Anger over delay to rail corridor's re-opening

The plan to delay the full re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor for nine years is totally unrealistic, it was claimed tonight.

Under the Transport 21 strategy, the line from Ennis to Athenry will be opened by 2008 but the line to Tuam in County Galway and Claremorris in County Mayo will not be opened until 2011 and 2014 respectively.

The West on Track group, which has lobbied for the re-opening of the disused line, said it was puzzled by the decision.

“We very much welcome the decision that Ennis-Claremorris should be re-opened and that it’s being included as a major project in the 10-year plan. But we believe the timescale is unrealistic,” said a spokesman.

The railway track on the Western Rail Corridor has been gathering moss since the last section was closed down in the mid-1970s. West on Track has mounted a vigorous campaign for its re-opening which has been supported by all of the main political parties.

As part of the re-opening, commuter rail services will be developed between Athenry and Galway city to serve the growing communities in the suburbs.

But the Transport 21 strategy only pledges to preserve rather than re-open the final section of the Western Rail Corridor, which runs from Claremorris to Collooney in Sligo.

The West on Track said the campaign for the full re-opening of the line as soon as possible would be intensified.

“The Western Rail Corridor is ready to go, there is no planning required and it is entirely in public ownership. The need is immediate, it’s not on a need we’re going to have in nine years time and it is the only infrastructural project for the West that can be delivered speedily,” said the spokesman.

He said the project had to be rolled out to make up for the 200 million euro (£136m) shortfall in planned Government spending in the Border, Midlands and West region under the national development plan.

“We see no reason why the underspend can’t be brought to fast forward the Western Rail Corridor. We are confident the Taoiseach will look again at this and bring it forward,” he said.