Iarnrod Éireann debt puts rail links under threat

UNION chiefs have confirmed that four rail links are under threat of closure following revelations that Iarnrod Éireann is running at a 25 million deficit.

SIPTU national industrial secretary Noel Dowling said although no decision has been made yet, bosses at CIÉ, Iarnrod Éireann's parent company, were considering a number of line closures.

"Iarnród Éireann is looking at losses of 25m this year and 40m next year. The company can now do one of two things fare increases or line closures. It has applied for fare increases, so either the Government comes up with some form of subvention or we are looking at cutbacks such as line closures."

Mr Dowling said the four rail links under threat were Limerick Junction to Rosslare, via Waterford; Rosslare to Gorey; Ballybrophy to Limerick and Manulla Junction to Ballina, Co Mayo.

He said CIÉ was also considering exiting the freight business in the south-east, which would deal the area a heavy blow.

"This would be very serious for the area. Between 300-400 workers are employed in the freight industry," Mr Dowling said.

The line closures were discussed at a recent meeting of the board of CIÉ and the board's chairman is expected to meet with Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to discuss money-saving options available to the company.

An emergency meeting is due to take place today between SIPTU and rail workers in Rosslare Habour which SIPTU national rail official Tony Tobin will attend.

Local Fine Gael TD Paul Keogh said any closures in the south-east would be the beginning of the end for Rosslare as a gateway to Europe.

He said the economic future of the region was at risk and called on all politicians to unite and resist such rail link downgrades.

Opposition transport spokesperson, Denis Naughten of Fine Gael, said it was 'crazy' for Iarnród Éireann to propose line closures when it still had moneys available to it under the National Development Plan.

"I would call on Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to clarify why Iarnród Éireann has not drawn down money towards developing park-and-ride facilities or funding for upgrading rail lines or developing integrated ticketing," Mr Naughten said.

SIPTU general secretary John McDonnell said if such closures were to go ahead, they would have a very serious impact on people in the area reliant on public transport.

"We would be opposed to such closures particularly if they were made before the union had a chance to meet with the company for serious discussions," Mr McDonnell said.

A spokeswoman for Iarnród Éireann denied that any line closures were being considered.