Rail link work call from councillors

County councillors in Clare and Galway this week called for work to begin immediately on the next phases of the Western Rail Corridor linking Ennis with Tuam, Claremorris and Collooney.

Clare County Councillor Brian Meaney told The Clare Champion that he wanted to see work beginning as soon as possible on the extension of rail services northwards.
“The case for improving public transport has been made, now we simply have to do it. The line from Ennis to Athenry came in significantly under budget and had more than 120 road crossings on it that had to be dealt with. The line to Tuam has only four on it, as far as I am aware, and I believe it would be substantially more efficient and, with the population there, would be used,” he stated.
“People are suggesting that the second and third phases will not be commenced until it is seen that phase one is viable and being used. I reject that completely.
“The line to Tuam and Claremorris is demanded by this country’s need to start weaning itself off its dependence on fossil fuels and good transport links like this are essential.
“I reject this assertion that the line will only continue northwards if the numbers using the Limerick to Galway line are high enough,” he added.
The Green Party councillor added that “proper disabled access” needed to be installed at the second platform at Ennis train station.
County Galway’s deputy mayor, Fine Gael’s Bridie Willers, is also adamant that the line to Tuam and Claremorris be reopened promptly.
“The figures are there to prove that the route from Limerick to Galway is working and the extension is justifiable. In the past, we were campaigning for the Ennis to Athenry line to be opened. Now, we are upping the ante to get it open on to Tuam and then Claremorris and from there to Sligo.
“It will be done in stages but there is definitely an appetite for it,” she said.
According to Iarnród Éireann figures, an estimated 16,000 extra journeys have been made in the first month of the new Limerick-Galway rail service.
The 16,000 passenger journeys recorded are on top of the existing 14,400 monthly journeys on the Limerick-Ennis service, meaning the through route has seen more than 30,000 passenger journeys in its first month.
The Limerick-Galway direct scheduled service was reintroduced after a gap of 34 years on March 29, following an investment of €106.5 million in the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry line.
A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said, “This is a strong and encouraging start for this new service. While the initial interest was a great start, we are now seeing daily demand being sustained. There is little doubt that as summer approaches, new demand in the form of domestic and overseas tourists will also see new rail customers taking to the line.
“It is clear that the support which existed from the community for this line to reopen is translating into passenger demand.”
Meanwhile, a stop on the line at Crusheen looks more likely after a local developer has offered to make land available for a car park and railway station in the North Clare village, it was revealed this week.
Minister for Defence Tony Killeen said he has received confirmation from Iarnród Eireann chief executive Richard Fearn that it has received substantial interest in the possibility of reopening the Crusheen railway station.
The company has also confirmed it has submitted an application for funding to develop the station.
Minister Killeen said he reminded Mr Fearn that considerable information has been collated by the local community in Crusheen, with assistance from Clare County Council, regarding the potential future use of the proposed rail stop.
“This information along with undertakings relating to the provision of adequate car-parking facilities at the platform in Crusheen has been submitted to Iarnród Éireann. In light of the credible case for reopening of the station, I have requested the company to review the potential for the establishment of a rail stop at Crusheen,” explained Minister Killeen.
He noted there remained a strong case for the provision of a rail stop in Crusheen.
“Two stops are being provided for between Gort and Athenry and none on the very long stretch of railway between Ennis to Gort.
“Crusheen is an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Corofin, Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in North Clare as well as Tulla and other areas of East Clare,” added Minister Killeen.