The reinstated Limerick-Foynes Port freight rail link, when completed, will be the first stop in delivering a 14-fold increase in goods being transported by rail by the end of the next decade, an Irish Exporters Association (IEA) seminar has been told.
The rail link to the Shannon-Foynes Port Company (SFPC) terminal, which is set to be operational by early 2026, is a step-change in rail freight activity that is necessitated by Ireland’s need to transform from being one of Europe’s laggards when it comes to rail freight. Currently, Ireland has just 1% of inland freight carried by rail, compared to a European average of approximately 18%.
The European Commission’s Green Deal Policy includes targets for as much as 75% of inland freight currently carried by road to shift onto rail and inland waterways.
At the seminar held this week in Foynes, Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) Chief Executive Jim Meade said that Ireland has a huge task ahead if it is to meet European targets for reducing the impact of transport networks on the environment by transitioning to less impactful, low-carbon modes of transporting freight. But, he added, the €152 million reinstatement of the Foynes rail link is a key first step in the journey.
“Enhancing connections with seaports is one of five key pillars of Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy. Irish port traffic accounts for over 90% of annual imports and exports. But with just 1% of inland freight being carried by rail, it shows just how much freight goes on our roads. That means we are completely out of kilter with where we need to be and with the European average.
“Rail freight generates 76% less emissions (per tonne-km) than road haulage, and as such, there is an opportunity for rail to become a cornerstone of a sustainable freight network across Ireland.
“One of the first things we need to do to achieve this is connect our ports by rail, and the reinstatement of our Limerick to Foynes rail link is a first key move on our behalf to do this.
Reconnecting the Port of Foynes to the rail network will drive growth in bulk and intermodal traffic, and it will also support opportunities with mining and offshore power generation in the region.”
The environmental impact of increasing rail freight is compelling, he said, as it can help in reducing Ireland’s transport impact on the environment and air quality.
“Transport is responsible for approximately one fifth of all emissions nationally, so the expansion of modern rail freight facilities and services can help divert significant volumes away from road haulage and help achieve decarbonisation and environmental targets across the regions.
