This article is from page 2 of the 2008-04-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
IARNROD Eireann has lost as much as €1 million as a result of the 50- day closure of the Ennis to Limerick eNO Maelo
The service, which carried up to 600 passengers daily until the track became flooded on February 6, reopened temporarily on Thursday morning before closing for some of the weekend.
The weekend closures were due to routine maintenance and not directly related to the flooding.
Although officials from the rail company declined to comment on losses incurred as a result of the
flooding, it is estimated that as much as €300,000 was lost in direct rev- enue over the 50-day stoppage.
It has also been estimated that more than €300,000 was paid out to finance the replacement bus service. Passenger numbers are also expected to be down until confidence in the service is restored.
“I can’t reveal exactly how much was lost as a result of the flood- ing. That is commercially sensitive information, it would weaken our hand in the future if the need arose to contract someone to operate a bus service. The less people know about this, the better,” said Jim Gallivan of larnrod Eireann.
‘The service is very reliable. We advertise a 40-minute journey but each day we are coming in at around 35 or 36 minutes.
“It is a very reliable service. The public impression of the service is still strong.
“We don’t have numbers yet but we would expect passenger levels to be back to normal capacity quickly, maybe in about two weeks.”
It is as yet unclear what corrective action will be taken to prevent future flooding but an investigation is due to start in the coming days.
‘The OPW are looking into the sit- uation. It’s not just a question of how the water came. It’s also a question of
how the water soaks out in the area.
‘There are a number of different things to be looked at before a deci- sion 1s made as to how best to deal with this situation in the future,’ continued Mr Gallivan.
“It is a turlough and that makes it a very complicated situation to deal with. Last year was an exceptionally heavy year for rain and it was prob- ably water from last November and December that caused the flooding and not rain from this year at all.”
Jarnrod Eireann last month gave cuarantees that the re-instigation of the Western Rail Corridor, due to take place next year, will not be de- layed by this flooding.