Study of rail freight transport at ports ordered

The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, is to examine the construction of an oil pipeline between Dublin Port and Dublin Airport which would reduce congestion and free land in the port area.

He has also ordered a study of rail freight transport at seven of the State's main ports, as one of a series of reviews of the sector. A separate review of port land banks has also been initiated.

The moves come just over a month after the Minister promised a "radical shake-up" of port structures, including measures to reduce road-traffic congestion in the Dublin Port/East Wall Road area.

He has established a "small task force" on transport logistics which has been charged with examining transfer of port-generated freight traffic from road to rail, including development of rail-head facilities at existing ports.

Currently, only 3.9 per cent of freight traffic is handled onshore by rail. Seven commercial ports have rail links, but only two, Dublin and Waterford, are used.

The task force will look at handling rail freight at night/off-peak hours; diverting freight from Dublin Port to less congested harbours; and constructing an oil pipeline from Dublin to the airport, which is a major fuel-user.

This would involve relocation of oil-tank farms from the port to the airport or north Dublin/M50 motorway area. A strategic review of rail freight conducted by Arup Consulting Engineers found that the 3.9 per cent rail share of port traffic amounted to about one million tonnes of goods.

With improved rail connections in Dublin, in particular, Iarnrod Eireann could increase its volume of containerised business, generating an estimated £9.2 million in revenue, the consultants said.

The study noted that Iarnrod Eireann had large capital expenditure plans for its rail freight business, but the company lacked a detailed strategic plan which set out profit-making abilities or returns on the investments.

Before embarking on such capital expenditure, the consultants advised, each rail freight project should be evaluated to determine its ability to make a positive return. The consultants also recommended that a comprehensive plan identify the potential for rail freight in each port with rail links.

The Minister has established a separate working group to advise him on the potential for developing port estates at commercial harbours.