Barrow Bridge repair on lips of Irish Rail CEO

Rail capital investment in the South East was the topic of discussion at a recent meeting held between the Chief Executive Officer of Irish Rail, Jim Meade, Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan and Waterford Green Party TD, Marc Ó Cathasaigh.

The reopening of the Barrow Bridge was a particular focus of discussion with Dep. Ó Cathasaigh requesting that the Department of Transport provide the upfront costs for the repair and reopening of the bridge, with a view to recouping the costs when the insurance claim is paid out to Irish Rail by the insurance companies involved in the ship strikes which damaged the bridge. Capital repair costs to the bridge are estimated to be above €5 million. 

Ó Cathasaigh emphasised the need for good connectivity within the region, particularly joining up the campuses for SETU students and providing a vital service for commuters to Dublin who are living in the South East.

“Connectivity within the region is vital, but so too is inter-regional connectivity and, in particular, the connection between Waterford and Limerick," said Ó Cathasaigh. 

"Improvements in the frequency of service and speed of service would open up the two regions to students and employees, and indeed tourists. Connections between Limerick and Waterford cities would help both to thrive and is a potentially significant link in the rail network. I have no doubt that providing a much better service on this route would see passengers packing out trains all along this route,” he said. 

Outlining his conversation with the Irish Rail boss, Ó Cathasaigh said: “I had a fruitful discussion with Mr. Meade, and we discussed EU assessment and funding for our rail network large scale projects, reopening of the Barrow Bridge, better timetables and connectivity for the South East, particularly a later train from Dublin to Waterford, and the need for bike carriages on routes in the South East, especially as our Greenways and cycling tourism offering grows."

Ó Cathasaigh concluded by saying "the numbers of those travelling by rail is growing, there is an appetite for more services and more routes... We need to make sure that Waterford and the South East is seeing those improved services.”