Protestors at Wexford’s O’Hanrahan Station

LOCAL ACTIVISTS and members of the community keen to ensure the continued survival of the Dublin – Rosslare rail line gathered recently at O’Hanrahan Station in Wexford to air their views.

The event, organised by Sinn Féin’s Wexford Cumann, carried the slogan ‘the Wexford story does not end in Gorey.’

The rail route south of Gorey in County Wexford was mooted as being under threat in a report published by Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority late last year, which highlighted financial difficulties at the national rail service provider.

Some five local Sinn Féin County Councillors have made a submission to the National Transport Authority’s public consultation regarding the future of rail in County Wexford.

In a statement, Sinn Féin’s Dunne Kelly Whitty Cumann said: “our Councillors are emphatically opposed to the suspension of any rail services and view the rail services serving Wexford as critically and strategically important for the economic benefit of the country.”

Cllr. Johnny Mythen, meanwhile, stated: “County Wexford has suffered enough over the last ten years.

“The train service must be made a high priority to coincide with the development of our valuable Rosslare Europort.

“C.I.E. claim under-investment over consecutive years has put the company into distress.

“At present they are suggesting over €600 is needed over the next five years to upgrade, improve and modernise the country’s rail system.

“The closure of the rail services south of Gorey, such as Enniscorthy, Wexford and Rosslare rail stations, would be an economic disaster, not to mention the negative impact it would have on the social fabric of our county.”

Read more in the Wexford Echo.