Rail services on the Rosslare to Waterford line are set to close within weeks, following this afternoon’s decision by the National Transport Authority to approve Irish Rail plans for closure.
The transport authority said the route would replaced by an “enhanced bus service”, adding more than 80 bus-based round trips per week. The authority said this would deliver “significant transport improvements” along the route.
Campaign group Rail Users Ireland said it regretted the closure and criticised the business case put forward by Irish Rail. The group said it had active interest from three separate bodies seeking to run trains on the route.
The National Transport Authority said the current rail service was not viable with an annual operating cost €1.9 million and fewer than 50 passengers using the service each way. This was just just 20 per cent of actual maximum capacity, it said. The authority also pointed out that fare income amounts to just €50,000 per year.
Bus Éireann will now to develop a network of replacement bus services for people living, working and travelling in the area at a considerably reduced cost to the State. Fares on these new bus services are being maintained at the same levels for the displaced rail passengers.
The authority said Irish Rail will be contractually obliged to ensure that the rail line is maintained in place to enable a reinstatement of services if transport demand and economic circumstances should improve sufficiently in the future. An asset management regime has to be implemented by Irish Rail and will be audited by the National Transport Authority.
