Rosslare to Waterford rail line still on track

Waterford Green Party TD, Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed the news that the Cabinet signed off on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which will see an investment of €30 billion invested into Ireland’s rail infrastructure over the next 20 years.

Commenting on the matter to Waterford News & Star, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said the investment could lead to the reopening of rail lines including the one between Waterford and Rosslare Harbour, in County Wexford.

“It is vitally important that the recent Government investment in rail, which we’ve seen over the past several years, is increased and expanded upon,” he said.

“Our rail network is a driver of economic growth and is essential for strategic regional rebalance,” he added.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said good rail connections make a place a far more attractive place to live, to work and to set up business and rail services allow employees, students and tourists easier access and more comfort without being stuck in traffic congestion.

He said that in announcing that the Cabinet had signed off on the All-Island Strategic Rail review, which now awaits approval from their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure, his party colleague Minister Eamon Ryan indicated that delivery of the strategy would require about an extra €1bn a year for the next 25 years.

“That would result in improvement in train speeds and frequency of services, as well as the reopening of lines such as the Western Rail Corridor and the Rosslare to Waterford line,” said Deputy Ó Cathasaigh.

“This August, will see a new later train service from Dublin to Kilkenny, and on to Waterford which will bring with it a significant boost for the South East, not only providing a vital service for commuters and those who need to travel to Dublin for services, but provide for those travelling between Kilkenny and Waterford,” he added.

Commenting that growth in passenger numbers on the route had “increased significantly” in the first five months of the year, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said: “We’re looking at an approximate increase of 10 per cent passenger numbers on the same period last year. Last year saw over 1.5million passenger numbers on the Dublin to Waterford line.” 

“We need to see more investment in and provision of rail services in the regions, and particularly between regions,” he said.

“The West and the South-East have been poorly serviced for decades and I am happy to see that the All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) lays out a plan to increase intercity service frequencies and improve line speed on the Waterford-Limerick and Waterford–Cork lines, as well as increasing intercity service frequencies to at least hourly between Dublin and Waterford,” he added.

Recommendations within the strategy cover three broad indicative timelines, with roll out of elements of the plan in the short-term between now and 2030, medium-term between 2030 and 2040, and long-term interventions between 2040 and 2050.

In announcing the strategy, Minister Ryan said he would like to see work on the Athenry to Claremorris line get underway before 2030, opening up the Western Rail corridor from Ballina to Limerick and on to Cork and Waterford.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said that would immediately enhance and improve passenger travel while also facilitating greater rail freight transport along an Atlantic spine, where many industries and large companies are located, to a number of ports including Waterford and Rosslare, which will have direct rail connections.

He also pointed out that the AISSR will complement planning already underway for the metropolitan rail networks of Dublin while the four regional cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford are set out in Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies.

The AISSR approval by the Northern Ireland Department of Infrastructure is to happen towards the end of July, after which time, the final Report will be published and officially launched.

In announcing the strategy Min Ryan said: “We need to go back to an age of rail as we move forward – to decarbonise, to reduce gridlock, to improve the housing solutions and build houses close to where the railways stations are going”.