Landslide closes train station

JohnC. · 01-01-2014 12:27pm #1

http://www.thejournal.ie/waterford-train-station-landslide-1245324-Jan2014/

This landslide apparently happened yesterday evening. There's a couple of blurry pictures attached to the article, but I can't really make out if the debris is actually covering the tracks. They say there's bus transfers to Kilkenny and the Waterford station will be closed for at least a day.

IE twitter seems to suggest they not only have to clear the debris, but have to make sure there isn't a danger of more landslides, in response to someone suggesting they just have people board a train a little further down the track.

mike65 · 01-01-2014 12:30pm

Just posted this on Rail Transport sub forum (yes there is one!), while its clearly been very wet and windy period you'd have to wonder about the kind of monitoring that is done of that whole cliff face.

Aestivalis · 01-01-2014 1:42pm

Jaysus, half of mount misery falls on top of the train station and hardly a decent photo around.
Anybody got some?

JohnC. · 01-01-2014 1:59pm

Looking at "First for Waterford" WLR FM whose "team brings you the latest Waterford news" you wouldn't think anything had happened. Not even on their twitter. Though they do let us know this morning that racing is going ahead in Tramore.

cbl593h · 01-01-2014 2:57pm

There's good pictures if you're a member of "Waterford gang" on facecloth.

Faq · 01-01-2014 3:19pm

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/q71/s720x720/1557530_560057540743876_426000949_n.jpg

danjo-xx · 01-01-2014 7:08pm

I thought that whole cliff was as solid as a rock...no pun intended.

tomwaterford · 01-01-2014 7:41pm

does this mean theres more rockface for peopleto paint county coulers on
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sully · 01-01-2014 7:57pm

Additional photos (click to enlarge);

danjo-xx · 02-01-2014 8:48pm

mike65 · 02-01-2014 8:50pm

Looking at that you'd have to wonder about the rest of it now its been exposed and with more violent weather on and off for at least a couple more weeks if the computer models can be trusted.

shockwave · 03-01-2014 12:22am

Its a shame that rock with the crappy flag on it is still there.

wellboytoo · 03-01-2014 1:21am

shockwave wrote: »

Its a shame that rock with the crappy flag on it is still there.

with a name like that, do it again! and take it down.

road_high · 03-01-2014 3:37pm

Could they not have used the railway line on the other side of the platform thus avoiding the damaged bit?

CardBordWindow · 03-01-2014 3:53pm

I think the possibility of further debris falling is more the issue than the actual damage. They are going to have to reinforce the cliff face first I'd say.

Trick of the Tail · 03-01-2014 6:53pm

road_high wrote: »

Could they not have used the railway line on the other side of the platform thus avoiding the damaged bit?

They can, but it's a bay platform and the longer trains don't fit. Also, the damaged line is 'through' to Belview port, where the DFDS liners run from.

And, some of the signalling rods and cables have been damaged, making it difficult to work any traffic.

Apparently they're going to start using the bay platform on Monday, using hand signalling if necessary.

Jamie2k9 · 03-01-2014 11:26pm

Trick of the Tail wrote: »

They can, but it's a bay platform and the longer trains don't fit. Also, the damaged line is 'through' to Belview port, where the DFDS liners run from.

And, some of the signalling rods and cables have been damaged, making it difficult to work any traffic.

Apparently they're going to start using the bay platform on Monday, using hand signalling if necessary.

One other little problem pic number 24
http://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2014/0103/495778-floods/

AdMMM · 04-01-2014 11:11am

Has anyone got any of the bus transfers yet? Do they leave at the scheduled time that the train is meant to, or a bit earlier because it takes longer to get to Kilkenny by bus?

danjo-xx · 04-01-2014 8:22pm

From twitter

saintchrisburg · 05-01-2014 1:16am

Might sound funny, but I was down with the missus at Grattan Quay for a few minutes around 6ish, and I saw the area of the landslide since they had a light there (don't recall if there was always a light there or it's just due to the clear-up they have to do) and we both thought it actually looked nice the way it was lit up - kind of like a nice natural feature of the landscape.

Aquos76 · 05-01-2014 1:21am

The lights are there to facilitate the clean up, they are working round the clock to get the train station reopened again.

I agree with you thou, it does actually enhance the area

jebus84 · 05-01-2014 2:10am

thought the same thing about the lights aswell

road_high · 05-01-2014 2:20am

Has the bus transfer been quicker than the time it takes the train?

Jamie2k9 · 05-01-2014 2:28am

road_high wrote: »

Has the bus transfer been quicker than the time it takes the train?

Its roughly the same time if the 5 minute stop in KK is factored and the few minutes required when some services cross in Ballyhale. Thomastwon-Waterford is the worst section of the track for low speeds. Services are delayed no more than 10 mins departing KK.

Aestivalis · 06-01-2014 2:24pm

Train station was flooded at high tide today.
Landslide still covering the tracks. I'd say it'll be a fair few weeks until its back to normal.

Jamie2k9 · 06-01-2014 2:49pm

services resume form 14.50 today from the bay platform but a log while before they use the main platform.

Max Powers · 06-01-2014 2:52pm

Aestivalis wrote: »

Train station was flooded at high tide today.
Landslide still covering the tracks. I'd say it'll be a fair few weeks until its back to normal.

if rocks still covering tracks, that is ridiculous. Doesnt take much for a digger to get in there to clear it. Get the first stage done FFS CIE.

Jamie2k9 · 06-01-2014 3:05pm

Max Powers wrote: »

if rocks still covering tracks, that is ridiculous. Doesnt take much for a digger to get in there to clear it. Get the first stage done FFS CIE.

Of course we have the expert in dealing with such a problem. It's not just about clearing the rocks, they would of knocked more done to secure the area before clearing....

Max Powers · 06-01-2014 4:55pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Of course we have the expert in dealing with such a problem. It's not just about clearing the rocks, they would of knocked more done to secure the area before clearing....

alright sarky, thats why i said get the first stage done i.e clear rocks and secure.

Jamie2k9 · 06-01-2014 6:12pm

Max Powers wrote: »

alright sarky, thats why i said get the first stage done i.e clear rocks and secure.

That's all they have being doing but for the whole area and they would of secured before clearing as the chances are that they added rocks to the pile. Combine that with the station flooded on and off over the last couple of days not exactly easy to do the work. It will take time for it to all be completed and anyway its currently open again.

danjo-xx · 06-01-2014 11:23pm

What causes the tracks to be flooded up to platform level, remember this happened a few years ago, it is just the runoff of rain from the mountain and if so why is there not sufficient drainage out to the river.

To answer my own question I guess if the river is high then any drainage will be backed up too.

So whats the solution...

Landslide closes train station

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