Irish Rail has launched an investigation following a collision between two trains at Westport station that occurred late Monday night. The incident involved a freight train carrying timber wagons and a stationary out-of-service passenger train.
The crash, which took place during a “low-speed shunting movement,” caused significant damage to the passenger train, particularly affecting the front cab of the six-carriage Intercity train, the train operator area, and the side of one carriage.
While the collision resulted in substantial damage to the equipment, no injuries were reported from the incident. The damaged passenger train has been transported to a train works facility in Portlaoise for damage assessment and repairs, and will remain out of service pending this evaluation.
According to The Journal, the incident has prompted both a report to the Railway Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport and the launch of an internal investigation by Irish Rail. A detailed assessment of the damage will be conducted at the Portlaoise facility.
This incident represents a significant safety concern for Irish Rail, which maintains strict protocols for train movements within stations, particularly during low-speed maneuvering operations.