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EdEMD |
Massive crash on Red line |
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http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0916/luas.html time for barriers on all the red line crossings from
Connolly - Heuston??
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garfieldsghost |
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EdEMD wrote: I'm guessing you've got your tongue firmly in your cheek there, Ed. *Edit: getting ahead of the game, sorry* Next Heritage Railway Group meeting: Oslo Bar, Connolly Station, Dublin 1, Sat. October 3rd at 2.30pm. www.heritagerailway.ie www.newirishlines.org
Last Edited By: garfieldsghost
17/09/09 10:40:16.
Edited 1 times.
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irishrailwaynews |
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This has indeed been a major accident and we understand that there may be fatalities.
Can we bear this in mind please when making posts. IRN |
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garfieldsghost |
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As I understand it, there have been no fatalities but three people have been seriously injured. At this stage, the rumour about deaths is down to individuals
on Twitter and other forums blurring the line between speculation and fact...
Next Heritage Railway Group meeting: Oslo Bar, Connolly Station, Dublin 1, Sat. October 3rd at 2.30pm. www.heritagerailway.ie www.newirishlines.org |
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FGW125 |
RTE Report | ||
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15 people have been taken to hospital after a serious collision involving a Luas tram and a bus in Dublin's O'Connell Street. Three passengers were described as 'seriously injured'. The driver of the Luas was trapped for a time in the tram and was cut out by the emergency services.
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The accident occurred just after 3pm this afternoon. There is widespread traffic disruption in the city following the accident and gardaí are diverting traffic away from the O'Connell Street and Parnell Street areas. Luas Red Line services are only operating between Tallaght and Smithfield as a result. O'Connell Street northbound is closed and the right lane is also
blocked southbound.
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markitg |
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MidlandDeltic |
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I can only come up with one plausible scenario as to how this happened looking at those pictures - and the blame would not be clear cut if it is the case. Will
be interesting to see the outcome of the inquiry in due course.
Sean |
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Commuter 29422 |
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Here's a couple of photos of the crash scene on O' Connell Street this evening; the luas set involved was 3002 (as mentioned above) and the bus was
AV266 from Summerhill Garage (on route 16 at the time). I hope hope it's ok with the managers of IRN that I'm posting these photos, if there's any
problems with doing so please let me know as soon as possible/remove them etc! I sincerely hope that all those who were injured in today's crash make a
full recovery!
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gswr |
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Some of the speculation ascribing blame in advance of any enquiry (or even evidence) is totally out of order.
However I have a question, maybe for electronic engineers: Ordinary traffic lights would seem to have a very reliable interlocking or fail-safe feature in that green lights on conflicting routes never seem to happen - even on old lights whihc may net be well-maintianed. Is the interlocking between ordinary road lights and the special Luas white lights of a similarly high degree of reliability? Could there possibly be issues about different systems having more problems in terms of absolutely fail-safe integration? |
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garfieldsghost |
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Dr John Lynch has just been interviewed on the radio. He said that CCTV footage from the bus has been examined, which clearly shows that the bus had a green
light and so had right of way.
Next Heritage Railway Group meeting: Oslo Bar, Connolly Station, Dublin 1, Sat. October 3rd at 2.30pm. www.heritagerailway.ie www.newirishlines.org |
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UKTrainSpotter |
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garfieldsghost wrote:Which radio station was Dr Lynch interviewed ? |
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garfieldsghost |
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2FM midday news bulletin. I'd imagine it will be featured on the RTÉ Radio 1 news also.
Here's a link to the story on the RTÉ website: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0917/luas.html Next Heritage Railway Group meeting: Oslo Bar, Connolly Station, Dublin 1, Sat. October 3rd at 2.30pm. www.heritagerailway.ie www.newirishlines.org |
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Losty Dublin |
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From Irish Times on line...
The company that operates the Luas system today refused to comment on a claim by the head of CIÉ that the Dublin Bus involved in a collision with a Luas yesterday had a green light at the time. Three separate investigations have begun into yesterday afternoon's crash which left at least 21 people injured. The Luas driver and two bus passengers were seriously injured in the incident at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street in which the Luas crashed into the side of a No 16 bus travelling toward Santry. The Luas was derailed. Separate investigations into the incident are being carried out by gardaí, Dublin Bus and Veolia.The Railway Safety Commission told The Irish Times the crash, as a road traffic incident, did not come under its remit. "We will obviously assist the gardaí in their investigation if required," a spokeswoman said. CIÉ chairman Dr John Lynch told reporters today he had viewed CCTV footage of the incident and it "clearly" showed the bus involved in the crash had a green light. "Obviously, there has to be an investigation," he said. "The indications that we have, on the CCTV it's fairly clear that the driver had a green light." In a statement this afternoon, Veolia Transport said it would not be commenting. "Veolia Transport is conducting its own investigation and is fully cooperating with the Garda investigation which is still ongoing," it said. "Veolia Transport has been advised by the Gardaí not to comment on this investigation whilst it is ongoing." Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash. "It was pretty horrific looking and an incident that we don't want to see repeated." One witness told The Irish Times yesterday it appeared the bus had been forced to stop in the junction by several pedestrians crossing in front of it just before the crash. Local businessman Alan Hunter, who was standing outside Clerys at the time of the crash said he did not see the impact. "What seemed to happen was that the bus had to brake in the middle of the junction because there were pedestrians running out in front of him. That happens all the time, particularly on O'Connell Street." Another man who didn't wish to be named said the bus had been stopped at a red light before the Luas junction, but moved forward into the junction to allow a Garda car to pass. Gardaí said they could not confirm any of these reports because the matter was still under investigation. They appealed today for witnesses to contact them. A spokesman said it is believed a number of passengers on the bus and the tram may have left the scene before emergency services arrived and detectives would like to speak to them. The Luas Red Line is operating a limited service between Tallaght and Smithfield stops only today. However Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus. O'Connell St was closed northbound this morning with Dublin Bus services diverting via Gardiner Street. However, the road has now reopened to traffic. A total of 21 people attended the Mater hospital and two of them were in a serious condition last night. Three people were brought to Beaumont Hospital where they were treated for shock, while a further patient was transferred to the hospital from the Mater with serious head injuries yesterday evening. A further two people were treated at St James's Hospital. A number of people who had been left trapped on the bus had to be cut free from the wreckage by members of Dublin City Fire Brigade. Since the Luas light rail tram system was introduced in 2004, there have been 13 minor road traffic incidents, 12 incidents which involved "minor contact" with pedestrians and two derailments, one of which occurred as a result of yesterday's collision. A pedestrian in his 50s died in February, 2008 when he was struck by a Luas tram in Tallaght. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0917/breaking4.htm
www.heritagerailway.ie/
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trackie1 |
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What will be the recommendations from this accident? Lifting barriers in O'Connell street for the luas with security fencing along the lineside. Maybe
cross railway at footbridge only sign? Seriously, this was a very serious accident and illustrates how dangerous a full tram can be. I am worried that this
will lead to a loss of some speed on the route by the trams.
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garfieldsghost |
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trackie1 wrote:The thing is the accident occured at a location the trams already traverse at a crawl because of the jaywalking problem.... Next Heritage Railway Group meeting: Oslo Bar, Connolly Station, Dublin 1, Sat. October 3rd at 2.30pm. www.heritagerailway.ie www.newirishlines.org
Last Edited By: garfieldsghost
17/09/09 20:02:44.
Edited 2 times.
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Wilkinstown |
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garfieldsghost wrote: I assume Lynch would not say this unless it was true. But it may not be the full story. Irish Rail told the media the bridge at Malahide had been examined two days before it collapsed. They did not say why it was examined and encouraged the impression that the examination was routine rather than the result of a warning from a member of the public. This accident is a particularly serious incident not least because of the resulting injuries. There are many interested parties and the farce of five different enquiries. Obviously the operators will have internal investigations but one would have thought that the independent public interest enquiry could be handled by one body - an illustration of the necessity for a body modeled on the US National Transportation Safety Body (NTSB). |
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MGH2 |
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I assume Lynch would not say this unless it was true.
True or not, I don't think it's right that he should comment on an such an incident in this manner in advance of the formal report being published. |
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UKTrainSpotter |
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MGH2 wrote:I agree too. His comments were very poorly timed and have led to everyone forming all sorts of opinions as to where the blame lies. This is what the various enquiries are supposed to do, and with all respects to him, it is not for Dr Lynch to predetermine its outcome. If it subsequently transpires that the bus was at fault then the chariman may well have to resign. Meanwhile Veolia did the right thing by saying nothing. |
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Wilkinstown |
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Lynch is also quoted in the Irish Times as saying (in respect of the bus) - " What can a driver do if he has a green light other than to go through
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Strikes me as a very strange comment - assuming it is correct is he hinting at something or merely making a flippant and somewhat ignorant comment ? Lynch could well have made his position untenable, although there is as yet insufficient hard information to judge. |
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EdEMD |
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garfieldsghost wrote:Not always, Ive seen them really fly across on occasions, in both directions What the media fails to mention are the 2 cop cars that went across the Luas line, in the centre of O'Connell St in the seconds before the crash, (they do it a lot), or the 2 old dears that the bus stopped to let them cross the street, despite the red man showing. The cause could be put down to either driver being distracted, and by something that in theory they should not have to watching out for, particularly the cop cars. There is a vigilance device on the Luas trams, but if a Luas passes a signal at danger will the brakes be applied? Granted having a Luas stopped across O'Connell St is not the best of ideas |
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irishRail201 |
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Has anything else come to light about what may have happened?
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