Those campaigning to retain the Waterford to Rosslare rail connection despite Iarnród Éireann’s (IE) long-stated intention to terminate the service, show no signs of relenting in their bid to salvage the line’s future.
The Save The Rail (STR) group, which has received considerable support from Wexford and Waterford councillors, as well as the South East Regional Authority (SERA), has vowed to maintain its efforts to keep the line open.
In a statement to The Munster Express, citing the case made by SERA to keep the line open, STR believes it has identified several flaws and oversights in IE’s 31-page business case for withdrawing its service.
In the IE business case, which this newspaper has obtained a copy of, the operator states that the line “is no longer of strategic importance to the remainder of the rail network or to Rosslare Europort”.
The report continues: “This is particularly the case given the withdrawal of rail freight from the route following the closure of the sugar beet industry a number of years ago.”
In the report, IE states why it feels the line should close, a case it has previously and repeatedly made through other fora in recent months.
These include: “The current ratio of costs to revenue is one of the worst in the entire Iarnród Éireann network and it is highly likely that replacement services would provide better value for money.
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