Shane Ross rules out closing rail lines in near term

Former minister Alan Kelly has been accused of backing “trophy projects” in his own constituency amid a row over a local railway line.

It comes after the Labour TD defended the Limerick to Ballybrophy rail line, which receives a subvention of over €550 per passenger, a report has revealed.

Transport Minister Shane Ross has since ruled out closing rail routes in the immediate future.

He told the Seanad it would be at least the new year before any decision is made, following public consultation on the rail review.

“I have no intention of closing, even on the political provocation from Tipperary. I’ve no intention of closing any railways at the moment,” said Mr Ross.

“That is a matter that is being looked at by public consultation. When they come back, decisions will have to be made by the Government. I’ve no intention of making any closures at the moment.”

In 2012, when Mr Kelly was a member of government, Irish Rail added four daily services to the line — at a cost of almost €20,000 per day.

Mr Kelly has defended the line and, rather than close them, called for more investment in the service.

Alan Kelly

“If you allow a railway line to deteriorate you’re not going to get people to use it. The investment has to go in. If more money was spent on it, more people might use it,” he told Morning Ireland.

He said it was “absolutely” a coincidence that the line goes through his home constituency.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who also represents the Tipperary constituency, attacked the former environment minister, claiming his “big ego” had led to the protection of such projects.

Mr McGrath said: “We can’t have trophy projects for former ministers with big egos, which is what happened.”

The National Transport Authority examined the cost of operating railway lines across the county and found that the Ballybrophy-Limerick line is one of the most expensive to run.

Mr McGrath claimed Mr Kelly “doesn’t understand that he is out of power and he lost his position”.

He said he had met with Mr Ross and had received reassurances that there had been no debate or discussion about any closure during the Cabinet meeting this week, and that shutting rail lines was “not on the agenda” at this time.

He said rural Ireland must be protected and that there should even be a bias towards it in maintaining as many services as possible. But he added that “you have to be able to justify” any expenditure.

“Mr Kelly thought it was justifiable, but he justified a lot of things that weren’t justifiable,” said Mr McGrath.