What did we learn from the visit?

The over head lines bring the signals
Over head lines also bring electricity to the dart
Enterprise trains are diesel trains.
When it travels from Dublin to Belfast it uses 1000 litres of diesel.
The enterprise can go 140 km per hour and the dart 70 km per hour.
It takes a train a mile and a quarter to stop when travelling at full speed.
Its take 1 hour to put down a signal hole
You must train 48 weeks to become a train driver.
It takes one week to lay down 1 kilometre of a track.
Diggers working on the railway have 2 sets of wheels. Wheels for the tracks and the roads.
100, 000 euro digger was broken by teenagers and was unable to be repaired.
You must have safety gear to work on the tracks- boots, orange jacket, helmet, torch, safety pass, PTS card.
At present there is a 700 million euro project for new signals and points.
300 euro fine if caught on a track
Iarnróid Éireann spends 5 million a year on health and safety.
On the side of track there are emergency phones for the train drivers at every signal and a signal is every mile.
Axles on the track count the boogies on the track. This for safety so to know when the next train can come along.
Drug and Drink testing for all staff.
HT25 stands for Howth
People work on the tracks from 1 on because trains are not running
Everyman has to be off the track by 4.50 as trains start.
You can not stand closer than 2m to the train as its suction power will pull you in.
The weight of the train keeps it on the track.
There is a steep hole under older bridges so newer trains can go under.
A lot of illegal dumping around the tracks. They are building high fences to stop this.
If working at the side of the track you must stop working and acknowledge the driver and step in.
If fixing the track the electricity must be cut off.
The ladders are locked so signals cannot be vandalised.
A French company runs the Luas .
During the snow trains work well because the force of the trains pushes the snow off the tracks.
The sleepers are now made from cement rather than timber.
People vandalise the tracks and signals with spray paint.