Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has said the EU and the Irish government must look at sustainable transport solutions “to address both the climate crisis and regional imbalance”.
MacManus said that a European Parliament vote on cohesion policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change “highlighted the need for investment in sustainable mobility, such as railways”.
“We are in the midst of a climate crisis and band-aid plaster solutions are not enough. We need to be able to offer our citizens a sustainable means of transport. That means investing in rail,” the MEP said.
“Investing in rail would not only help us reach our climate targets, but it would also help address the regional imbalances.”
‘Neglected for far too long’
The MEP said that the government needs to “start looking at the wider west of Ireland arch and to give serious consideration as a start to reopening the Western Rail Corridor”.
“The people of the west and north-west have been neglected for far too long,” MacManus continued.
“Reopening this railway line would offer new hope to not only achieving regional balance, but also towards tackling the climate crisis, via offering people a sustainable means of transport.”
Last week, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland Nichola Mallon announced the launch of all-island Strategic Rail Review.
This review will consider how the rail network on the island of Ireland can “improve sustainable connectivity between the major cities, enhance regional accessibility and support balanced regional development”.
In addition, the review will consider the feasibility of higher speeds on the network and whether there is a potential to increase use of the network for freight.
Minister Ryan stated: “I’m a firm believer in the potential of rail in supporting social and economic development and the environmental sustainability of our transport system.
“This year is designated as the European Year of Rail and I’m delighted to launch this strategic review of rail here in Ireland. I’m particularly pleased that we’ll undertake this review on an all-island basis, working with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive.
“The review will look at how rail can help better connect cities and regions across the island and will complement the investment we already plan in our commuter rail networks.”
National Investment Framework for Transport
Minister Ryan has also recently published the draft National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland, which sets out the path for the Department of Transport’s investment in a long-term land transport strategy.
The department is now seeking feedback from the public and interested stakeholders on the framework. The consultation will help shape how infrastructure is delivered in rural communities.
“The land transport network connects communities across our island,” the minister said.
“The output of this consultation will help shape this high-level investment framework and investment priorities, which will determine how we deliver infrastructure within and between our cities, towns and rural communities in a sustainable manner over the coming decades.
“As transport is a key enabler of our spatial and climate change policies, your views will inform how transport supports sustainable social, environmental and economic development nationwide.”
Our Rural Future
The government’s new rural development policy – ‘Our Rural Future’ – outlines a commitment to protecting and expanding regional connectivity and connectivity between towns and villages in rural Ireland.
A ‘Sustainable Rural Mobility Plan’ is to be developed, according to the document, which will introduce a public transport service standard “under which all settlements over a certain size in terms of population, combined with employment or education places, will have a service connecting them to the national public transport system”.
The government said it also plans to further develop the Local Link service and to pilot new transport initiatives “to enhance the quality of life for people of all ages living in rural areas, including people with disabilities”.