€600m shortfall threatens most rural rail lines

Intercity services, Dublin and Cork commuter services, and the Dart line may be the only rail routes to remain under radical options proposed to bring Irish Rail’s funding crisis to a halt.

That is the scenario for Irish Rail if there is no extra State bailout to plug the €600m funding gap over the next five years.

A joint National Transport Authority/Irish Rail report has identified the least performing routes, giving the government a fresh headache. Without a decision, passenger lives could be put at risk, Irish Rail chief executive David Franks suggested yesterday.