Closure on the cards. A wanton throwaway of an asset whose potential is being ignored

[crc]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

The logic is for through trains Galway Rosslare, any other country would have them, but as is the practice Irish Rail is trying to kill the route by making it impossible to use

Likewise, I was thinking that Galway-Dublin should use the old Athlone-Mullingar route (especially now that Cork-Galway can be done via Limerick). With Westport-Dublin continuing on the Athlone-Portarlington stretch it would open up many more route combinations.

But it seems to me as if IE done want to have a network, just a series of single routes between Dublin and provincial cities.

[dowlingm]

Athlone-Mullingar would be:
a) tricky because of the location of Athlone East station and the amount of development in between the two lines to make a connection further east
b) pretty pointless without double tracking most if not all of Mullingar-Maynooth first to get their service level up to a point where it would be worth sending excess service over to Athlone rather than turning it back.

Retrenchment is the name of the game now -maximising passengers carried per euro of capital spend and that really means PaleRail. I'm even starting to wonder if the electrification of Interconnector/Hazelhatch will be followed by dieselising south of Fairview because they won't be able to afford the necessary numbers of EMUs to service the two lines at once and there is no electric only section to worry about.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...267752832.html

Meeting to support rail link between Rosslare, Waterford
CHRIS ASHMORE

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Wellingtonbridge, Co Wexford, tomorrow as the campaign to keep open the Rosslare Strand-Waterford railway line intensifies.

The future of the lightly used line is in doubt with only a handful of passengers using it and with revenue covering an estimated 2 per cent of costs.

For many years the line had a major freight flow with up to 300,000 tonnes of beet being carried by up to seven trains a day from Wellingtonbridge to the former sugar factory in Mallow. However, the demise of the sugar beet industry ended this important revenue flow.

The closure of the 35-mile line was recommended in the McCarthy report.

However, local people say the timetable does not encourage large patronage. There is only one train in each direction and none on Sundays. The service also fails to link in properly with other inter-city services and could attract more commuters with additional services, they say.

Labour councillor Joe Ryan says it is possible to travel from Wexford to Waterford, but not back in the same day. “The ticket machine at Wexford does not even have a Waterford option – but does have Sligo.”

If the line is shut it will also mean removing a link from the Atlantic arc linking Rosslare into the reopened Ennis-Athenry section of the Western Rail corridor.

Meanwhile, more than 1,500 people have joined a Facebook campaign to keep the line open.

The public meeting starts at 7.45pm.

[PLUMB LOCO]

Typical sloppy piece of journalism from 'the paper of record' - no reference as to where the meeting is being held - or the fact that it is not possible to return from Waterford to Wexford EVER not to mind the same day!

[Mark Gleeson]

Curiously Irish Rail have told us of no plan to close the line in the near future. We asked them, the talk is coming from the DoT not IE that said Irish Rail is notorious for not knowing what it is doing.

Passenger loadings on the previous Waterford - Wexford service were single digits in fact the only person who travelled through did so from Limerick Junc not from Waterford when I last travelled

The bus is Rosslare - Wexford - Waterford whereas the train is Wexford - Rosslare - Waterford

Bus is quicker from Wexford that the train, train is faster from Rosslare

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by PLUMB LOCO

Typical sloppy piece of journalism from 'the paper of record' - no reference as to where the meeting is being held - or the fact that it is not possible to return from Waterford to Wexford EVER not to mind the same day!

Of course it is. Via Dublin, or with an overnight in Rosslare

[dowlingm]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking53.html

Waterford to Rosslare rail link axed
TIM O'BRIEN
Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed it is to cease passenger services on the Waterford to Rosslare line in the southeast.

The company said it will explore the possibility of keeping the line open as a tourist/heritage railway, but it maintained that with passenger numbers at 25 per day, the route was "unsustainable".

A closing date for the route, which was one of those identified for examination by the recent McCarthy report, is expected to be announced by Iarnród Éireann soon.

Iarnród Éireann said it is maintaining services on other routes identified in the McCarthy report and has cut staff costs, length of trains and timetabled services in a bid to keep lines open.

The company has frequently warned of falling passenger numbers on the Waterford to Rosslare line while the sugar beet freight business, which sustained the route, ceased in 2006.

A trial extension of the passenger service from Rosslare to Wexford was under-utilised the company said.

A recent survey of passengers indicated most users were heading for Waterford Institute of Technology. Accordingly, the company said a bus service would replace the train, taking passengers to the institute, in about the same time, for about the same price.

Iarnród Éireann said there would also be environmental benefits of running a small bus, as opposed to a train.

It is understood that discussed have taken place with staff working on the route interested in redeployment within Iarnród Éireann. Voluntary severance is also to be offered.

The company said rail transport was "a volume business" and the passenger numbers spoke for themselves.
© 2010 irishtimes.com

[Thomas J Stamp]

If the rationale for Irish Rail is to judge each line and make a call on this basis then they may shut the WRC today. It costs roughly the same as this line and has roughly the same passengers.

So, we shall see the closure of Ballybrophy-Limerick? Will we see the end of Limerick Junction to Waterford? Clonmel to Waterford? Where will they draw the line?

Will we see merely mainline routes servicing Dublin from Cork/Limerick/Galway/Sligo/Belfast and Wexford?

It is a disgrace, and a sick one, for Irish Rail to say that they have done anything to increase awareness of this line, nor done anything to improve the take up of services. For this to be the truth they could have started with running a service that actually caters to the demands of the people there. As with the Ballybrophy line and also with the Limerick Junction to Waterford line we have Trains running at the wrong times and in the wrong direction. Of course there is low take up, but that is because of Irish Rail intransigence and stupidity not to mention sheer incompetance.

Lying on your back and waving your legs in the air is not a rail strategy. Irish rail have committed the cardinal sin yet again - they have forgone their right to run the rail service in this state. If they cannot make a line work then THEY should be out of work. They have not only failed to prepare as Roy Keane would say - they have willingly sacrificed this line. If that will do this then they negate their right to run regional rail at all in this state.

Whilst the reopening of any line is to be welcomed - a vampire line is most unwelcome. I hope that the legions of policitians who rode on the WRC opening day and have not gone near it since will turn up in Wellingtonbridge tonight and berate Irish Rail mismanagment for their closing of this line to placate the egos and fantasies of well meaning but betrayed people, for here is the irony = the closure of this line for the reaons stated is the closure of the WRC and Ballybrophy and anywhere else Irish Rail Mismanagement can strike a line through.

This is the abandonment of regional rail in thios country, and for the reasons why they are doing it every one of them from Boardroom to Service Managers, should be ashamed of themselves.

[comcor]

It'll make a nice photo op for some minister to be at the reopening in 20 years time.

[on the move]

Today at 5.30pm, the Transport Committee are meeting in Dail Eireann, to discuss the future of the Limerick-Rosslare line. Live coverage is available at the Live Webcast page of www.oireachtas.ie

[Mark Gleeson]

A bit late, there was a board meeting this morning in Dublin

Decision to close was taken then

[James Howard]

Originally Posted by comcor

It'll make a nice photo op for some minister to be at the reopening in 20 years time.

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the barrow bridge on this line? Ig it is and they close this line, it won't be reopening. This bridge alone would cost more than the entire WRC to reinstate.

The heritage line idea might be worth pursuing. It seems to me that given the level of service on this line at the moment it might as well be closed anyway. So if somebody could make a go of running steam excursions on it in the summer if might bring some tourism into the area.

I suppose that this sort of ideasos a bit creative for the cynical Irish mindset but heritage rail does a roaring trade in the uk and it is only a couple of hours from Rosslare.

[Mark Gleeson]

The bridge is staying in place

The heritage option is a decoy, it would require mainline standards as the end stations are still live on the network. As there is now a requirement to have a black box, there are only 2 privately owned locomotives certified for operation on the network, none of preserved diesels can be certified currently.

And say bye bye to any chance of a competitive journey time

[Jister]

Its tragic to let a line go. Its not like an air route that can be abandoned and reinstated on a whim (Shannon - Heathrow for example)

Once a line closes it is a colossal task to reopen it. Of course 10 years ago was the time to save the line - direct running from Weford town to Rosslare and cluster populations at the stations along the way.

[dowlingm]

Well, it seems the IE board isn't scared of the newly appointed minister for keeping seats in Wexford. I think the worst thing about this process is the rationale for both deciding to open a line (WRC) and closing one (South Wexford) is far from transparent. Good news for the Ballyhack ferry too I suppose since converting the Barrow bridge to road isn't on.

A bunch of IE honchos were supposed to be in wellington bridge tonight - bet they had a hot reception.

Does removing the South Wexford have an implication for the morning Rosslare-Dublin, or are those lines isolated from each other due to their different signalling at present?

Assuming that the government haven't the balls to force IE to reverse and to properly timetable the line service, I guess the next question is what the short term implication is for equipment/crewing reallocation, or whether the intent is to rob resources for politically favoured lines elsewhere.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...267894916.html

Waterford-Rosslare rail services to close
TIM O'BRIEN

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN has confirmed it is to cease passenger services on the Waterford to Rosslare line in the southeast.

The company said it will explore the possibility of keeping the line open as a tourist/heritage railway, but it maintained that with passenger numbers at 25 per day, the route was “unsustainable”.

A closing date for the line, which was one of those identified for examination by the recent McCarthy report, is expected to be announced by Iarnród Éireann soon.

Iarnród Éireann said yesterday that it plans to maintain services on other routes identified in the McCarthy report and has cut staff costs, length of trains and timetabled services in a bid to keep lines open.

But CIÉ chairman John Lynch told the Oireachtas Committee on Transport the Waterford to Rosslare line had not been supported economically and did not serve a large population.

The company had frequently warned of falling passenger numbers while the sugar beet freight business, which sustained the route, ceased in 2006.

A trial extension of the passenger service from Rosslare to Wexford was underutilised Mr Lynch said.

A recent survey of passengers indicated most users were heading for Waterford Institute of Technology. Accordingly, the company said a bus service would replace the train, taking passengers to the institute, in about the same time, for about the same price.

Iarnród Éireann said there would also be environmental benefits of running a small bus, as opposed to a train.

It is understood that discussions have taken place with staff working on the route who may be interested in redeployment within Iarnród Éireann. Voluntary severance is also to be offered.

The company said rail transport was “a volume business” and the passenger numbers spoke for themselves.

The closure was however immediately criticised by public representatives in the southeast. Wexford councillor Joe Ryan said Iarnród Éireann had done its best “to provide an unviable service”.

“The existing service has been set up to fail as it is poorly timetabled and marketed, with only one train a day. For the community to support the railway, a usable service needs to be provided. No effort has been made by the company to enhance or promote the route despite the availability of a modern diesel railcar which remains unused for eight hours a day parked up in Waterford.”

[Mark Hennessy]

When was the last time a passenger carrying line was shut in Ireland?

Late 1970's?

[PLUMB LOCO]

The Western Rail Corridor (Claremorris/Limerick portion) in 1976. I thought we had moved on from here! I must say I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the low profile adopted by RUI on this closure. Where is the usually ominipresent Mark Gleeson on radio??????

[Mark Gleeson]

We met IE last week and discussed the matter and others (at IE's invitation I might add), in fact we where the the first in to discuss, the crew from Wexford only met IE last night.

Press release issued, positive response on that but the problem is we are not the producers of the radio news. Though the issue of through services from Galway to Rosslare was on the 1 O'Clock on iRadio West on WRC opening day I got interviewed about the WRC and related issues, not WOT.

With NAMA going through there was little interest in the media with a little railway line in Wexford, several print media pieces got deferred or dropped. We have been in communication with the group in Wexford, and indeed with others in Waterford and our proposals met with positive feedback but no one has the money to front the cost of the investment.

Closure of the line is not a done deal, IE might think they are free, but there is a complex set of legal loops which have to be got through which could buy an extra 18 months, by which time we should have a new national timetable, again something Irish Rail has invited us to work with them on. Unlike many others we actually have made positive and proactive proposals to build a proper integrated regional system and the basic idea we have pitched is something Irish Rail seem to accept as the way, but it doesn't have the money.

Money is the problem, a massive problem. The sole reason things have come to a head is the WRC needs 2.5 million. Sure we might risk a high court injunction to shut the WRC for a possible breech of the Transport Act but that is hardly going to win any friends is it? not to mention the legal fees

[Thomas Ralph]

It's shown up on http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/i...ne-453076.html now.