Cross-border review of rail network officially launched

Unfortunately I think most of these estimates are pure fantasy. Cork to Galway in 2 hours is beyond optimistic.

In very simple terms that would be throwing good money after bad and would at the very least double the cost of the project, possibly a lot more. That line makes no sense as a freight line, and even less sense as a passenger line.

The reopening of that line for freight is a great example of all that is wrong with infrastructure management in this country. Hopefully the projects listed in the AISRR fantasy document will be subject to full and proper cost benefit analysis before any funding is allocated so that the chaff can be ditched and only projects with tangible social and economic benefits are allowed to proceed. That’s assuming that it doesn't just rot on a shelf which is it’s most likely fate.

As has been stated in the relevant thread a number of times, derogations and exemptions from the requirements of TEN-T are available. These include “where investment cannot be justified”.

TEN-T cannot be used to justify the relaying of the track from Limerick to Foynes, or any of the other unplanned and unapproved work and unfunded expenditure that will needed in order to reopen the line.

Are you saying direct trains? Don't get me wrong, I'd love it and agree it's technically possible, just that it seems "too good to be true"

Its often been claimed that CIÉ cross-charge the transport operators too much for shared services (IT, property, legal etc) so it is possible the same attitude exists there

CIÉ Group has made profits in years when Irish Rail and the bus companies have lost money; and its not entirely down to CIÉ Tours (generally profitable) and property rented to third parties.

Don't be presenting facts. It ruins the narrative of those spouting the white elephant theories.

Letterkenny to Derry might because of EU funds.

The NI Dept of Infrastructure is broke, and has no prospect of not being broke, England is notngoing to pay for new infrastructure in Ireland, full stop, it just wont happen and hasnt happened for decades. They can't even afford survey work for future projects the only projects even being considered are small road junction upgrades to comply with minimum safety standards. The big exception is the new Belfast Central station. New build infrastructure e.g. the narrow water bridge or the derry to border dual carriageway are partly or entirely funded by the Republic.

So it really comes down to what money the Republic is willing to cough up. I would suggest at most, the new Newry to Belfast line would be the maximum, and if it were up to me, I would only upgrade Dublin to Newry as long as northern residents are paying tax to hmr instead of revenue, in the interests of fairness.

You'll note from the report that the Bangor and Larne commuter lines are not earmarked for any upgrade, despite them being better candidates for electrification than most intercity routes, perhaps an acknowledgement that there'll be no funding from England and little justification for Ireland paying.

Commuter lines were not in scope for the review, north or south.

does the cost figure include new rolling stock?

Right now, it is not technically possible. In the proposal maps, they show a new chord at Limerick Junction that would provide a direct link between Cork and Waterford. It has to be assumed that the projected times were based on that direct link being in place.

It would be one of the cheaper interventions, and a direct link is the only way that Cork-Waterford could be made competitive with car travel, given the much greater distance.

I would say a Belfast line extension to Cavan will mostly benefit the south, even if it doesn't go all the way to Mullingar (the logic of which would be questionable unless the Athlone-Mullingar line was restored) and the capex of that could be funded by the Irish Government.

We won't ever see such a line built in any case. It's the whackiest part of the strategy. The rest of it is at least grounded in logic, if not a bit fanciful given our track record.