Eireann Rail Scheme Will Hit Hauliers
Page 70
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NAEASURES to stamp out illegal road IVI haulage in Eire are being considered by the Eire Government, it was revealed last week. Mr. Sean Lemass. Minister of Industry and Commerce, said pirate operators were defeating the aims of road transport legislation, and it was essential that these practices should be eliminated.
Mr. Lemass was delivering to Parliament his new charter for the, railways. which rejected a plan for scrapping more than half the country's rail xystem. He said other countries did not accept the -view that railways were obsolete, and both social and economic considerations weighed against leaving transport facilities open only to private operators.
He said legislation would be introduced which would allow the railways to start cutting their freight rates, and would free them of common-carrier obligations. At present. many business people looked to the railways only when there wa4 a breakdown in their road service, but in future local rail committees would decide when railway lines should be Closed because of lack of traffic.
Coras Iompair Eireann, the State transport organization, would take over the road and rail sections of the Great Northern Railway south of the border next year, if agreement could be reached with Northern Ireland. Instead of meeting C.1.E.'s losses, which was the present arrangement, an annual subsidy wouldbe made, and the Government would take over responsibility for more than f1Ii-rn. of CIE. stock.
Mr. Lemass added that wages were 56 per cent. of C.I.E.'s operating costs, and there could be a cut of 30 per cent. in staff. .
Since its foundation in 1950, C.I.E. had lost about £12.1m.