Crusheen stop remains on track

Hopes for a stop at Crusheen on the Limerick to Galway rail line were buoyed this week when the Government published the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16 plan.
In the document, the Government has committed to provide funding for both Crusheen and Oranmore stations on the Western Rail Corridor but also confirmed that the next phase of the corridor is deferred for consideration to 2015 in advance of the next Public Capital Programme.
“We are, like many other countries in Europe, in very difficult and volatile economic times. Our commitments in relation to our European partners and in relation to our level of debt in Ireland has naturally meant a re-assessment of many projects, which were outlined in better financial times,” said Clare Fine Gael TD Deputy Joe Carey after the announcement.
“The capital spend announced for the coming years looks to strike a balance between prudent and sensible financial spending, with projects of essential importance. I am delighted to announce that funding has been committed in the plan for the construction of Crusheen rail station. This positive news will ensure the Western Rail Corridor in itself can become a more complete entity, with funding also committed for a station in Oranmore,” he added.
“There has always been a very strong and commonsense case made for the provision of a rail stop at Crusheen. This rail stop will enable those coming from surrounding areas such as Boston, Tubber, Corofin, Ruan and large parts of North and East Clare to get easy access to the Western Rail Corridor and urban centres such as Ennis, Galway and Limerick,” Deputy Carey continued.
He also paid tribute to the local group in Crusheen “who have pushed this project for many years. I want to also thank my Government colleagues for seeing the benefits of this project for County Clare and the Mid-West Region as a whole”.