Journey times key to rail future
The finding that passengers are deserting the rail network in droves in favour of quicker road journeys, which we report in today's newspaper, should come as no surprise.
Despite investing €1.6bn in recent years upgrading the railway network, journey times remain hopelessly uncompetitive with those of the new motorway network.
According to a report compiled by AECOM/Goodbody Economic Consultants, without service improvements, the number of rail passengers will not recover their 2007 peak of 10.7 million before 2015. Since 2007 rail passenger numbers have fallen by a quarter to just eight million.
For anyone who has recently driven on one of our new motorways, at least one of the reasons for the collapse in rail passenger numbers quickly becomes apparent. It is now possible to travel much more quickly between Dublin and the other major cities by car than it is by train. Travellers, not surprisingly, are opting for the car rather than the train.
If the railway network is to have a future then it must respond to the challenge posed by the motorways. Far too often, Irish Rail gives the impression of operating services that suit itself rather than its passengers. The notion that an almost three-hour journey time between Dublin and Cork is good enough in this day and age is quite frankly laughable.
While the report calls for the investment of a further €250m in the railway network, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar should be in no hurry to sign the cheque. Unless and until Irish Rail demonstrates the flexibility required to compete with the motorways, Mr Varadkar would be merely throwing good money after bad.
