Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) Decision 2013/103/EU signing and conclusion of the agreement on the EU’s accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), as amended by the 1999 Vilnius Protocol Agreement on the EU’s accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), as amended by the 1999 Vilnius Protocol The decision concludes on behalf of the EU […]
EU-wide rail safety Directive (EU) 2016/798 on railway safety It aims to enhance railway safety across the EU by revising the role of national safety authorities (NSAs) and reallocating responsibilities between them and the European Union Agency for Railways (the Agency). The directive is one of 3 legislative acts covering the technical aspects of the fourth railway package which aims to revitalise the rail sector […]
EU rail passengers’ rights Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations It aims to provide significantly improved protection to rail passengers in the event of travel disruptions. It also aims to respond better to the needs of persons with disabilities or reduced mobility. Key Points The regulation applies to international or domestic rail journeys throughout the European Union (EU) provided by one or […]
Railway safety Directive 2004/49/EC — safety on the EU’s railways It aims to establish a more competitive and safer railway system which covers the entire European Union (EU) market area instead of confining itself mainly to national markets. Scope The directive applies to the railway system of the EU countries and covers safety requirements for the system as a whole, including infrastructure and traffic management, […]
Railway Safety Commission The Railway Safety Act established the Railway Safety Commission. The Commission is an independent body. Its functions are to foster and encourage rail safety, enforce the relevant legislation and investigate and report on railway incidents. The Commission may contract out certain of its functions subject to Departmental consent. It may enter agreements with others such as the health and safety authority for […]
Freight Rates and Fares The Board of CIE has powers to fix charges including fares, rates and tolls. This covers the full range of services including passenger and freight services. The scale of charges are to be submitted to the Minister for approval. They may be amended from time to time. The Minister may consider representations by interested parties. There is provision for maximum charges […]
Dublin Light Rail Act The Transport Dublin Light Rail Act 1996 provided for the establishment of the light railway system known as the Luas. There are procedures for application for a light railway order. The application is made to the Minister with details of the proposed order, books of reference and environmental impact assessment. Works associated with the light railway enjoy wide exemptions. There are […]
Speed General speed limits applicable to road traffic apply to light railways. The Minister may make regulations prescribing speeds for light rail vehicles in particular places. Prior notice is to be given to the local authority or Garda Commissioner whose representations are to be taken into account. It is an offence for a person to drive a light rail vehicle at a speed exceeding the […]
Nationalisation of CIE The Transport Act, 1950 nationalised CIE. It saw the government buying out the debenture stockholders at par by giving them three percent transport stock for the holdings. CIE would be liable in interest on the new transport stock and could borrow from the government if funds were inadequate. The ordinary shares were converted on the basis of the £80 of 3% stock […]
Context The first railways in Ireland and Britain were constructed in the 1830s. The middle of the 19th century saw an enormous expansion in the construction of railways. The size of the rail network peaked in the first two decades of the 20th century. After the First World War, the railways declined due to the increasing competition from road, transport, both passenger and freight, bus […]
Foundation of State The railways came under government control at the outset of World War I. The Irish Railways Executive Committee was established in 1916 and managed all Irish railways until 1921. It was already clear by that stage that railways would no longer be profit making. The Provisional Government took over control of the railways and appointed a Commission to to enquire into the […]
Background By 1880, there was over 2,000 miles of broad gauge (five foot three inches) in Ireland. Large areas on the west coast had no coverage at all. It is arguable that the railways had reached a commercially viable extent by 1880, which to some extent is reflected by the fact that many of the lines built by that stage, are those survived longest, many […]
Background The first basic tramways in Ireland were built in the 18th century for hauling coal and similar materials by horsepower. The first steam locomotives were invented in the early decades of the 19th century. The first railway in the modern sense, was promoted in 1821 to bring coal from Durham to the coast. In 1825, this was opened as the Stockport and Darlington Railway. […]
Competitive Networks for Freight A 2010 regulation seeks to create a Competitive European Rail Network for Freight. It established rules for the creation and organisation of international rail corridors for competitive rail freight. For each corridor, States must establish an executive board, made up of representatives of the states’ authorities concerned. For each freight corridor, the infrastructure managers must establish a management board, made up […]