Iarnród Éireann seeks to permanently axe 10 closed lines

Iarnród Éireann is to seek Government permission to allow it permanently abandon 10 closed railway lines, including two sections of the Western Rail Corridor, on which no train services currently operate.

The State railway company claims the measure is necessary because of the high costs of maintaining such lines for which it receives no funding.

However, the Government has indicated it will take no decision during its lifetime to close any section of the Western Rail Corridor which runs between Sligo and Limerick to ease Iarnród Éireann’s precarious financial position.

Iarnród Éireann has expressed concern that it is spending €3m per annum on fulfilling its statutory duty to maintain bridges as well as drains, fences, and level crossings on routes which are unlikely to ever become economically viable again.

The proposal is likely to prove controversial, as closed lines are seen as potentially capable of being re-opened at some point in the future. There are currently 10 closed lines covering over 400km of rail track, including a 127km section of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Collooney, Co Sligo.

As part of the programme for government, members of the Independent Alliance secured a commitment to carry out an independent costing and review on re-opening part of the corridor, a 52km section between Athenry and Claremorris.

However, a major review of Iarnród Éireann’s operations by the National Transport Authority (NTA), has suggested the possible closure of another section of the corridor — the line between Ennis and Athenry which was reopened in 2010 at a cost of €100m — as part of a number of route closures to prevent the company from insolvency.

The NTA, which has recommended a significant increase in State funding for Iarnród Éireann, has signalled there will be no route closures before a full public consultation.

Iarnród Éireann has now called on Transport Minister Shane Ross to make orders under the 1950 Transport Act for the abandonment of existing closed lines.

Among the closed lines are a 50km section of track between Waterford and Rosslare Harbour which closed in September 2010 as well as the Claremorris-Colloone section of the Western Rail Corridor. The others are Midleton-Youghal, Navan-Kingscourt, Abbey Junction-New Ross and Mullingar-Athlone as well as Limerick-Foynes, Tralee-Fenit, and Ballingrane-Tralee.

The company pointed out that while it is no longer obliged to operate services on closed lines, it has to carry out structural inspections on the 387 bridges located on such routes to ensure their functionality and safety.

“No funding is currently provided for assets on any closed lines or any associated work,” it stated.

It has also called on Mr Ross to transfer responsibility for maintenance of closed and abandoned railway lines to local authorities.