Fears that the Limerick to Foynes rail link will be closed have been allayed by Iarnród Éireann. The shutdown of the line during road works, and an internal circular on December 17th allowing only engineer trains on that section, led to worries about its ultimate closure.
Iarnród Éireann now says control of the line will not revert to the operations section (freight) until June, on completion of a level crossing for a new port access road.
Mr Hassard Stacpoole, the west Limerick-based editor of Irish Railway News, an online magazine, believes the current change of status could be a precursor to a permanent downgrading of the line.
"By downgrading it to an engineers' siding, it effectively closes the railway by the back door."
The west Limerick Fine Gael TD, Mr Dan Neville, is to query the plan "to downgrade the rail network" in the Dáil next week. According to Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke's tabled reply for next Wednesday, there are no plans to downgrade it.
An Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman said the line will be open for business in the future if a viable project arises.
Business on the 144-year-old line has declined in recent years despite Foynes being the biggest industrial port on the western seaboard. The last revenue-earning train to run on the 27-mile line was in December, 2000, when annual revenue was €31,743 (£25, 000).
"The port company would view any downgrading as regrettable as it may impact on port development in the future," a spokesman said.
Mr Stacpoole said the Glounthaune to Youghal line in Co Cork has operated as an engineers' siding since the late 1980s, effectively meaning it is not being promoted as an alternative transport mode.
"If the railway network is to have a future, the Government must commit to investing in freight."
He said he had been told unofficially by Iarnród Éireann that the change in status would be made permanent later this year if there is no demand for the service.