope. I hope you send all the relevant info to the RSC. The level of corrosion on that bridge is scary. :eek:

foggy_lad · 13-09-2010 1:25am

Is that bridge in arklow or gorey? I might drop by and do a little stress testing:-)

Run_to_da_hills · 13-09-2010 4:33am

I just hope to God that they don't replace it with one of those horrible "Sam Stephenson" monstrosities that are dotted right across the Dart route.

This line once boasted of the finest selection of Victorian wroth iron riveted foot bridges in the country but rather than have them refurbished they were replaced by such ugliness. Some survived and were cladded in powder coated ducting which soon decayed and became targeted by graffiti artists and also turned into public urinals. (Footbridge leading onto Hawks Cliff Vico Road and also bridge down from Lords Walk along Metals between Sandycove and Glenageary)

CIE and aesthetics do not exist, Is there any planning permission needed for the styling of these bridges?. I am sure in some countries they would be forced to keep them in line with the surroundings. They are so horrendous that they can be spotted from the top of Killiney Hill or along the Merrion Road.

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Layzehfoo · 13-09-2010 4:56am

Wheelchair users can be such a pain in the arse, can't they? Why do they need to use the train? Can't they get the bus instead? Or have a little level crossing?

(For the record, i don't give a hoot for looks, as long as disabled get access.)

Layzehfoo · 13-09-2010 4:59am

Also, OP, it's a matter of public safety, hope you follow it up as best you can. Having bridges in that condition is unacceptable in this day & age.

-Chris- · 13-09-2010 7:22am

Layzehfoo wrote: »

Wheelchair users can be such a pain in the arse, can't they? Why do they need to use the train? Can't they get the bus instead? Or have a little level crossing?

(For the record, i don't give a hoot for looks, as long as disabled get access.)

I think Mickeydoomsux's post has dealt with this tbh.

Layzehfoo · 13-09-2010 8:10am

My bad chris, just got a bit vexed at the previous poster waxing lyrical about old bridges that, if kept, would have shut wheelchair users out of the stations in question.

Run_to_da_hills · 13-09-2010 12:13pm

Layzehfoo wrote: »

Wheelchair users can be such a pain in the arse, can't they? Why do they need to use the train? Can't they get the bus instead? Or have a little level crossing?

(For the record, i don't give a hoot for looks, as long as disabled get access.)

They can easily accommodate wheelchair users without having to turn nearly every Dart station along the east coast into a theme park.

I doubt if we will see too much of this type of vandalism in the UK, the wheelchair access job could have been done a lot more discreetly even down to the colour scheme, eg Glenageary, Dalkey and Sandycove stations are reasonably acceptable. The coastal stations ie the ones that should have been "protected" are the worst, ie Booterstown, Killiney and Blackrock.

Cookie_Monster · 13-09-2010 12:22pm

Those bridges get trashed very easily too. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to cover a DART station with glass obviously does not live in Dublin. The one is Killiney is rusted already in places and many panels are cracked or smashed.

Run_to_da_hills · 13-09-2010 12:45pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Those bridges get trashed very easily too. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to cover a DART station with glass obviously does not live in Dublin. The one is Killiney is rusted already in places and many panels are cracked or smashed.

A lot of this is down to materials, preparation and finish.

I had a good look at the one at Blackrock Station. Many of the smaller components were powder coated also stainless steel fittings were used up against mild steel will cause staining.

If the preparation work was not done correctly on the painting, ie shot blasted within hours before coating rust will burst through. This will pose very high maintenance costs as they further deteriorate. Also powder coating chips easily especially on sharp edges and corners.

They should have galvanized the lot from the beginning giving the direct exposure to the sea air., at least the light gray would have been a bit more discrete.

godtabh · 13-09-2010 12:46pm

MYOB wrote: »

Citybound platform at Confey, surface cracking as its subsiding in to the canal - so they just resurface it. Back barrier is still alarmingly leaning towards its eventual fate in the Royal.

You obliviously didn't see any of the groundworks they did last year. They dug up the platform. Placed reinforced cages in there to shore it up (may have piled it t00) and backed filled it.

Do you see any cracks now? If all they did was resurfaced it you would be back to square one in no time

godtabh · 13-09-2010 12:50pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

The frequency of trains should have no bearing whatsoever on the maintenance of assets - things are either maintained in a safe condition or they are not.

It all comes down to risk management. There is a large chance of falling down tonight and kill 100 people it would be done now.If there is a remote chance of it falling down and kill nobody it would be a while before it got sorted.

L1011 · 13-09-2010 12:55pm

godtabh wrote: »

You obliviously didn't see any of the groundworks they did last year. They dug up the platform. Placed reinforced cages in there to shore it up (may have piled it t00) and backed filled it.

Do you see any cracks now? If all they did was resurfaced it you would be back to square one in no time

All I saw was the original resurface job. If they've actually done some proper work since I'm amazed, but I'll retract my statement. I don't use the train often anymore.

However, resurfacing with asphalt is more forgiving than you might imagine for cracks appearing

Judgement Day · 13-09-2010 1:13pm

godtabh wrote: »

It all comes down to risk management. There is a large chance of falling down tonight and kill 100 people it would be done now.If there is a remote chance of it falling down and kill nobody it would be a while before it got sorted.

Bit like Malahide.....:rolleyes:

godtabh · 13-09-2010 1:17pm

MYOB wrote: »

All I saw was the original resurface job. If they've actually done some proper work since I'm amazed, but I'll retract my statement. I don't use the train often anymore.

However, resurfacing with asphalt is more forgiving than you might imagine for cracks appearing

Its not really. In compression maybe but not in tension

Judgement Day wrote: »

Bit like Malahide.....:rolleyes:

I never said IR get it right! I've seen their bridge replacement policy first hand and how they work priority. It comes down to money (not the direct capital cost) and their inputs. All I'll say is I'm glad I dont use the train that much out side of the dart any more.

dowlingm · 13-09-2010 2:16pm

The Malahide example is valid though. The reports after it showed that IE's risk management calculations are complete pants.

nanu nanu · 13-09-2010 9:02pm

You can't beat the auld pop rivets! Is there any silicon used to stop rain water from rusting the underside of the pop rivets?

foggy_lad · 13-09-2010 9:11pm

nanu nanu wrote: »

You can't beat the auld pop rivets! Is there any silicon used to stop rain water from rusting the underside of the pop rivets?

ah sur they are cheap enough to bang a few more in if they start to rust away!

nanu nanu · 13-09-2010 9:15pm

Good God no, for that one uses the auld zip tie!:D

Oliver1985 · 13-09-2010 9:16pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I just hope to God that they don't replace it with one of those horrible "Sam Stephenson" monstrosities that are dotted right across the Dart route.

This line once boasted of the finest selection of Victorian wroth iron riveted foot bridges in the country but rather than have them refurbished they were replaced by such ugliness. Some survived and were cladded in powder coated ducting which soon decayed and became targeted by graffiti artists and also turned into public urinals. (Footbridge leading onto Hawks Cliff Vico Road and also bridge down from Lords Walk along Metals between Sandycove and Glenageary)

CIE and aesthetics do not exist, Is there any planning permission needed for the styling of these bridges?. I am sure in some countries they would be forced to keep them in line with the surroundings. They are so horrendous that they can be spotted from the top of Killiney Hill or along the Merrion Road.

Looks like one the old security posts from the Border

Dyr · 13-09-2010 9:55pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Thats a bridge? jesus.

Judgement Day · 14-09-2010 5:37pm

Plenty more where this came from here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1605831&fbid=1557630935999&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=367387502018&id=1092000966 from The Save the Rail Facebook page.

A few more pics like this and 'Save the Rail' will do CIE/IEs job for them.