An hourly train service should be operating between major cities and at least one train every two hours between other urban centres, according to a new report that recommends the transformation of the current rail system including port rail freight.

At a launch (yesterday, 25 July), Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan will bring the draft report of the first All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR). The review makes for 30 recommendations that will be brought to the Cabinet.

The AISRR wants to have faster speeds amd improved frequency in addition to new rail routes for people and those for freight. The latter is particularly aimed to be in place across the west and north regions of the country.

Recommendations in the report would take a timeframe beyond 25 years to achieve, however several of the proposals could be implemented beforehand by 2030.

Among the recommended proposals include reducing the level of trucks off the roads with the Limerick to Foynes Port railway reinstated for freight as Afloat previously reported and potentially for passengers returning on the Shannon estuary rail link.

In addition another rail-freight project is to start reopening the south Wexford railway line connecting Waterford and Rosslare Europort, operated by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann).

In addition there is a suggestion to develop a rail line around Dublin Port. 

For more on the AISRR recommendations including Northern Ireland, RTE News reports as well to coverage of matters maritime, as the Minister also highlighted issues facing lighthouse authorities on both sides of the Irish Sea.

General Lighthouse Authorities  

The Minister is seeking Cabinet approval for an international agreement between the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) in Ireland and Britain.

Responsibility for the navigation safety around the coasts of Ireland and the UK is overseen by the three lighthouse authorities as Afloat has featured notably of recent years given plans to replace ageing aids to navigation vessels with newbuilds.

The GLA's are the Commissioners of Irish Lights for Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Northern Lighthouse Board for Scotland and the Isle of Man, and Trinity House for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.

All three GLA's have used joint procurement measures to benefit from the economies of scale and by having closer operational ties. This process was straightforward when all the three lighthouse authorities were under the same EU procurement regime.

However, given post-Brexit this has led to a new solution being required.

The Minister has been advised by the Attorney Gerneral that an international agreement be implemented so to enable the GLA's to achieve solutions.

Among them is the key contract to provide helicopter services needed to service lighthouses in offshore remote locations in particular on Ireland's western seaboard.