Most future transport funding must go to public transport and active travel, Eamon Ryan says

The rail review recommends introducing a faster and more frequent train service, particularly calling for intercity services to have their speed rise to 200km/h, with regional services to increase to at least 120km/h.

The majority of future funding allocated to transport must go to building out the public network, Eamon Ryan has said.

As he launched the All-Ireland Rail Review in Dundalk, the Transport Minister said further allocation of funds to developing the rail network would be the “political question of our time”.

“The vast majority of future funding in transport is going to have to go to public transport and active travel. For decarbonisation, for better housing and planning and better economic development,” Mr Ryan said.

“This is the way everybody is going across the world. In Los Angeles, they’re tearing up the freeways and putting in metro lines. [They’re] not anti-car, but if everyone drives by car it gets gridlocked. It doesn’t work for anyone."

However, Mr Ryan did say the country would need to continue to develop roads, particularly on bypasses and on maintenance to ensure road safety.

The rail review itself recommends introducing a faster and more frequent train service, particularly calling for intercity services to have their speed rise to 200km/h, with regional services to increase to at least 120km/h.

Infrastructure Minister James O’Dowd and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan at the launch of the All-Ireland Rail Review. Picture: Maxwells

The report, however, does not recommend introducing 300km/h high-speed trains that are seen in other European countries, saying the potential benefits of this type of transport does not outweigh the cost of its development.

Mr Ryan said this was a “hard decision” to make, but the overall rail network would be broadened out within the plan’s recommendations.

The plan also recommends the rail network be expanded out into Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, alongside the redevelopment of previously open lines.

One proposal is to create a new rail link between Letterkenny and Derry, citing the potential to improve connectivity between Donegal, Belfast and Dublin with such a project.

It also says if all of its recommendations are implemented, there would be a further 700,000 people within 5km of a railway station than there are currently.

Asked if the Government would ever be in a position to spend €1bn a year on rail projects, Mr Ryan said: “Why wouldn’t we do that?"

“We’ve done in the past, we’ve invested in our motorway network €1.5bn a year,” Mr Ryan said.

It's not just an investment in transport, it’s also an investment in housing because, those 700,000 people who will be newly living within 5km of a railway station, start to have a really sustainable housing solution as well as transport solution.

Mr Ryan said that future housing developments would be required to have good public transport links under the new National Planning Framework.

“if we go the other route, it’s all along motorways and sprawled development, the housing doesn’t work. The congestion becomes a huge problem. This is the only way forward in my mind.”

On projects Mr Ryan said he wanted to see prioritised, he highlighted reopening the rail line between Waterford and Wexford, while also investing in metropolitan rail services in Cork, Limerick and Galway.

“100 years ago we were probably the best example of a rail-based country. We’re not there now today. Now we are coming back, we need to come back strong.”

The overall plan is expected to take 30 years to deliver, with short-, medium- and long-term proposals.