[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.”