Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Murnane O'Connor on her appointment as Acting Chairman and I wish her the best of luck in the role. I want to concentrate my remarks on the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line which has been seriously neglected over many years. Reports about the line often focus on the cost of keeping the service open. Journey times remain too long and there is little uptake on a route that stops in four locations in my constituency. Until the issues facing this line are addressed, it will become increasingly difficult to convince people to avail of the service. The status quoof no increase in train speeds, no revised timetable and continued restrictions on the line due to works must change, as otherwise the numbers using the service will continue to decrease, the gap between revenue and the cost of operation will continue to increase and a valuable piece of infrastructure will be lost to rural Ireland. In the context of climate change, we should be investing in rail rather than contracting services.

I have been asked by North Tipperary Community Railway Partnership to work with it to improve the quality of Ballybrophy to Limerick rail service. What they are asking for will result in very little cost to the Exchequer. The partnership has a number of different requests, including that a district engineer at Limerick Junction be tasked with reviewing the line speed between Ballybrophy and Limerick. This has not been done for years and, as such, line upgrades have not been taken into account.

Irish Rail has invested considerable sums in this rail line in order to upgrade worn jointed track which was responsible low speed restrictions on the line. Continuous welded rail track is now in place for the 31 mile journey from Ballybrophy to Limerick. What is the point in spending huge amounts of money on improving the line if it does not result in the increased speeds of which the line is capable? I recently submitted a parliamentary question requesting that an engineer be sent to inspect the line in order that faster train speeds can be signed off on. The reply I received from Irish Rail did not even address this issue. It is my understanding that an engineer is required to sign off on these newer, safer tracks so that trains can operate at faster speeds. These new lines should be able to support speeds of up to 60 mph rather than the 30 mph or less that currently pertains on this route. Such speeds will reduce the journey time between Ballybrophy and Limerick considerably. By doing this, this form of public transport could become more popular in my area and be used more frequently. By introducing minor changes to the current timetable, an additional service could be operated every day at midday between Ballybrophy and Limerick, alongside the morning and evening service. A little initiative and drive are all that are required to improve the quality of this form of public transport in my constituency, resulting in increasing numbers availing of the service.

The partnership is also calling for the appointment of a dedicated regional manager for regional lines so that priority and attention can be given to regional lines that have the potential to transform the way people in rural areas commute. I am calling for action to be taken on this route. In today's world, we need more efficient, reliable, safe and faster public transport, not less of it. We need major investment in our rail network so that those commuting have viable alternatives to driving. As it stands, the Ballybrophy route does not offer this service but it has the potential to do so. I ask the Minister of State to act on these issues, listen to the community-based group and invest in transport need in rural Ireland.

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