Bridge strikes

n97 mini

For as long as I can remember this bridge is struck by lorries at least once a month. Google even captured the damage... To both sides!
Simple solution: erect an RSJ in front of the bridge, both sides, to protect it by taking the impact. Easy to replace and won't affect train services. And cheaper too.

Why is there no bridge protection?

The cynic in me says that a) it's easier for management to do nothing and b) the staff want the status quo kept as they always carry out repairs on Sundays (double pay)

goingnowhere

Many a bridge is fitted

http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Portlaoise+Road,+Mountrath&aq=4&sll=53.937825,-8.105378&sspn=0.006088,0.01869&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Portlaoise+Rd,+Mountrath,+County+Laois&ll=53.033823,-7.306809&spn=0.001542,0.004672&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.03382,-7.306689&panoid=UYg4cJb0qYDcdXz2cKeYXQ&cbp=12,276.61,,0,-15.25

Priority and limited funds springs to mind

Well they work!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3MUqRRlNmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkS6LnirRI

www.11foot8.com

This is one of those cases you have to think, why don't they just shave a few centimetres off the road surface!

parsi

Or, of course, the stupid truckers could stop before they hit the bridge.

IE and tunnel operators should chase down these vandals and sue them to within an inch of their lives.

foggy_lad

there are bridges like that all over the country like here

holidaygirl

goingnowhere wrote: »

Many a bridge is fitted

http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Portlaoise+Road,+Mountrath&aq=4&sll=53.937825,-8.105378&sspn=0.006088,0.01869&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Portlaoise+Rd,+Mountrath,+County+Laois&ll=53.033823,-7.306809&spn=0.001542,0.004672&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.03382,-7.306689&panoid=UYg4cJb0qYDcdXz2cKeYXQ&cbp=12,276.61,,0,-15.25

Priority and limited funds springs to mind

Fully correct many bridges are fitted and are done on a priority basis and of course are limited due to budgets available.

There are very few staff on double pay on a Sunday most staff are actually on composite rates of pay and do not get additional pay for working weekends. As for saying nothing is done any-time a bridge is struck and reported there is a actually a bridge strike form that has to be completed following a bride inspection by Engineers/Inspectors. If details of the person whom struck the bridge are available the claims dept will & do follow up and a claim lodged with the Insurance company for the cost of the repairs/labour etc.

Of course drivers could just familiarise themselves with bridge heights and the heights of there vehicles.

dowlingm

Unfortunately in at least some places the local authorities resurfaced the road above previous height and didn't change the signs!

n97 mini

If priority was determined by frequency of strikes the one in my post would have been done 20 years ago.

I do think there's a money to be made in repairs and therefore a reluctance to stop that gravy train.

holidaygirl

n97 mini wrote: »

If priority was determined by frequency of strikes the one in my post would have been done 20 years ago.

I do think there's a money to be made in repairs and therefore a reluctance to stop that gravy train.

Do you know the frequency of every bridge strike around the network? I don't but I still believe priority is deemed on frequency and risk. There isn't a bottomless budget and money has to be spent on various renewals and required maintenance work. Do we really want to spend thousands on something that in an ideal world shouldn't be a requirement in many cases drivers either don't know the height of there vehicles or just don't read the signs.

I'm not sure where you think the money is to be made from repairs? Any claims that are made and successful are for the cost of the repairs & labour, there is no profit made.

n97 mini

holidaygirl wrote: »

I'm not sure where you think the money is to be made from repairs?

They're always done on a Sunday!

n97 mini

n97 mini wrote: »

They're always done on a Sunday!

I would imagine that's to reduce the loss of revenue on the rail.

coylemj

I believe this is the All-Ireland champion, it's in Portlaoise, the Mountmellick road where the Portarlington to Limerick Junction line crosses the N80.....

http://www.tinyurl.ie/733

n97 mini

Deleted User wrote: »

I would imagine that's to reduce the loss of revenue on the rail.

How? Friday and Sunday are the two busiest days.

Strikes that affect services are repaired straight away.

Cosmetic strikes are always repaired on Sundays, or Saturday+Sunday if it's a two day job.

Staff are paid double time on Sundays and time and a half on Saturdays.

holidaygirl

n97 mini wrote: »

How? Friday and Sunday are the two busiest days.

Strikes that affect services are repaired straight away.

Cosmetic strikes are always repaired on Sundays, or Saturday+Sunday if it's a two day job.

Staff are paid double time on Sundays and time and a half on Saturdays.

There are very few staff that are paid double time on Sunday's and time and a half on Saturday's the majority of staff are on a composite rate of pay and get no additional payment for working Saturday and Sunday's within there composite hours.

Bigger repair jobs are carried out on Sunday's as there are less services so more time for pocessions.

n97 mini

holidaygirl wrote: »

There are very few staff that are paid double time on Sunday's and time and a half on Saturday's the majority of staff are on a composite rate of pay and get no additional payment for working Saturday and Sunday's within there composite hours.

Can you provide a link to back that up.

Pages like this state that double time is paid to NBRU members, and incredibly they looked for double time, plus a half.

The Labour Court wrote:

In Iarnrod Eireann, the standard working week is either
Monday to Saturday or Monday to Friday. Sunday is a rest day for
all rail operatives employed by the Company and they have the
right to work their rest day or decline to work it when offered.
They are paid double time (2T) for Sunday working.

Are you an employee of the company? I don't see any post on the CoI thread.

parsi

Geez there has been a lot of water under the Industrial Relations bridge in all sectors of the economy since that decision in 1991.

holidaygirl

n97 mini wrote: »

Can you provide a link to back that up.

Pages like this state that double time is paid to NBRU members, and incredibly they looked for double time, plus a half.



Are you an employee of the company? I don't see any post on the CoI thread.

There isn't a post by me on the coi thread from me because but I don't see the need in not an employee of the company.

Unfortunately my laptop has got a virus which won't allow me access the Internet so I'm just on the phone and can't search properly for links. The link you posted is from 1991. Couldn't tell you how many deals have been done since but there was one in 2000/2001 which introduced composite rates of
pay for a large number of staff. Others followed after that.

n97 mini

You could be right. CIE staff could be getting double time every day now!