November date for bridge rebuild

A train driver stopped his engine just before the line collapsed

Ireland's railway company expects to have a collapsed railway bridge rebuilt in November.

However, a report into why the Malahide bridge collapsed last month will take Iarnród Éireann six months to complete.

Members of the Republic of Ireland's parliament inspected the scene of the collapse and were briefed by officials.

Joint Committee on Transport member Fergus O'Dowd said he wants independent verification that work on the bridge was to the highest possible standard.

On Friday, 21 August a 20-metre section of the Dublin to Belfast railway line collapsed into the water.

A train driver spotted subsidence on the line while his train crossed the viaduct.

He managed to reach Malahide Station and report the incident, but a section of the line collapsed into the water a short time later.

Iarnród Éireann said the line collapse could have resulted in tragedy.