TRANSPORT MINISTER: WE MUST EXAMIME OUR REGIONAL RAIL LINKS
Waterford News & Star
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021
TRANSPORT Minister Eamon Ryan (GP) has stressed that the pending all-island rail review ‘is not just about Dublin, Belfast and Cork’.
Speaking during a Seanad transport debate yesterday (Friday), Minister Ryan was responding to questions on the future of the Western Rail Corridor and the N24 Waterford to Limerick road.
He added: “It is not just the N24 we need to look at but we must look at what to do with the rail line from Wexford to Waterford and Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir, Tipperary Town, Bansha and upwards. It is not just 19th century market towns that are our legacy. We have a legacy of being the best rail builders in the world and there are strands of rail line left that we are not using, in effect. Nobody really uses it because it is not designed to be used. It is still there and just giving up on those assets would make questionable sense.”
In the context of future transport connectivity to and from Rosslare Europort, Minister Ryan said: “to my mind that should be radically enhanced…It can also be a significant part of developing our offshore wind industry. The recent revival and growth in Rosslare Europort is only the start.”