He said that any potential changes as a result of Tuesday's cabinet decision need to be undertaken carefully and lessons learned from the experience elsewhere.
"The Government move to end the derogation was the right one, and allows the important question of how we improve the rail network to be addressed. Over the years, Irish Rail's complete control of the network has ended up strangling its development. Scores of good reform proposals from rail lobby groups have gone ignored. The manner in which the freight network was allowed to decline and the likes of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line was neglected to the point of closure, are shameful indictments of both company strategy and management.
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"Restructuring to allow other operators onto the Irish Rail lines opens up a new chapter for rail services in Ireland, and one that can be positive with the right approach. Capacity on many of our lines, particularly those outside of Dublin, is greatly under-utilised. If we want to grow our rail network, this has to change. Rail freight is an area which has already benefited from outside innovation in the last couple of years, the IWT services from Dublin Port to the West of Ireland being just one example of that. There is significant opportunity to achieve further such success stories. However, a broad inclusion of stakeholders is crucial to make this happen."
"That said, we must also be wary of the pitfalls of privatisation. Market access is not a panacea for all the ills of the rail network. Irish Rail, while imperfect, is a well-known brand for rail services in this country. Any changes to this model must have significant justifications regarding long-term improvements to passenger access, fares and service quality. Neither should these changes be used as an excuse by Government to avoid vital investment in the national rail infrastructure, such as the completion of the Western Rail Corridor and Meath rail line."
(CD/GK)
