A MAJOR new report released today on the future of the Irish Rail (IE) network calls for improvements in speed and capacity on long-distance routes to be prioritised, and in the longer-term envisages electrification of key corridors.

 

The Strategic Rail Investment Needs Review, commissioned by IE and conducted by Aecom and Goodbody, was presented at a seminar on the future of Ireland's railways held in Dublin this morning. It suggests that the national inter-city network and commuter networks have a key role to play in promoting economic development, and emphasises the need to safeguard maintenance and infrastructure renewal despite budgetary pressures.

The review suggests investment in track to achieve journey time improvements of up to 30 minutes on intercity routes, reducing Dublin - Cork journeys to two hours and the Dublin - Galway trip to 1h 45min.

 

Other recommendations include:
- Increasing service frequency on certain routes, with additional capacity through the double-tracking of the Portarlington - Athlone line
- Development of a park-and-ride station near the M50 highway served by inter-city services into Dublin Heuston
- Development of a link from Clongriffin to Dublin Airport
- Long-term electrification of the Dublin - Cork and Dublin - Galway lines
- Reopening of the Athenry - Tuam line for regional services
- The continued operation of railfreight on a commercial basis, with a government grant aid facility and IE support for freight projects with a clear economic return, and
- Restructuring and simplification of inter-city fare structures (already underway).

IE CEO Mr Dick Fearn stresses the current economic crisis, which has been deeply felt in Ireland, should not deter the country from planning its long-term national infrastructure requirements. "It would be easy in today's environment to focus solely on short-term measures needed to ensure financial viability and the protection of existing services," he says. "However rail development must always be considered in the medium and long-term strategic context."