IRISH RAIL HAS said the number of rail bridge strikes is rising again now after years in decline.
In 2014, there were 85 bridge strikes across the network, but this year to date there have been 68 strikes. The DART has seen the largest increase in the number of collisions with 25 taking place already this year.
On Thursday last two separate bridges in the Grand Canal area were hit by two different vehicles within the space of two hours, delaying trains and “causing traffic mayhem”, the rail company said.
“The increase may be explained by an increase in construction traffic, but it is still not acceptable that truck drivers in many instances do not know the height of the vehicle they are driving,” it added in a statement.
Today it released a video aimed at “dumb truckers” to highlight the dangers of hitting bridges and the damage it can cause.
The company has a downloadable map that it says can be accessed by anyone wishing to check bridge heights but despite this, there has been a “worrying” increase.
“We have endeavoured to inform and educate drivers, we have advertised, we have improved our signage, we have seen prosecutions and we have introduced new technologies – the message has to get through. It is basic safety for truckers to know the height of their vehicles and the bridges on their routes,” a spokesperson said.
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