Rail freight traffic has potential to quadruple

There is potential to quadruple rail freight traffic in the West of Ireland, according to the Western Development Commission (WDC).

In a new report, ‘Rail Freight and the Western Region’, WDC says there is scope to increase the tonnage of rail freight in the region from 2.5 million tonnes now to six million tonnes per annum by 2035 and 10 million tonnes per annum by 2050.

It also said that in the short-term, there is scope “to almost double the number of trains operating to and from the Western Region, from an average of four per day, two in each direction, adding a further 2.8 to 3.7 trainloads per day, within an overall addressable market for rail of up to 24 trainloads per day.”

However, it noted that achieving the upper-end of that scale, “will require significant investment and support from public and private sectors.”

Meanwhile, campaigners against the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor, have welcomed the report and say the growth forecasts in it are “speculation”.

The WDC report identifies Galway city as a ‘cluster’ that could help to drive growth in rail freight traffic.

“Galway City is the largest population centre in the Western region and the fourth largest in Ireland, suggesting at the very least a major source of demand for consumer goods. The major retailers are present (Aldi, Dunnes, Lidl and Tesco) together with other retailers in the city centre and at the Galway Shopping Centre to the north of the city (including Halfords, Currys, Argos, Woodies, B&Q).

“Other major local manufacturers and companies within a 6km radius which may offer rail traffic potential include Beckman Coulter Ireland (healthcare), Boston Scientific (healthcare), DPD Ireland (logistics), Hewlett Packard (ICT), Oran Precast (building products), Roadstone (aggregates) and Thermo King Ingersoll Rand (heating and ventilation),” it said.

The report notes that goods vehicles account for 1,200 per day on the M6 east of Galway near Athenry.

“Traffic levels on other routes are significant, in the order of 810 goods vehicles per day on the N17 to the north, 240 per day on the N84 to the north, 140 on the N59 to the north-west and 650 on the N18 to the south,” the report said.

Analysis in the report suggests there is potential for one or two trainloads of freight per day each way in Galway “which could be a mixture of port, local manufacturing and retailer traffic.”

In relation to Galway, it added: “The station retains sidings and land which could be used in the short term for rail freight handling, albeit space constraints would impact on the length and capacity of trains which could be handled. Galway Harbour Company has indicated it would be willing to open up any future quayside rail freight facilities for non-port traffic for local business if required.

“Alternatively, it might be possible to develop facilities as part of the proposed harbour expansion, or near the Westlink commercial park /Oranmore Business Park/ Deerpark Industrial Estate, linked to the N18/R446 interchange. Construction of the new M6/M18 interchange could offer a further opportunity to create a new strategic rail-linked distribution park, with the IDA already promoting a 27 hectare strategic site in the local area, primarily for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.”

The Western Rail Trail campaigners have welcomed the report, which acknowledges “proposals exist to establish a greenway for pedestrians and cyclists” on the closed railway line from Collooney to Athenry which has been closed since 1975.

The group said there is nothing in the report to suggest there will be a demand for more railways.

Brendan Quinn of the Western Rail Trail campaign said: “Even with the realistic potential increase in volume it would be hard to justify new railway lines and we feel sure it will not lead to any further investment in new freight routes. However, if the potential does exist in the future, the importance of protecting the route of the closed railway from Collooney to Athenry, ideally with a greenway is now paramount.

“We think this report will really confirm Government policy not to re-open the Western Rail Corridor, as the realistic forecasts for rail freight are still quite low and the speculative forecasts really have no foundation apart from pure speculation.

“The greenway campaign would also support upgrading existing railway routes with better and longer passing loops allowing longer freight trains to and from the Western Region, and rail freight hubs to ensure the existing routes are fully utilised for freight and intermodal transport. This kind of rail investment is probably realistic and will help increase rail freight to and from the West.”