The chief executive of Shannon Foynes Port Company, Mr Brian Byrne, has accused Iarnród Éireann of trying to close down the State's rail freight network "by stealth".
Mr Byrne has also criticised the State company's "negative and dismissive attitude".
"CIE has failed to manage its brief over many years - and it continues to ignore what every European country has been doing for decades," Mr Byrne said yesterday. "Nowhere else in Europe do we see such a blatant disregard for local employment potential and for environmentally friendly transport methods," he added.
The port of Foynes, which claims to be the State's largest bulk cargo handler, is linked to the national rail network by a line running from Limerick via Askeaton. Mr Byrne pointed out that this line now stands idle, while heavily burdened trucks roar up and down the busy N69 between Limerick and Tralee.
The line could be used to draw a large proportion of heavy-goods vehicles off the roads and relieve congestion, he said.
Earlier this month, representatives of State companies, private business, chambers of commerce and several ports appealed to the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to overturn a decision to close a number of rail freight services between Galway, Waterford, Dundalk, Belfast and Dublin.
A delegation of rail freight users is due to meet Mr Brennan and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, next week. State companies including Coillte Teo, as well as the ports of Waterford and Foynes, have questioned the decision to withdraw freight trains.
One reason being given by Iarnród Éireann for the move is the lack of space available due to the closure of Spencer Dock on Dublin's North Wall. CIÉ is involved in a joint venture to develop the 50-acre site with Treasury Holdings.
