Rail freight being forced on to roads network

Iarnród Éireann is unfairly using its dominant position in the market to force freight traffic from the railways and on to the roads, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport John Ellis said yesterday.

Mr Ellis made his comments after he was told by Department of Transport officials that Ireland would seek a derogation from new EU rail directives on opening up the network to private sector competition.

According to transport official Dermot McCarthy, the European Commission is seeking to introduce four new European directives to support the integration of European railways and encourage competition in freight and passenger services.

The directives cover :

a certification system for train drivers;

improving the rights of passengers using rail services;

the opening of international passenger services to competition;

regulation of the quality aspects of rail freight traffic.

Ireland has taken a "pragmatic approach" to the directives by supporting them where there is European consensus and then seeking a derogation where the proposals might impose undue costs relative to any benefit.

Mr McCarthy said Ireland had already received a derogation on the certification of international drivers because this amounted to such a small portion of Iarnród Éireann's business.

Ireland had raised no objection to a draft directive on international passenger rights, specifically as it amounted to such a small part of Iarnród Éireann's business.

However, in relation to freight, Ireland was in a unique position in that Iarnród Éireann's rail gauge did not suit continental trains and he was doubtful that European operators would modify their trains to compete here.

But Mr Ellis said Iarnród Éireann as both the network operator and service supplier was "using their monopoly position to dump everything on the roads.

"I've seen this on the Dublin to Sligo line where Iarnród Éireann seem to have decided they have enough business and seem to run away from it. This is wrong.

"It is an anomaly to the detriment of general freight," he concluded.

Mr McCarthy said that from about 2007, competitors would be legally able to bid for freight business but he did not expect any great interest in Irish services.