Rail system and climate targets

A modal shift

Sir, – Dave Mathieson (Letters, August 5th) is absolutely correct to question the Government’s trust in having one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 to help cut transport-related emissions by 50 per cent. Indeed with the technology in use currently, our rail system can move people from A to B with as little as 5 per cent of the carbon output and freight with less than 20 per cent. Expanding the reach of the network to the regions and its capacity represents excellent value for money. Reopening rail lines costs roughly 10 per cent per km compared to a new dual-carriageway. This will encourage people to make the modal shift away from less efficient road-based transport. – Yours, etc,

ULTAN KEADY,

Caherlistrane,

Co Galway.