The rail route running between Waterford and Wexford and through the Barrow Bridge could be returning, according to a local campaign group.
South East on Track has for some time been calling for the possibility of reopening the Wexford/Rosslare - Waterford Rail Link to be examined.
They've been in regular contact with Iarnród Éireann in relation to the Barrow Bridge in particular, which hasn't been used for passenger services since 2010.
There had been talks in recent weeks that the bridge was to be permanently pinned in the open position to allow boats to pass through.
But Acting Chairperson of South East on Track, Joe Ryan says Irish Rail now wants to repair the bridge.
"We see this as the first step that Irish Rail are interested in certainly preserving the bridge, but also looking at the possibility of restoring freight services between (Waterford and) Rosslare," he said.
According to the campaign group, Irish Rail announced they would be starting repairs next week.
The bridge had been hit by a ship earlier this year and a considerable amount of damage was done.
Joe says repairs should get underway as soon as possible, rather than waiting for an insurance settlement.
This is in order to preserve the integrity of the bridge while also allowing navigation to move unhindered.
"Our concern is that when a ship comes, the bridge might neither be able to open or if it has been through, might not be able to shut," Joe said.
According to South East on Track, Irish Rail have indicated that they would like to upgrade the bridge to automated, which would allow it to function in a more modern way.
In terms of getting the route back up and running, the spine of the railway line is already in place.
It travels from Waterford to Limerick, Galway, and Mayo - something Joe sees as important for rural Ireland.
"We see that as being a rural circular spine that counterbalances the need to access all rail services through Dublin," he said.
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