Transport and the Green Party

DeVore

This is a clone of this thread here.

This thread is open for public discussion of the topic and for public "right of reply" to the posts made on that thread.

DeV.

Lenny Lovett

I believe they missed a golden opportunity to reform the transport policy. The 'user pays' method would have been far preferable from many angles. They could have abolished road tax and tolls etc and included all these overheads in a single petrol tax. They could have pushed for a return to rail transport for much of Ireland's freight but never even touched on it. In fact the were in a Government that actually closed a rail line linking three ports. So a step backwards really.

Talking about a future Green agenda is a bit academic in my opinion as I can't see them retaining a single seat at the next election.

Seth Brundle

Train routes cut.
Bus routes cut.
Lack of proper competition in the Dublin bus market.
Motor tax rates based on stupid logic of potential emissions rather than the recommended polluter pays principle.

donkey balls

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

I believe they missed a golden opportunity to reform the transport policy. The 'user pays' method would have been far preferable from many angles. They could have abolished road tax and tolls etc and included all these overheads in a single petrol tax. They could have pushed for a return to rail transport for much of Ireland's freight but never even touched on it. In fact the were in a Government that actually closed a rail line linking three ports. So a step backwards really.

Talking about a future Green agenda is a bit academic in my opinion as I can't see them retaining a single seat at the next election.

And how does the freight get to the train terminals? the majority of goods imports/exports i think it is about 90% go by road,some times in special trucks&traliers i have worked in the transport industry for over 15yrs now. Mainly in the road&airfreight sector and beleive me transporting goods by road is quicker and the cheapest option.
I am convinced that members of the green party and some of the general public think that goods they buy in there local super markets/retail stores appear overnight like magic.

Lenny Lovett

donkey balls wrote: »

And how does the freight get to the train terminals? the majority of goods imports/exports i think it is about 90% go by road,some times in special trucks&traliers i have worked in the transport industry for over 15yrs now. Mainly in the road&airfreight sector and beleive me transporting goods by road is quicker and the cheapest option.
I am convinced that members of the green party and some of the general public think that goods they buy in there local super markets/retail stores appear overnight like magic.

Yes much of our goods go by road but a lot of it doesn't have to. Many containers are not carrying perishables and could be transported by rail overnight. We had a rail line into Rosslare Port, Dublin Port and if the prices were right some importers/exporters would change. It's not an ovvernight change project but is certainly doable.

donkey balls

yeah i see your point lenny but road transport is much quicker, i go down to waterford on a regular basis and there is only a 30min difference between the bus&train transit times.
As i said before i work in the industry and know alot about transporting goods by varies modes, also a lot of our exporters(FDI COMPS) goods are high end which depend on JIT service.and how many exporting/importing companies have offices/factories near these ports.
I reckon someone has all ready done a cost base analysis one it and it probely was not worth the effort.