Rail advocacy group dismayed by cancellation of Wateraford-Wexford train line

South East on Track were dismayed to read reports about the apparent cancellation of the re-opening of the Wexford-Waterford line, as previously set out in the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review (AISRR), in 2024.

This line is in good condition for re-opening and would not only connect Wexford and Waterford but also the entire south eastern region of Ireland. Works on the line would be partially paid for by insurers, taking away cost from the tax payer, owing to a ship strike on the Barrow Bridge in the recent past.

As recently as this week, Engineers Ireland called on the government to re-prioritise spending on public transport over new motorways in order to give people the choice to take the environmentally friendly option when it comes to transport and commuting.

TDs in the previous government fought hard to get the Wexford-Waterford line included in the AISRR whereas this progress seems to have been erased overnight by the government of the day.

At a time where commuters are struggling with an over-capacity rail network, the advancement of additional lines and services has to be a priority. This will not only offer commuters more sustainable choices when it comes to transport, but also help to address the crisis in housing by offering more options along newly re-established transport routes.

Speaking to Wexford Weekly, spokesperson Ciara Murphy said:

“South East on Track is calling on the government to prioritise the re-opening of the Wexford-Waterford line and to opposition TDs in the region to seek clarity and transparency regarding this knee-jerk decision to halt regional development and progress in the south east”.