The Minister for Transport says he plans to 'transform' rail links at Waterford, Limerick and Cork.
Eamon Ryan's department is to undertake an all-island review of rail lines in Ireland.
He says his policy will be to try and find a use for heavy rail lines that have fallen into disuse.
The review will also look at building new rail lines and expanding services on 'under-utilised' lines at risk of closure like the Waterford to Limerick line. The Minister said this review will 'ask the right questions':
"We want to do a wider rail review to look at the entire network to see what is the potential development of freight? What are the under-utilised lines, the likes of the Waterford to Limerick line ...can you connect then down to use it rather than lose it."
Two unpublished reports have ruled out opening the Western Rail Corridor for passengers between Galway and Mayo.
However, the Minister wants to re-open a stretch of line between Limerick City and the deepwater port at Foynes to open the port to European opportunities.
