A consultant's report delivered to Iarnrod Eireann in draft form last autumn identified serious safety issues which might have "substantial cost implications", according to International Risk Management Services' (IRMS) report on railway safety.
These safety issues relate to the embankments and cutting slopes of the railway which a major study by other consultants, Carl Bro, claims have been seriously damaged by the laying of communications cables.
The IRMS report also warns of the substantial cost implications associated with remedial action advocated in the Carl Bro report.
According to the IRMS report, the damage was caused by the laying of Esat cables which had been "ploughed in and has caused damage to the stability of the embankments and cuttings, and in places it has not been properly back-filled, leaving uncompacted ground".
The work could in turn undermine the support of the track with "obvious consequences for the safe running of trains", IRMS continued, adding that the "likely impact is costly remedial works over forthcoming years as problems occur".
In addition, the IRMS report notes that while Carl Bro delivered "sound" recommendations to develop a management regime for the embankments and cuttings, they may be tempered by financial constraint.
However, IRMS also notes that the Iarnrod Eireann chief engineer in charge of infrastructure has assured them that "the majority have been dealt with already".
The IRMS consultants' report adds that Iarnrod Eireann would be continually assessing the damage.
In a statement last night, Esat Telecom said that under its agreement with CIE "all works are carried out by CIE or its subcontractors". It noted that the IRMS report "makes no criticism of Esat Telecom or its subcontractors in relation to their adherence to agreed procedures".
