The battle to retain the railway line between Rosslare and Limerick Junction (via Waterford) will be fought for ‘tooth-and-nail’ according to a campaigner.
Damien Cassidy of the National Conservation and Heritage Group says the mooted closure of the line was “unacceptable” given this week’s opening of the Western Rail Corridor.
Dear sir,
I am delighted to see you are highlighting the perilous state of the Rosslaire-Waterford line, a crucial piece of the state’s infrastructure that has been continually neglected by successive governments. If Irish Rail provided a decent service, promoted the line as a tourist attraction and gave attractive fares (such as a ‘WWR’ or Wexford-Waterford Rover ticket, allowing travel in the two counties), then we might fill the trains and support the local communities.
However, the idea of neglecting the line is not a recent phenomenon – I remember when we returned from France into Rosslaire harbour in the mid 1980s and asked the ticket office for a single from Rosslaire – Waterford and then another single to Dublin. The official explained that there was a direct line to Dublin, but we informed him that we wanted to travel the line to Waterford. It took a lot of explaining before he sold us the tickets!
Best wishes,
Peter Scott
It was just announced that they axed the Rosslare-Waterford line today, a week after the green party conference left town, and a fortnight after the south-easts senior minster was not replaced. Oh, the Mid west had their place in cabinet renewed and they just got a brand spanking new rail line (that is also not really economic). The south east needs to get angry at the continually poor political representation.
It will be a national tragedy if the Rosslare-Limerick line is closed. With a little bit of strategic planning, this line could actually become profitable if it were brought up to current health and safety standards. One only has to look at a map of Ireland to see the possibilities. Right now, there is a continuing railway line in varoius stages of condition stretching from the Sout East of the Island all the way up to the North West, Linking three major cities, all with considerable catchment areas.The very fact that after many years, the Limerick Galway has exceeded al traffic volume expectations lends a convincing argument to overhaul the Limerick Rosslare line. The question remains,have our politians got the political will, stamina and commintment to campaign to keep this line oppen? For the sake of Ireland, I sincerely hope so.
David Peter Fine, 9 Bothar Mháol Bhuille, Glasnevin, Dublin 11.