Member of the EU Transport Committee, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, has written to Iarnród Éireann, and the National Transport Authority, asking them to introduce an earlier service on the Heuston to Waterford rail line so that students studying at SETU campuses in Waterford and people working in Waterford city can get to work and college for a 9am start.
Ní Mhurchú described it as bizarre that the first train into the biggest city in the South East does not arrive into the city until 9.45am. Ní Mhurchú said that this is too late for workers who need to get from Carlow and Kilkenny and be at their desks in the city for 9am. She also raised the issue of students from Carlow and Kilkenny studying at the South East Technological University who need to arrive at Waterford SETU campuses for early morning lectures.
Ní Mhurchú has called for an earlier rail service that would arrive into Waterford’s Plunkett station sometime after 8am.
Based on the number of constituents who have raised the issue, as well as an ongoing petition on the matter, Ní Mhurchú feels that demand for such a service would be strong enough to justify any additional investment by Iarnród Éireann.
Ní Mhurchú praised Iarnród Éireann for the recent addition of more nighttime services on the Dublin Waterford rail line but cautioned that if we want people to see the train as a viable alternative to the car, then we have to get them to work and college on time in the morning.
Ní Mhurchú cautioned that Ireland is potentially facing billions in EU fines unless we hit our ambitious 2030 climate targets. Getting people out of their cars and onto the train is a key part of our strategy to reduce emissions in advance of 2030. Ní Mhurchú has written to both the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann on the matter.
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