‘Buck passed’ on rail line flooding

IT’S up to Iarnród Éireann to sort out the flooding at Ballycar that has hampered rail services, it was claimed at this week’s meeting of Shannon area councillors.

Iarnród Éireann representatives had attended a Shannon area meeting in March of this year and claimed it was a matter for the OPW but on Tuesday, Michael Collins, assistant chief engineer with the OPW, denied this was the case.
The problem at Ballycar has gone on for decades and at the meeting, Councillor Pat McMahon said it has been an issue since before he was first elected to the county council, 36 years ago.
It was also claimed it seemed as if neither of the bodies wanted to deal with the financial implications involved in sorting it out.
At the meeting, Mr Collins read a letter that was sent to Iarnród Éireann, rebutting some claims made by the agency. “Reports in the media indicate that IE recently presented to Shannon area councillors the report of RPS Consultants in relation to possible measures to address the flood problem at Ballycar. According to the reports, IE said that implementing the preferred scheme of mitigation measures would be a matter for this office. You will be aware that the OPW position from the outset has been and remains that the flooding in Ballycar impacts primarily on the railway line, that it would be the main beneficiary of flood mitigation measures and as owners of the railway, it is a matter for IE to resolve the problem. The OPW would also question the statement allegedly made at the presentation that IE would not have legal powers to carry out the proposed works.”
The letter also raised issues related to the RPS Consultants report. “We would point out that when the report was forwarded by IE to OPW last year, we were not invited to comment on its contents. We would further point out that the wording of the report intimates that it was the authors’ understanding that any further action on the recommendations would be a matter for IE.”
It claimed that raising the line would be the most cost-effective option. “It is also noteworthy that raising the railway line is estimated to cost only marginally more than the proposal preferred by IE. Even if the cost of mitigating measures for your proposed option is found to be minor, an improbable outcome; it will tilt the economic argument in favour of raising the line.”
Mr Collins said technical assistance and advice had been offered to Iarnród Éireann but that it was always made clear that because they would be the primary beneficiaries, Iarnród Éireann would have to lead the project and to fund it.
Mr Collins also said since they became engaged in the matter in 2008, the OPW had said it wouldn’t be funding the improvements.
Councillor PJ Ryan said the matter sounded very complicated and it seemed the bodies were passing the buck, with no one wanting to shoulder the financial implications of the improvements required.
Newmarket-based Fianna Fáil councillor Pat McMahon said if there is a bad winter, more floods may occur, causing even greater problems given the more extensive services now in place.
He also pointed out that local landowners are affected, along with a small number of houses.
Councillor Gerry Flynn expressed concern that the services using the line won’t be viable, while Councillor Patricia McCarthy said she understood the line has been raised twice in the last 53 years.
She also said she understood that if it was to be raised again, quite a lengthy piece of track would need to be worked on.
However, she said it is important the impression not be given that the line is closed very frequently. “It would be wrong to give the impression that it is closed regularly.” She did say that when it does flood, it takes quite a long time for it to reopen.
She added she understood the flooding in the area is to do with swallow holes and the local geology.
Taking this up, Mr Collins said the problem is that the swallow hole isn’t adequate for the flows generated.
With regard to the Iarnród Éireann proposal to increase the drainage away from the area, he said it would still go into an embanked area.
He said the proposal to drive a pipe through the land could impact on the karstic environment, although he acknowledged their proposal could work. “I don’t want to overstate it, man has landed on the moon, it can be done.”