The year 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the decision to split the existing monolithic Irish nationalised transport company, Coras Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), into three separate operating companies. CIÉ remained as a holding company, but it was felt that the transport needs of the country would be better served if management was focused on dealing with particular elements of the CIÉ empire.
Iarnród Éireann (Irish Railways), which dealt with rail services, had perhaps the most difficult task of the three new companies. (For companion volumes on Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, the other companies formed, see page 34). The railways had been losing money for decades and had lacked appropriate levels of investment for many years. The most recent locomotives were built in the late 1970s, the rest of the fleet dated from the 1950s and 60s. Passenger rolling stock consisted mainly of ex BR Mk 11s and 111s and whilst there was still quite a lot of freight traffic, this was losing money. Apart from the Dublin to Cork line, infrastructure was mainly straight out of the age of steam, with unwelded rail, manual boxes and semaphore signalling.
This pictorial album shows the remarkable changes made in the last 20 years. Starting with the railway which IR inherited, the book shows just how much has already been achieved in bringing the railways of the Republic of Ireland into the 21st century.
Title: Iarnrod Eireann
Author: Tom Ferris
Format: HB 80 pages
Publisher: Ian Allan Ltd
Pub date: March 2007
ISBN 13: 9780711032316
ISBN 10: 0711032319
List Price: £14.99
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