Rail freight errors in transport study

HAVING a professional interest in transport matters, I read submissions to the Transport Department’s 2020 Sustainable Transport Study.

The submission from the Cork Chamber of Commerce contained a few factual errors.

First, the submission noted that neither 40-foot nor 45-foot containers can be handled by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ). The company can and does handle containers of these standard sizes and has a large fleet of wagons on which to accommodate them. They also have some wagons which are capable of carrying ‘hi-cube’ containers up to 10’ in height on most lines throughout the country. These operated to North Esk freight yard in Cork until IÉ withdrew the service in July 2005, dumping Cork’s freight customers in the process. Containers of 9’6” height are regularly carried on the Waterford to Ballina DFDS freight train.