Recent Media Coverage

 

Calls for Iarnród Éireann to overhaul Wexford services

Wexford People

January 26 2021

The proposal being put forward by South East on Track is to create a loop by opening the Rosslare to Waterford line, on into Kilkenny and Carlow and back up to Connolly in Dublin. 'It would open up the whole of the South East,' Peter says. 'We're not asking for much, just a carriage or two would do the job.'

While Peter notes that the South East on Track group has been accused of being a Green Party initiative, he says that they are completely a-political and are willing to engage with any and all political parties.

'I genuinely believe that the younger generation are becoming less inclined towards car ownership,' he said. 'It's becoming more and more costly to run a car. I think there's a will to move towards public transport, but it's just not viable at the moment. Not all counties have a big port such as Rosslare. It's such a huge asset and it should serve the people of Wexford.'

Another major stumbling block for the campaign to re-open the Rosslare to Waterford rail line is the Wexford to Waterford Greenway plans. Chief Executive of Wexford County Council says it's impossible to have both.

Peter, however, believes that cycling and rail infrastructure should run hand in hand.

https://localirishnews.e-pages.pub/titles/wexfordpeople/11562/publications/69/articles/1286230/20/2

Battle of the Railways in Ireland’s South East

(La bataille du ferroviaire dans le sud-est de l’Irlande)

Breton People (in French)

January 17, 2021

At the time of closure, it was claimed that ridership was so low that a single bus service could replace rail service. The line has also been a freight line for many years and Irish Rail has made no effort to increase its passenger base. South East on Track argues the route was far too scarce to offer a real choice for commuters to Wexford and Waterford. The line was fully serviced until October 2020, so it could have been reopened fairly quickly at low cost. We hope that any future reopening will include regular services in both directions, especially when the Southeast Technological University (TUSE) becomes a reality.

http://lepeuplebreton.bzh/2021/01/17/la-bataille-du-ferroviaire-dans-le-sud-est-de-lirlande/?fbclid=IwAR10GLGltLjzAmDl2vEyCL0hhJkmIvcMO_kPU78ODIvNfU_2Ha3_Jd7l3wg

Support from Waterford TD Marc O’Cathasaigh

Waterford News & Star

Monday September 7, 2020

“Heavy rail infrastructure is too valuable to be replaced by a greenway, particularly in light of Brexit which, taking the Rosslare to Limerick line in its totality, takes two Tier 1 ports, one Tier 2 port, two of our largest cities, one of our largest inland towns along with Shannon and Waterford Airports, they’re all contiguous to that route. As a piece of transport infrastructure, the line is strategically too important to be sacrificed as a greenway.”

https://waterford-news.ie/2020/09/06/o-cathasaigh-re-opening-waterford-to-rosslare-rail-link-makes-sense/?fbclid=IwAR0NRv1XpcNuuDb-kYxvL0NhAox0fjGFjQr5kIKxmzP0FUgDDpn-CqiLmtU#.X1nuEWgzZPZ

 

Dáil Éireann Debate - October 6 2020

The Future of the Rosslare-Waterford Rail Line and the National Transport Authority.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan & Marc O’'Cathasaigh TD

Support from Carlow Councillor Adrienne Wallace

KCLR FM

July 21 2020

I think it’s important that we don’t really see this anymore as a commodity, but rather as a public service that needs to be invested in. If you actually see the linking form Rosslare, Wexford town to Waterford, on to Limerick, Tipperary and to Carlow and Kilkenny, if we start linking up this area we have the potential to really become a hub for economic activity, but also to make it more attractive to tourists.