Vol. 411 No. 7
239 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether he has received any application from Irish Rail to cease or reduce rail services on the Cork-Cobh rail line; if his attention has been drawn to the company's plans for this rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Although the provision of rail services on the Cork/Cobh line is, under the Transport Acts, a matter entirely for Iarnród Éireann, I have contacted the chairman of CIE in the matter. He has informed me that in May of this year, in a reorganisation of the timetable, Iarnród Éireann withdrew two late evening services on the line due to low levels of demand. Alternative bus services were introduced by Bus Éireann to cater for passengers.
I also understand that Iarnród Éireann found it necessary to withdraw carriages from the Cork/Cobh line on a few occasions recently to cater for increased mainline passenger business. The rail service was substituted by buses on these occasions.
I can assure the Deputy that Iarnród Éireann has no plans to cease or to reduce further rail services on the Cork/Cobh line. I can inform the Deputy that, as the new railcars which I recently approved come on stream, Iarnród Éireann expect to be able to reallocate some of their existing fleet to the Cork/Cobh line.
