Annual results from Iarnród Éireann show that during the last full year there were increases in freight carried on the rail network in Ireland in several areas with container traffic recording a 3% increase and pulpwood traffic was up by 8%.
Results for the first half of 2016 are even more encouraging with container traffic already showing a 6% improvement over the same period of 2015 whilst bulk goods is forging ahead – up 10% following a slight dip in 2015 due to market forces affecting the export volumes of zinc and lead ore. These increases continue to build on the progressive year on year increases seen in the rail freight sector over the last few years.
Long Freight Trains
On Monday 27 June a trial intermodal service was operated from Dublin Port (North Wall) to County Mayo in the North West of Ireland. Until now trains on this route have been operated with a maximum of 18 wagons (36 TEUs) and this trial has now pushed the limit up to 27 wagons (54 TEUs). This train, operated on behalf of International Warehousing & Transport (IWT), was 440 metres long with a trailing load of 1,110 tonnes and is the longest commercial freight train to operate over the Iarnród Éireann network to date.
Earlier in June a trial 50% longer pulpwood train was run. Longer trains are expected to commence operation on a regular basis later in 2016 and this will be a game change making rail freight a far more economic option. With Mayo being the hub for much freight, Iarnród Éireann have provided new holding sidings at Claremorris in Autumn 2015 to cater for increased volumes.
With the quest for ‘greener’ power, several potential customers are emerging in the biomass market. The real possibility of longer freight trains in Ireland are likely to see rail becoming the preferred mode of transport for this traffic. Iarnród Éireann are keen to show what can be achieved with transportation of ‘green fuel’ by a greener mode and there are real possibilities that over the next year or so that significant volumes could be carried by rail.
