Freight decision put on hold

Irish Rail's decision to close its loss-making freight operations has been put on hold until at least next year, following pressure from Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

Mr Brennan contacted CIE chairman John Lynch ahead of yesterday's November 6th board meeting, which had been called to rubber stamp Irish Rail's decision. He asked Mr Lynch to defer any decision until the strategic rail review is published next year.

In a separate development Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dail that any CIE decision to close freight services would not get ministerial approval until the strategic rail review was completed.

Mr Ahern made his comments in replying to a question from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. Mr Kenny said the board of CIE was meeting to make a decision to close a number a number of rail freight lines, which would put thousands of extra trucks onto already overcrowded and inadequate roads.
CIE issued a statement last night saying it remained "extremely concerned about the serious financial crisis in Irish Rail."

Not surprisingly, the board of CIE will now ask the Government to increase its subvention to keep the loss-making freight business going and the continued operation of the Rosslare to Limerick Junction route.
Meanwhile, the opposition waded into the Government with all guns blazing in relation to the ongoing Irish Rail freight saga.

Labour's newly appointed spokeswoman on transport Roisin Shorthall called on transport Minister Seamus Brennan to reject "any rail closures or cuts in freight services."

Fine Gael's spokesman on transport, Denis Naughten said that 10 freight depots faced closure, some of which had only been refurbished, while another euro 4 million had been spent on unused containers wagons.