THE EU Commission has launched a €64 million grant scheme aimed at moving freight from roads to more environmentally friendly transport forms such as rail or short-sea crossings.
The financial support under the EU Marco Polo fund comes as Iarnród Éireann confirms it is considering closing services on the Rosslare Port to Waterford line.
An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said no freight had been transported on the Waterford-Rosslare line since the closure of the State’s sugar business in 2006, and services on the route now amounted to one passenger train in each direction each day.
Passenger numbers averaged 25 and revenue was 2 per cent of costs. The company is also looking at low-cost options for passenger services between Waterford and Rosslare.
However, the spokesman said the company was interested in freight business and had recently increased services between Ballina, Co Mayo, and Waterford.
He said anything which would help make it cost-effective for commercial customers to use rail freight would be looked at, and it would be looking at the Marco Polo fund.
Announcing the €64 million “call for projects”, Ruth Deasy of the European Commission Representation in Ireland said: “This financial support is available under the Marco Polo fund during the start-up phase of operations.”
