Train hits cows in Tullamore - Major delays

Blahfool

Been stuck in Kildare on the 16.30 Heuston to Galway for ages now.

Could be worse though, think of the poor b@stards scraping cow of the tracks in this heat.

Del.Monte

https://twitter.com/IrishRail?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Jamie2k9

Blahfool wrote: »

Been stuck in Kildare on the 16.30 Heuston to Galway for ages now.

Could be worse though, think of the poor b@stards scraping cow of the tracks in this heat.

Or the poor passengers on a failed train with more less no air con in 30 degrees heat if not more.

The incident itself was handled very well given the conditions at the time.

Del.Monte

Has there been any reporting of this? Haven't heard mentioned on any news bulletins and what state is the ICR in?

Del.Monte

Del.Monte wrote: »

Has there been any reporting of this? Haven't heard mentioned on any news bulletins and what state is the ICR in?

Saw it here yesterday. https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0628/973964-delays-to-rail-services/

Also here this morning. https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/investigation-underway-after-train-hits-herd-of-cattle-in-offaly-851914.html

Jamie2k9

Del.Monte wrote: »

Has there been any reporting of this? Haven't heard mentioned on any news bulletins and what state is the ICR in?

Some damage but repairable.

Del.Monte

Deleted User wrote: »

Saw it here yesterday. https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0628/973964-delays-to-rail-services/

Also here this morning. https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/investigation-underway-after-train-hits-herd-of-cattle-in-offaly-851914.html

Nice stock photo of a MkIV train on the Dublin/Cork line on that 'Breaking News' link. It's a wonder the ICR wasn't derailed must have been side on as opposed to head on.

IE 222

Del.Monte wrote: »

Nice stock photo of a MkIV train on the Dublin/Cork line on that 'Breaking News' link. It's a wonder the ICR wasn't derailed must have been side on as opposed to head on.

I read a news report yesterday suggesting they couldn't tell if it was 3 or 4 cows around the train and more under the train. Cows under the train would suggest head on to me. There would be a fair amount of damage done hitting 5 or more large cows.

Was this a 100mph section. Wonder how much time the driver had to stop.

Do they go after the farmer in these incidents. I remember hearing something about a incident in Wicklow before where they went after the farmer over the fence not been up to standard.

JayRoc

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Or the poor passengers on a failed train with more less no air con in 30 degrees heat if not more.

The incident itself was handled very well given the conditions at the time.

I'm not claustrophobic but the idea of being stuck on a train between stations, in this heat, with no windows and no aircon is giving me the heebie-jeebies

Del.Monte

IE 222 wrote: »

I read a news report yesterday suggesting they couldn't tell if it was 3 or 4 cows around the train and more under the train. Cows under the train would suggest head on to me. There would be a fair amount of damage done hitting 5 or more large cows.

Was this a 100mph section. Wonder how much time the driver had to stop.

Do they go after the farmer in these incidents. I remember hearing something about a incident in Wicklow before where they went after the farmer over the fence not been up to standard.

As far as I know fencing the railway off from farmland is CIE's responsibility rather than the landowner. However, if it can be proved that gates were left open the shoe's on the other foot.

Jamie2k9

IE 222 wrote: »

I read a news report yesterday suggesting they couldn't tell if it was 3 or 4 cows around the train and more under the train. Cows under the train would suggest head on to me. There would be a fair amount of damage done hitting 5 or more large cows.

Was this a 100mph section. Wonder how much time the driver had to stop.

Do they go after the farmer in these incidents. I remember hearing something about a incident in Wicklow before where they went after the farmer over the fence not been up to standard.

8 was the final number and believe 80mph would have been line speed and probally would have taken mile or more to stop on emergency brake. Will probally cost a couple of hundred thousand to repair.

bobbyss

Blahfool wrote:

Been stuck in Kildare on the 16.30 Heuston to Galway for ages now.

How long was the delay at the end? Were passengers transferred by bus etc? I couldn't cope with that esp with heat. Were you kept informed about expected times etc?

prinzeugen

Thankfully it was not as bad a an accident that I was involved in Scotland. My brother broke several ribs as he was facing the direction of travel. It was a single bull that cost 13 lives further forward.

Lessons must have been learned if a train can survive hitting several cows.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IgRiRkucMUA

In the UK lineside walls/fences are the railways responsibility but animals on crossings are the farmers.

tabbey

Del.Monte wrote: »

As far as I know fencing the railway off from farmland is CIE's responsibility rather than the landowner. However, if it can be proved that gates were left open the shoe's on the other foot.

They will only sue the farmer if he has money or insurance.

In the 1990s, a farmer drove his cattle along the railway from one crossing to another, in Co Roscommon on the Mayo line.

A Knock special hit the cattle, injuring passengers, who sued the farmer and Irish Rail.
The Court laid the main blame on the farmer, The rail company having a lesser liability.
However, as the farmer had no money, Irish Rail or CIE was legally obliged to pay the entire damages.

In my view, only a prison sentence will make such farmers stop their cavalier dangerous practices. The private level crossings should be sealed up also, but this would require a change in law.

Jamie2k9

Suing farmers is not worth there while today, they will never gets the 6 or 7 figure sum to repair the trains. The case here is obvious but will not post. Public liability insurance will end up picking up the bill. It was a very short window as well between 15-20 minutes services. They place telephones at certain farm crossings and it must be used if there.

I would expect guards will also have there investigation but not sure what charges they could bring because proof is a massive problem.

This is likely one of the worst animal collisions in a long time.

In the UK lineside walls/fences are the railways responsibility but animals on crossings are the farmers.

Same here.

IE 222

Did this take place a private crossing?

The farmer must be held responsible one way or another to set an example if so.

By the sounds if it he acted reckless by leading a large herd across a busy railway line without checking before hand or left a gate open after using the crossing himself.

The crossing should be closed off from the farmer at a minimum.

whisky_galore

tabbey wrote: »

In my view, only a prison sentence will make such farmers stop their cavalier dangerous practices. The private level crossings should be sealed up also, but this would require a change in law.

A lot of the lesser used crossings have been sealed up, after landowners have been approached and asked if they need them anymore.

Addle

Morbid of me, but I was wondering if there are any images of this he damaged engine? Just wondering what sort of shape cattle could leave a machine like that in?

Jamie2k9

IE 222 wrote: »

Did this take place a private crossing?

The farmer must be held responsible one way or another to set an example if so.

By the sounds if it he acted reckless by leading a large herd across a busy railway line without checking before hand or left a gate open after using the crossing himself.

The crossing should be closed off from the farmer at a minimum.

I think its a little unfair on the farmer. The biggest problem is people on the line and in all. Trespassers in Athlone and Newbridge tonight with the latter stopping trains for 30 minutes outbound.

Blahfool

bobbyss wrote: »

How long was the delay at the end? Were passengers transferred by bus etc? I couldn't cope with that esp with heat. Were you kept informed about expected times etc?

Late I know - sorry, notifications muted

The driver updated us every 1/2 hour or so, but once it became apparent it was going to be a few hours I got someone to come pick me up.
Irish rail organised buses to ferry people both ways around the affected area.
Can't fault them really, considering the circumstances.
But the news came from Twitter rather than the staff (Had enough on their plates I'm sure).

L1011

Addle wrote: »

Morbid of me, but I was wondering if there are any images of this he damaged engine? Just wondering what sort of shape cattle could leave a machine like that in?

Its a DMU rather than a loco, it would be likely that all the front panels are completely caved in. Photos will circulate on enthusiast groups eventually.

Del.Monte

L1011 wrote: »

Its a DMU rather than a loco, it would be likely that all the front panels are completely caved in. Photos will circulate on enthusiast groups eventually.

I already posted that it was an ICR and not a loco but the post was removed for some reason.

Jamie2k9

L1011 wrote: »

Its a DMU rather than a loco, it would be likely that all the front panels are completely caved in. Photos will circulate on enthusiast groups eventually.

I don't think so, any staff posting such photo's from an investigation could land themselves in trouble. Main damage will be underneath and the area below the yellow ends.