COLIN JOHNSTON,
Madam, - The recent announcement by Iarnród Éireann that it intends to axe "unprofitable" freight services, and in some cases entire lines, prompts me to ask: "Why are the capital and maintenance costs of the road network, paid out of the public purse, not included in cost analysis of the road haulage industry (at least in part), when the equivalent infrastructure costs are always a major part of profitability issues on the railways?
Rail freight is in most cases more energy efficient, less polluting and safer than road haulage. Since we have in the past lost valuable rail infrastructure which is unlikely ever to be replaced, it is vital to the national interest that what remains is used to the full. I cannot understand why anyone should object to an increase in government subvention to this end, given the massive investment in the road network now being undertaken.
It is a question perhaps, of balancing simplistic accounting against other aspects of the common wealth - a balance that we seem to be losing our grasp of. - Yours, etc.,
COLIN JOHNSTON,
Carrownagoul,
Tubber,
Co Clare.