Joint statement by Cllr Joe Ryan (Labour Councillor in Wexford) & Nessa Childers - Investment in rail could save Waterford Rosslare railway

Posted by Bronwen Maher on June 11, 2010 at 11:36 PM

Labour Wexford Cllr. Joe Ryan has said that the rail line between Rosslare and Waterford could still be saved at this late hour if the government was prepared to seriously examine the potential to draw down EU funding to upgrade the line.

Cllr Ryan was commenting after both he and Nessa Childers MEP this week met with officials in the EU Commission in Brussels to discuss their concerns of the plan by Irish Rail to close the line linking Rosslare Harbour and Waterford.  

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting Nessa Childers MEP said: “Irish Rail can potentially access funding to upgrade lines that feed directly to key European routes such as the TEN route linking Cork to Dublin and Belfast. The total EU funding of around €5-600 million exists under this initiative and all that is required is an application to upgrade signalling, track and crossing and for a commitment by the Irish government to match EU spending.  

"It’s clear from the experience of the WRC how communities respond when governments invest in rail.  Investment in rail pays dividends in terms of reduced road traffic and better services.  It is ridiculous that we should be closing down railways especially one that leads to a major port connecting us to Europe. If we cannot export how are we supposed to revive our economy?.”

Cllr Ryan welcomed the appointment by the Southern & Eastern Regional Authority of KSA Consultants Balbriggan to carry out a socio economic report on the feasibility of the line from Rosslare to Limerick Junction. He said: “I’m convinced that there exists a significant potential for a commuter rail service linking Wexford and Waterford connecting communities in the south east onward to the mid west.  There also exists huge potential especially for freight along this line, however it seems to me that Irish Rail have no interest in the region and that another solution may be needed to provide the region’s rail transport needs.”  
 
“I and the campaign to retain the line, am encouraged that there is now a clear interest in both the EU Commission and the EU Parliament in what Irish Rail propose.  I would ask both Minister Dempsey and Minister Cuffe and Irish Rail to think again on their plans to close the line. The Department of Transport must engage with the independent consultants and submit proposals that would reduce costs on the line and offer a service to both the people of Co Wexford and exporters through Rosslare Harbour.”

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