Demand for Irish rail freight increases

Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has introduced two new rail freight services between Dublin Port and Ballina, operated by International Warehousing and Transport (IWT). Hassard Stacpoole reports...

The additional services were launched on September 17, 2024, using the recently 12 newly-refurbished pocket wagons, increasing the number of IWT-operated trains between Dublin Port and Ballina to seven and easing road congestion by removing 24 trucks per train from Irish roads.

The 24 strong pocket wagon fleet, mothballed for several years, are low-floor container wagons and have undergone refurbishment to meet the growing needs of rail freight. As part of Iarnród Éireann 's ambitious 2040 rail freight strategy, the company issued a request for tenders for an eight-year framework agreement worth an estimated €120m to supply up to 400 wagons, including a base order for 200 wagons in the autumn of 2022. RAIL understands that the tender is still awaiting final sign off by the Irish Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan.

Minister Ryan, welcomed these new services saying;

“These new services show that rail freight can provide for the efficient movement of goods across the country and support us in meeting our decarbonisation goals. It also shows that there is real appetite for rail freight from major industrial companies. Ireland’s use of rail freight is low in comparison to the use of rail freight across Europe. But this can and will change. Without rail freight we cannot expect to decarbonise our transport system.”

Ryan also stressed that the future development of Dublin Port, which is set to undergo a €1.1 billion expansion, must prioritise the integration of additional rail freight capacity. The expansion is expected to significantly increase the volume of goods passing through the port, and Ryan urged the inclusion of rail freight as a core part of this growth to avoid exacerbating road congestion, especially on the already overstretched M50 motorway. He added:

“We have to get rail freight back because we have such a challenge to reduce our emissions. The truck-based system has such an impact on communities, and I believe those companies that are concerned about their carbon footprint will want to switch.”

The government’s commitment to expanding rail freight, Ryan said, is demonstrated by the ongoing rehabilitation of the Foynes rail freight line, which will reconnect Limerick City to Foynes Port by 2026. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review also lays out a long-term vision for rail infrastructure, focusing on increasing freight capabilities along key corridors connecting major ports in the west and south of the country.

As Ireland grapples with road congestion, emissions reduction, and a shortage of HGV drivers, rail freight presents a sustainable alternative. The introduction of these two new services and Ryan's call for further rail integration at Dublin Port signal a shift toward a greener, more efficient freight transport system in Ireland.