LOCAL TD and Minister of State, Paul Kehoe has called on Minister for Transport Shane Ross to enhance the Wexford to Dublin rail line, in response to the 2016 Rail Review report.
The report identified the Wexford-Dublin route as one whose services could be suspended in order to realise cost-savings, much to the chagrin of many in the county.
According to the 2011 Census, 4,265 commuters travel from Wexford to the Great Dublin Area, a figure which, Minister Kehoe believed, represented an opportunity to grow passenger numbers. He pointed out that from 2000 to 2010, passenger numbers increased but services did not.
Minister Kehoe has called on his government colleague not only to not cut services, but to enhance them in order to make the line more sustainable and profitable.
He pointed out that Transport Infrastructure Ireland had indicated a growth in travel demand along the M/N11 route, pointing out that it also serviced Rosslare Europort, a critical national transportation hub for commercial and tourist traffic.
He said: “Given the national importance of Rosslare Europort and the potential for passenger growth along the route I suggest that the service currently operating along the Rosslare-Dublin line is maintained and enhanced. The service should be integrated with the transportation network servicing the Greater Dublin Area along the eastern corridor.”
[Full story in this week’s Echo]