Letters to the Editor: Scrap Cork BusConnects and build light rail on disused train lines

A reader responds to 'Irish Examiner' articles about public transport to propose building more light rail on existing and former rail networks

Letter-writer Dan JJ Kahn suggests a new link to Ringaskiddy port should be built, 'possibly via the existing Cork-Cobh line and via a tunnel or lifting bridge across Cork Harbour to Monkstown and thence to Ringaskiddy with a branch to Carrigaline'. Picture: Larry Cummins

After reading the articles in the Irish Examiner on April 1 about transport matters in Cork, I feel that, as a regular visitor to relatives in East Cork, I have to raise why investment in the existing mainline rail  routes — as well as making a start on a light rail network as quickly as possible for Cork and outlying towns poorly served by public transport — is the only medium- and long-term cost-effective solution to congestion, energy waste, and fatal road accidents.

The much-heralded BusConnects programme appears to be a welcome development but, despite the supposedly quick implementation of a bus improvement scheme in comparison to the still not started light rail network, BusConnects has little to show for itself apart from the newly announced land-grab at Tivoli Docks to build a €10m ‘temporary’ depot.

This depot is apparently necessary to accommodate hundreds of extra buses needed for BusConnects. 

Daytrippers arriving at Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, in August 1959 on the train line between Timoleague and Courtmac. Letter-writer Dan JJ Kahn says new light rail lines could be built on many long-abandoned trackbeds. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive

However, Tivoli is potentially of great importance to Cork’s rail network as it is the only remaining rail served docks in Cork; the larger port of Ringaskiddy has no rail link at all, so if Tivoli is to be downgraded to non-dockyard status, a brand new rail link for both freight and passenger traffic needs to be built immediately to Ringaskiddy, possibly via the existing Cobh line to Rushbrooke and via a tunnel or lifting bridge across Cork Harbour to Monkstown and thence to Ringaskiddy with a branch to Carrigaline.

A Ringaskiddy rail link would cost no more than the initial budget forecast for BusConnects but it would help open up a genuine congestion-free route for passengers and freight that Cork can only dream of but most cities all over Europe take for granted. 

The traffic taken off the roads due to just this one rail route would cut congestion and accidents enormously and boost economic development on the west side of Cork City, whereas BusConnects will simply, at great cost, prolong Cork’s congestion problems and stunt the city’s growth for decades.

Cancellation of the entire BusConnects in favour of high-density light rail would maximise the efficiency of Cork’s public transport network as one single two-car tram and one driver can do the work of as many as 20 buses as it uses a dedicated congestion-free track, is faster and more energy-efficient, and has over four times the capacity of the largest double-deck bus.

It also has entrance/exit doors level with the platform and all seats on one deck,  enabling easy access for disabled people. 

Bus drivers’ unions may not like a bit of this but the light rail revolution will be coming to Cork sooner or later and there will be always opportunities for redeployment of bus drivers to other opportunities.

Eamon Ryan may have been the transport minister for a few years now, but his term in office has been a real disappointment; No real progress on light rail, good money being thrown after bad on rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with BusConnects, and continuation of too many bypasses and pointless sculptures that will only distract drivers leading to more accidents along new roads such as Macroom bypass (incidentally, back in the day, Macroom did have a rail link to Cork).

The unreliability of bus routes 220, 225, and 226 is symptomatic of this total neglect of the need for light rail and, due to the limitations of road space, buses will never be the only public transport solution around the city. 

Fortunately, there are still the trackbeds of many of the disused former rail routes which used to run from the city centre out to places like Waterfall, Bandon, Kinsale, Mahon, Blarney, Macroom, Midleton, and Youghal. 

These can become the core of a new light rail network which can also run on streets where former rail routes are restricted or built over.

Similarly, in more rural areas, such as the outer reaches of West Cork, new rail-based technology such as ultra-light rail vehicles powered by hydrogen or batteries charged by wind power could enable the reopening of an ultra light rail rapid transit out to places like Skibbereen, Kinsale, and Bantry, with none of the heavy infrastructure such as overhead wires, signalling and strengthened bridges, as well as avoiding yet more bypasses and enlargement of roads such as the schemes at Ardcahan Bridge and Dromdeegy near Dunmanway which will destroy the irreplaceable freshwater mussels essential for protecting local waters from the rising tide of pollution.

Eamonn Ryan must lay down the law now, in these and many other such cases of dubious road improvements by forcing road users to spare the fragile environment by backing the reopening of disused rail routes as routes for trains rather than pointless greenway footpaths, and accepting that rural roads can never be as wide or fast as the French Autoroute that a minority still dream of. 

It would be better to keep existing rural roads better maintained in their current form, along with more stringent speed limits which would also serve to save many lives for years to come if people are encouraged to drive more slowly and thoughtfully. both for the sake of other road users and nature.

Dan JJ Kahn, Sheffield, England

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Students could learn something from all religions

In the present unfair education of religion in Irish Catholic-ethos schools, students aren’t allowed to speak up and disagree in class with those Catholic religious theories that are taught to them.

They are sadly also not allowed in the same classes either to ask if other religions have something important to contribute to their understanding of human behaviour and destiny.

Other established theories on the creation of mankind and the world are unfortunately not allowed in religion classes but in science classes other established on the same important subject are happily excepted and greatly encouraged.

But it is a very healthy thing, I believe, for all students to be educated as much as possible in a balanced way about the various already-established theories which attempt to explain the arrival of mankind on our planet whether these theories are religious theories or scientific theories. All these theories together would greatly aid, I believe, the understanding in student’s minds of what mankind’s ultimate destiny might actually be. Students should happily become more confident as to where they might themselves be going in the long run in this life or feel better about facing what might come in the next life.

I believe Christianity has something wonderful to say about the nature of mankind and where we are all going. From Jesus Christ we learn that humanity is one great family with God being the loving father of it all, and who we are destined to meet both in this life in other people and also, in another way, in the next life too. If other religions have similar theories (or other theories of great merit) concerning the nature and destiny of mankind then these other theories could also provide useful lessons for all young students of different faiths and none to learn from when they are taught them by experts from these religions.

The importance of going that extra mile to help even total strangers was a wonderful educational parable told by Jesus, to show how we all should endeavour to treat every single person in the world as belonging to one big, caring family which is the human race. Sadly and ironically, however, this wonderful theory of Jesus’ which is meant for everyone is not taught much outside the walls of most Christian Churches today.

Instead, many educated clerics who should know better usually only talk in the public media about the practical details of how their churches are run. They also spend too much valuable time talking at length about their own personal autobiographies rather than explaining through useful anecdotes and parables what the light of the gospel means. Perhaps others religions have a similar hopeful light like that which is found in the Gospel, and a type of light that which we all should humbly learn about too.

Sean O’Brien, Kilrush, Co Clare