€1bn transport hub plans for city

THE details of how €1 billion will be spent creating a west of Ireland transport hub in a revitalised Galway city have been released.

Just as work on Eyre Square finally comes to an end, the prospect of eight years of major construction in the city centre is now looming for the City of the Tribes.

The plan involves a radically redeveloped Ceannt Station, which will sit in a City quarter surrounded by 800 new affordable houses.

It will completely revamp the 14-acre site occupied by the existing Ceannt station.

Yesterday, CIÉ promised the station would become a new transport hub for the region and attract €3 million passengers a year.

“The proposed Ceannt Station Quarter will deliver to the people of Galway a new city quarter which will complement and enhance the existing area,” a spokesman said.

The designs are modelled on Berlin’s new train station and London’s British Museum. They were unveiled by Transport Minister Martin Cullen in Galway yesterday afternoon.

He said the €1 billion blueprint for Galway would only succeed if it was done with the full consent of the local community.

“It is important to ensure that the proposed redevelopment of the station integrates well with local and regional development plans.”

It is expected the plans will now be submitted to the local authority for planning permission.

CIÉ estimates the work will be completed by 2015 and will include a new bus station that will be served by 25 new city buses.

When completed the station will boast hourly rail services between Galway and Dublin, the opening of a rail corridor between Limerick and Mayo and an expanded regional bus network.