Local railway bridges were tested after Dublin viaduct collapse

Translink advised that a total of 157 rail bridges on the NIR network were involved in the study following the collapse of the Malahide railway viaduct in August 2009.

Twenty-one of these surveys were conducted on the Londonderry Coleraine line including an 11 span under-bridge section between Eglinton and Lisahally. A 15 span under-bridge section from Bellarena to Carrowreagh was also appraised.

Several smaller sections between Ballykelly and Eglinton, Limavady and Ballykelly, Umbra and Magilligan, Downhill and Umbra, Castlerock and Downhill and Coleraine and Castlerock were also examined.

Rail Minister Conor Murphy was asked for details of what action was taken following the collapse of the Malahide railway viaduct.

Advising of the 157 checks he added: "Of these, 39 major structures had received underwater inspections by external specialists during the summer of 2008 prior to the Malahide incident and twenty-five other structures had previously been inspected and repair works identified.

"Seventy-two minor structures had inspections completed by NIR. Twenty-one inspections for scour were not required (as the bridges spanned minor water courses only)."

He added: "A range of minor remedial measures were completed ranging from scour protection to in situ concrete bagging.

"Checks and repairs following the Malahide incident cost approximately 15,000 for inspections and approximately 110,000 for repair works."