Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
38 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the policy changes by Iarnród Éireann to reduce the number of powerful locomotives which may have an adverse effect on the future of freight travel on the Irish rail system, especially the seasonal haulage of sugar beet. [20586/04]
View answerThe allocation and deployment of locomotives and other rolling stock is strictly a matter for Iarnród Éireann. The company has assured me that it has sufficient numbers of suitable locomotives in its fleet to provide for the future demands of the freight business, including the seasonal haulage of sugar beet.
I have raised this issue because there has been a dramatic change in the type of rolling stock being used by Iarnród Éireann. The rolling stock used on the line between Rosslare and Dublin has recently been replaced. The company has replaced the locomotives which were being used and put in place a basic commuter service instead, using trains of limited capacity. Much of the capacity is for standing passengers. I believe that large locomotives have been replaced by commuter-type trains in other parts of the country. The freight service has been practically taken off the railway lines in Northern Ireland. I am aware that Iarnród Éireann has invested in some locomotives, but their use is mainly being restricted to the inter-city service. There does not seem to be ongoing investment in the big locomotives about which I am talking, which are used for hauling sugar beet and other freight.
The Minister has said that Iarnród Éireann has the power to decide on its own policies, but decisions which are made now will have effects down the line, for example on the transport of sugar beet. It was said at one time that the railway line between Waterford and Limerick was to be closed, which would have affected the transport of beet. If locomotives are taken off the line and are not available when we reach a crisis because stock has been run down, it will be the responsibility of the Minister rather than Iarnród Éireann. We are seeing a change in passenger services in that smaller trains, which are not as powerful and do not have the same capacity because they cannot be expanded, are being used. We could have a crisis in this regard in five or ten years time. The Minister should know about this issue rather than saying that it is a matter of Iarnród Éireann policy.
I appreciate the Deputy's concern and I will bring his comments to the attention of Iarnród Éireann. The company has recently gone to tender for a major overhaul of its fleet of large locomotives and has reduced its number of smaller locomotives, many of which had expired. Deputies are aware that the transport of beet by rail was severely disrupted last year when a viaduct collapsed near Cahir. The usual rail transport arrangements will be restored when this year's beet season commences, with services operating from Wellington Bridge in south Wexford to Limerick Junction and on to Mallow.
Iarnród Éireann has informed me that it is reshaping its freight business to focus more on the business best suited to rail. It will concentrate on long-haul heavy goods rather than short journeys which are time-sensitive. As a result of the actions it has taken over the past 18 months, Iarnród Éireann has started to reduce its freight losses and has won back some business, for example from Coillte. I will pass Deputy Twomey's comments and concerns on to the company.
