Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MEMBERS OF THE public have been invited to have their say on the future of rail on the island of Ireland as part of the all-island Strategic Rail Review, in a statement from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Infrastructure Minister for Northern Ireland, Nichola Mallon.
“We want to hear people’s views on how rail can support social and economic development across the island, enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity between our major cities,” said Ryan.
According to the statement, gaining insight from stakeholders and the public is “critical in shaping and developing the rail network”.
Submissions are invited from anyone who is interested in the future of rail on the island of Ireland, with a look to the quality of life, economic activity, and environmental factors related to rail travel.
Since coming into office, Mallon said she has been clear that it is her priority to address “regional imbalance, tackle the climate crisis and better connect communities across Ireland”.
She added: “I have huge ambitions for our all-island rail network and I believe it has massive untapped potential to deliver multiple benefits across our island.”
There are “real opportunities for communities across the island”, she said, adding there are also other benefits to the environment and economy that would come from better connection.
The Strategic Rail Review is part of the Irish government’s New Decade, New Approach agreement with the UK Government.
The Review is being delivered by Arup consultants and overseen by the Department of Transport and the Department for Infrastructure, supported by the Commission for Rail Regulation, the National Transport Authority, Iarnród Éireann and Translink.
“This is an ambitious piece of work that will help inform our decision making and investment in our rail network for years to come so I would encourage everyone to get involved with the process and put forward their views,” Mallon said.
“This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of connectivity across Ireland and I’m looking forward to hearing from communities across our island on what we can do together to deliver lasting change across our country.”
The deadline for submissions as part of the public consultation is January 21, 2022. The final report of the Strategic Rail Review is expected to be completed by Q4 2022.
We are the best country in the world for consultations and the worst for putting boots on the ground
@Patrick O Connell: And they never listen to any of feedback, or even the vast majoirty of the feedback. Just look at Kildare County Council.
@Tomo: Remember when there were people saying the children’s hospital shouldn’t be built where it is and the government didn’t listen? How is that working out?
@Patrick O Connell: Yeah, does Bus Connect yet?
Could this lead to restoration of lines to Donegal, Fermanagh, Omagh, Cavan & Monaghan?
Basically that large swathe of the country the UTA destroyed rail connectivity for?
@Gavin Tobin: No. But it will lead to several thousand copies of a review that will sit on people’s desks gathering dust for years before a new review is launched in 10 years.
@Gavin Tobin: no. What those small places need is a decent road and a flexible bus service.
More window dressing, look at the navan rail line it’s never going to be reopened yet huge catchment area of commuters
@Hugh Mc Donnell: Sure why would you open the railway to Navan or Kells when you can force motorists through multiple tolls on the motorway.
PPP at its best :)
@Gavin Tobin: that’s it wheels within wheels and deals done yo look after their buddies
Rail is a total calamity in Ireland, not one government has focused on sorting Rail. Instead, they do consultations and pay terrible consultants for advice on which rail lines should be developed…. I consulted for 2 x class I railways in North America in the last decade and the method to assess the value or use of a Rail line is totally, totally different to what the Irish Public Sector has done over the years, it’s farcical what they have done in Ireland. All that being said, there isn’t a single political party talking about fixing transport so nothing will change for a couple of decades, waste of breath talking about it.
@Local Ore: still too many heavily loss making lines burdening the system.
@John Mulligan: The same lines that don’t have usable timetables or decent line speeds?
Example: Lmk Junc to Waterford has two trains a day at off peak times unsuitable for most commuters. No Sunday or Bank Hol service either.
How can you expect such lines to be successful with such poor scheduling? They are made to fail, which Irish Rail will then use down the line to quote low usage and shut them down.
@John Mulligan: Is that not a problem with having a single operator and maintenance provider? This is a key issue, the Government should not be trying to do it all and should focus on maintaining and upgrading the lines. They need to either privatising routes (which they can charge for!) and keep specific loss leading lines for rural connections or completely privatise operations with a specific contract with incentives. The current approach doesn’t work, not even slightly, and TDs are expecting Public Servants to be creative to fix it! A total joke, a creative public servant in Ireland is as rare as a unicorn.
1st line. ignore donegal
The next two stops will be critical
@Liam MacSuibhne: LOL!!!
Don’t allow railways to lie idle. If they can’t be put back into use now then convert them into Greenways. That will keep the land in State ownership and protect it from adverse possession land grabbers.
@Tommy Shaughnessy:
I’m not sure that these “Green” ways are all they are made out to be.
Local groups in several locations around the country waiting patiently to draw down public money to pay their favourite local contractor to destroy the remains of many rural rail lines.
Once the rails are gone, that’s it.
We should be building more rail not removing and repurposing many of the existing routes that could be brought back into use.
The Greenway’s have signed the rail networks death certificate .
@Self Employed Anarchist: only for lines that can never ever be viable like Cooloney to Claremorris.
Why waste the money , DUP says noooooooo
High Speed rail for commuters. Nightime rail for freight, light rail connecting towns.
Never going to happen.
It seems a short timeframe with Christmas to distract communities from voicing their needs. Arup own press release is dated 30 July 2021.
‘Arup’s transport specialists will then balance decarbonisation priorities, economic growth and rural connectivity objectives to recommend a strategy that allows rail to fulfil its potential as a resilient and sustainable mode of transport for people across Ireland.’ We can only hope.
Rail to rural communities was not important enough. Out joy riding his bicycle with no helmet I suppose. Rural communities can return to donkey’s and cart’s with Eamon Ryan as minister. Communities should voice their option for what its worth.
Could do with avoiding Portadown when on train from Belfast to Dublin and a train link onward from Connolly to het straight to Cork would be good
Can drive in 4 hours but takes 8 hours by train now
Pushing people further and further away from Dublin and telling us to use public transport that doesn’t exist
Be nice to have more info on how the Public submit a submission. Are we talking a Google form or a dissertation? For one the dart line between bray and greystones needs to be expanded to 2 tracks and electrified all the way at least to Wicklow town. Others have mentioned the Cavan/Navan line which has been talked about for decades.
If I remember correctly there are several lines where you need to travel to Dublin to connect elsewhere. Kilkenny to Waterford iirc.
Get rid of that slow,heavy train called Enterprise for a start and put on a better train with more capacity Dublin to Belfast for a start.
@Peter Boyle: That’s two starts..
Tgv system needed in Ireland. Diesel trains are hardly worth discussing as they are obsolete and not environmentally friendly.
D U P SAYS NO
I’m going to email Arup to find out how you do this, is there a form, are their plans to comment or whatever, here is their press contact for those interested: https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/arup-to-deliver-strategic-review-of-irelands-railway-network
I have written to every minister for transport for the last 10 years suggesting we do not need metro north all we need to do is extend the dart from malahide to Dublin airport and then link the dart under the famous tunnel under phoenix park to Houston Station
every other country has an airport link into a main railway station
but they refuse to listen and would rather waste our money on metro north
also we need to electrify the rail network
have your say