Seanad debates
Wednesday, 6 November 2002
Adjournment Matters. - Railway Services.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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With the approval of the House, I will share my time with Senator Jim Walsh.
My grandfather was a railway surveyor, while my great great grandfather was a member of the arbitration committee which decided on compensation in relation to the land acquisition for the Waterford-Limerick railway, and I am the only person to have received a severe reprimand for overusing the Dublin-Belfast railway. I am also committed to public transport which I use. I welcome all the investment in the railways during the term of office of the last Government, especially the rail safety programme study, and do not want to see the new Government start by closing railway lines or running down the freight service. Existing Government policy is "to maintain the existing rail passenger network" from which we should not depart.
The Fianna Fáil manifesto stated the party "will ensure the advantages of rail freight will be actively encouraged and marketed." This is the policy of every party in the House and will also become Irish Rail policy because there is a larger national interest. The congestion we all experience is intolerable and should not be added to while we have an under-utilised resource. The beet trains are essential on the line in question which should be kept open. In other countries there are targets for encouraging rail freight and incentives for using it.
The proposal that eight out of 11 passenger stations in County Tipperary be closed plus four in south Wexford is outrageous. The main reason I am in this House is because of two disastrous by-elections and the people of County Tipperary are not prepared to be ignored or taken for granted by the State and its agencies. I was asked to stand in the hope of gaining more attention, which is how I came to be by various means in this House. Whether it is decentralisation, industry, radio stations or railways, the people of County Tipperary expect fair treatment and are not going to be pushed around. Clonmel is the largest inland town and, like Ennis, deserves a rail service. The rail service from Rosslare to Limerick is important for tourism. I travelled on it this summer and it has clear commuter potential. If we have trains leaving before the boat arrives and five minutes before the Dublin train arrives in Waterford, naturally we will have empty trains.
I do not believe the propaganda that it is costing the State €2 million to €5 million. Some ten or 12 years ago, the benefit of closing it was put at £100,000. There is an old French saying that if one wants to have one's dog drowned, call it rabid. There is much in this. Irish Rail must think again. I hope the Government will not go down this road. In hard times, there were not rail closures. Over the past 20 years the system was kept intact and must remain so now that more money is available.
Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator Mansergh. Many will remember that not so long ago CIE closed down lines much to the regret of subsequent Governments and policymakers. If these lines had at least been maintained, they would have had services reinstated. The rail line we are discussing services a catchment area that is important, not just for passengers, but also for freight. I am conscious of the economics as I have a business background in transport and rail versus road, but know that bulk traffic is ideal for rail. Beet from the Wexford area, which amounts to about 150,000 tonnes per annum, currently travels from the Wellington Bridge area to Mallow to be processed at night. This is facilitating many policy objectives which the Government wants to be adhered to. The proposal to discontinue this service does not make economic sense in the larger picture. To put this amount on the road would take over 6,000 vehicles. It represents 20% of the beet processed in Mallow and 10% of national production. It is argued that other large volume traffic on the road would also be better carried by rail. The fact that there is a 20 year strategy study in place behoves us to await its outcome. The lines and services must be preserved as far as possible.
Irish Rail must address serious issues, not least a proper management system that would adopt innovative policies. We see what Ryanair did for air travel. On a smaller scale, similar principles could apply to the railways. What is needed is new thinking, approaches and philosophy. The system is stretched at the seams. It makes no sense to remove routes which are efficiently carrying traffic. I join Senator Mansergh in calling for this decision to be postponed and a proper, more enlightened decision to be taken.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senators Mansergh and Jim Walsh for raising this matter and their contributions. The Minister for Transport informs me that he has no plans to close any railway lines nor has he received any recommendations to date from Iarnród Éireann recommending the closure of any railway line in any part of the country. He understands the management of Iarnród Éireann is carrying out a review of the implications for its rail freight business with the closure of IFI, its third largest customer of freight services, which has resulted in serious losses in business and revenue.
The current review of rail freight is the normal business response which could be expected from a commercial organisation responding to the loss of a major customer. It is also against a background of rail freight expected to lose approximately €14 million in the current year with the company as a whole incurring an overall deficit estimated at approximately €25 million after subvention of approximately €150 million. The Minister is informed that Iarnród Éireann is examining all major loss making areas of its business with a view to rectifying its serious financial position, but the board of CIE has not yet reached any final conclusions in this regard.
The Government is fully committed to the future of rail transport and has demonstrated this through significant investment in major programmes designed to improve the safety of the existing mainline rail network, increase its physical capacity to cater for growing demand and improve the quality, speed and reliability of services.
Earlier this year, the Department of Transport engaged consultants to undertake a major strategic review of the Irish railways. The primary purpose of the review is to provide the Government with a basis for establishing a strategic policy framework for the future development of the rail sector in Ireland over the next 20 years. The study covers both rail freight and rail passenger services and addresses urban, commuter and inter-regional rail issues. The long-term rail requirements for the country as a whole are being examined in the light of the emerging spatial planning and regional development policies and local land use and transportation studies. The review is due to be completed in the coming weeks.