Submission from South East Chambers
to National Transport Authority
concerning Rosslare/Waterford rail line
14 July 2010
South East Chambers
This is the umbrella body consisting of the nine Chambers of Commerce in the South East. They are Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Clonmel, Dungarvan, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey. These Chambers represent the interests of the business community in the region and the chamber movement is the largest business representative body in Ireland.
Waterford/Limerick Junction line
In 2002 Iarnrod Eireann (IE) announced that it wished to close the Waterford/Limerick Junction line but, following representations by South East Chambers to the then Minister for Transport (Seamus Brennan RIP), the Government instructed that this line should remain open. In subsequent discussions with Richard Fearn (Iarnrod Eireann CEO), the need for generally improving the service along that portion of the line was put to him and he was very receptive.
Rosslare/Waterford line
The business community is totally opposed to the current proposals that train services should cease on the Rosslare/Waterford line and we are asking the NTA, not just to refuse authorisation for a cessation of services, but to approve a new regime which we feel sure will result in a proper service operating successfully for the benefit of all.
Subsidisation
The reasons given by IE for wanting to shut down operations on the line include poor passenger numbers and the absence of the beet freight, all resulting in heavy losses which the company feels unable to bear any longer. While we are conscious that all public transport (even road) receives some form of subsidy and probably always will, we agree that the losses currently being suffered by IE on this line are unsustainable and urgently need correction.
Community Rail Partnership
Having studied the situation in the UK where they also have rail lines passing through areas of low population density, we have learned that the creation of local community rail partnerships has resulted in considerable growth in rail usage and income to the operator.
We have come to appreciate that IE is essentially the rail operator and is not geared to performing the important tasks of promoting and marketing the services. Our understanding of the Community Rail Partnerships is that these are local organisations sponsored by the local authorities and other stakeholders (e.g. those representing passengers and the business community) with participation by the operator (in our case IE). A local manager is appointed and he/she is answerable to a local committee who act in a voluntary capacity and whose function includes, advising the operator on the service requirements along the line, marketing and promoting these services, working with businesses on special attractions, helping to spruce up stations, etc. The result of all this local involvement is that people come to realise that the train is there for them and that their needs are heeded. The manager’s job is to channel all this groundswell of involvement so that a marked increase in rail usage and earnings is delivered. He/she would interface with IE as regards frequencies, times, etc.
Frequency
The key to securing more passengers is frequency of services. People will organise their lives around train times but they must have options. The current situation of one train in each direction and none on Sundays or Public Holidays could at best be termed a token service and we would envisage that, if a Community Rail Partnership was put in place, we would soon have seven day working with three or four round trips daily.
A survey was recently conducted by a local interest group and this showed that a great number are attracted to using the train if a suitable service is provided. From the numbers who responded and the frequencies that they would use the train, we calculate that the income from such usage would exceed €1m annually. This survey (available on request) was heavily biased towards commuting to Waterford (because that is the tradition) but we understand that there is actually twice as much commuter traffic from south Wexford to Wexford town and, if this was taken into account, there would be even greater potential for the railway. Therefore, passenger traffic along the line could be greatly in excess of the 135,630 journeys shown by the survey and the line’s income could be built up to €2/3m. This would all be dependant on providing a frequent service, connecting with Wexford town in all cases and heavily promoting such services.
Potential passengers
This line was originally built to service the ferries using Rosslare port and, while the advent of roll-on roll-off car ferries has reduced the usage of the train, we understand that there is still a reasonable number of foot passengers who would use the train. Other ferry users who would potentially use the train include cyclists, rail ramblers and the old, the infirm and the handicapped. But the trains must run at times to serve the ferries, both coming and going.
By working with the business community, joint promotions could be advertised, eg ‘Take the train to Campile and enjoy Sunday lunch at xxxx’s restaurant’ or ‘Travel on the seaside express to Rosslare and experience all the attractions of this Blue Flag beach’ or ‘Special day return to Waterford to see the magnificent Tall Ships’ etc, etc. Failte Ireland could also join in the promotion of the services to visitors – the tourist potential is considerable. The presence of an airport in Waterford and a ferry port in Rosslare also presents many business opportunities.
People who have to regularly visit Waterford Regional Hospital for treatment (of cancer, etc) prefer the train because they have more room and trains have toilets. Students prefer trains to buses because they are more reliable (not delayed by traffic) and they can study on the train far more easily than on a bus.
Local support available
The local authorities have expressed very strong support for the retention of the line and therefore we feel sure that they would be willing to participate in the proposed Community Rail Partnership. The Chambers of Commerce in the South East would be happy to play their part, as would we feel sure the rail users group that was recently set up to contest the threatened closure of the line. The goodwill is there in abundance to learn from the UK experience and set up a successful Community Rail Partnership for this line.
We feel that IE should support and participate in the idea. It will save the line and avoid the embarrassment of closing a line in the south east while spending millions opening up former lines in the north west. The railway network is important to IE and the closure of any part has the effect of diminishing the value of what remains. Indeed, this could be a pilot that IE may wish to use in cases of other lines that are running through areas of low density of population.
In summary
South East Chambers submits that the Rosslare to Waterford line should not be closed. Instead, a Community Rail Partnership should be put in place and a plan drawn up with objectives aimed at dramatically developing the business and the income earned by it. A person with the necessary drive, knowledge and management skills would be engaged to manage the Partnership and achieve the planned objectives.
The tasks of the Partnership would include:
· Develop a frequency of service that the public want and will use,
· Work closely with IE and advise IE regarding time tables,
· Promote and market the services through advertising and other kinds of communications,
· Ensure that stations are maintained in an attractive way with up to date information on services available,
· Organise special trains to meet the needs of passengers and local businesses,
· Etc, etc.
The participants in the Partnership would be IE (as the railway operator), local authorities, business community and rail users.
We fervently hope that the National Transport Authority will see merit in our submission and will act in accordance. If there are any aspects that require our clarification or further explanation, we would be very happy to meet with the appropriate people.
South East Chambers – 14 July 2010