Rail Users Ireland

Rail Users Ireland (previously Platform 11) is a rail transport pressure group in Ireland whose agenda is centred on the idea that there is an economic case for expanding rail transport in Ireland through better utilisation of existing infrastructure with only justified expansion of existing routes. Through press releases, lobbying and leafleting the group has promoted a number of rail projects, including the proposed DART Underground. The group is a member of the European Passengers' Federation a European level representative body.

History and organisation

Platform 11 was founded in January 2003 at a public meeting held in Dublin

Although slighted by opponents as favouring "Palerail", a reference to their focus on Dublin-based services, some of the principal members of the organisation come from areas such as Clonmel, Templemore, Limerick, Sligo and other areas served by the rural rail network. As well as making the case for expanded commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area, the group has advocated suburban rail for Galway and Limerick if combined with a focused planning environment such as the Cork LUTS (Land Use and Transportation Study). They also advocate bus services connecting to railheads where rail is not feasible. They also support direct rather than connecting services to Clonmel.

Groups affiliated with Rail Users Ireland include the Newbridge Rail Group and Kildare Rail Users' Group.

Projects

Dublin Metro Project

While behind the proposed Dublin Metro concept in principle, Rail Users Ireland expressed concerns that the metro plan as currently released offers insufficient interconnections with other parts of the rail network, with few opportunities for "one-change" journeys from various parts of Dublin. They are also concerned that building the metro to standard gauge rather than Irish gauge would limit the scope of interoperability with DART. The RPA has proposed removing the extensions of the line to Swords and to St. Stephen's Green to reduce the cost of the project, terminating instead at the Airport and at O'Connell Street.

Luas

In its initial period of planning and operation, Platform 11 raised doubts about the Railway Procurement Agency's assertion that 40-metre trams were not necessary on the line to Tallaght, the red line. The trams on this line are now experiencing extremely high load factors. Following what was at times a quite heated debate played out in the media notably on Newstalk 106, a Dublin radio station and despite claims from the Railway Procurement Agency that there was no need for 40-metre trams on the red line, the Railway Procurement Agency have now ordered the 10-metre sections to bring all 30-metre trams to 40-metre length as well as to commence work on the depot at Red Cow to accommodate the enlarged fleet.

Unitary Transit Authorities

While being a rail lobby group, what Rail Users Ireland admires most in other traansit systems such as Munich's Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund and the Toronto Transit Commission is the integration rather than competition of various transport modes such as subway/metro, heavy rail, light rail and bus. Many of their members wish to see Dublin and Cork have an integrated system of routes to encourage door-to-door public transport journeys and for easy to use transit maps and payment schemes to be available for residents and visitors to be able to access all these modes.

Rail freight

Rail freight is viewed skeptically by the group, given the low distances and tonnages involved in most rail freight operations in Ireland and the poor rail connectivity of many Irish seaports. They tend to favour diesel or electric multiple unit vehicles solely for passengers rather than dual-use locomotives. Critics have claimed this demonstrates a "rail for rail's sake" attitude that ignores the role rail transport plays in addressing environmental and other broader issues. That being said, our lack of knowledge in the area does not permit us to comment further on the subject of railfreight and we will concentrate our efforts on DART & LUAS matters.

Transport 21

Rail Users Ireland is compiling a list of details about each project in Transport 21. They hope to have the most comprehensive database on the projects available. This will allow them to closely monitor all projects on a value for money basis with cost over runs and projects delays being highlighted to the appropriate authorities.

Western Rail Corridor

Railway enthusiasts and rail transportation advocates were surprised at the idea of a rail pressure group opposing any rail project, including the Western Rail Corridor project. Rail Users Ireland took the view that it should only support projects they deemed viable and that other projects were more likely to hurt rather than help the cause of rail transport in Ireland. The Western Rail Corridor had support from people and politicians in the Mayo, Galway and Clare areas and has a considerable political profile in the West of Ireland, albeit with no meaningful follow-through such as local council planning taking any account of the proposal. Supporters of this project were angered that Rail Users Ireland opposed the reopening of this track on cost grounds, and viewed the language used by Platform 11 as patronising and emotive.

Criticisms

Rail Users Ireland are very critical of Irish Rail, the RPA (rail procurement agency) and the Irish Government, within the context of service provision, implementation of new projects and interference in the planning and development of rail transport based transport projects.

Rail Users Ireland has changed policy positions dramatically since its formation in 2003 when it supported the Western Rail Corridor, opposed the Interconnector project and attacked Irish Rail for concentrating development resources in the Pale. It now claims to favour the sections of the Western Railway Corridor from Ennis to Tuam which are about to be rebuilt.

External links

• Rail Users Ireland Website