Rail line reopens after 34-year absence
The West of Ireland was back on track today with the reopening of a rail line almost 34 years after the last scheduled passenger train.
Campaigners were celebrating the new service linking Limerick and Galway but called on the Government to complete the rest of the Western Rail Corridor.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the opening of the €106.5m route – which included 36 miles of new track – was a truly historic day.
“For the first time in over 30 years passenger trains will again run between Limerick and Galway,” he said.
“It is the longest section of track to be reopened in the entire country.”
Trains on the new line will stop at Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, with new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell.
Sean Reid, of Mayo Association, said the opening of the first phase – and its continuation to Mayo and eventually to Sligo – was of huge importance to the west and beyond.
“The project has been driven by a genuine need from both the leisure and corporate market alike,” he said.
“This development will improve linkages between towns in the West of Ireland and encourage a far higher level of commercial activity and trading.”
The West on Track community said there was now an opportunity to develop services between Cork, Limerick and Galway, the second, third and fourth largest cities of the State.
“By continuing now to Tuam and Claremorris our country will reap the real benefit of this magnificent piece of prime national infrastructure in terms of tourism, education, health and economic development,” added a spokesman.
Dr John Lynch, CIE and Iarnrod Eireann chairman, said there is already tremendous public support for and interest in this new service.
“We have boosted capacities on trains throughout launch week such is the level of enquiries from people right along the route, and we are very confident that demand will easily outstrip the projections made for this service,” he added.
But Rail Users Ireland claimed serious concerns arise.
Spokesman Mark Gleeson said despite many promises, the service is not adequate, will not meet passenger needs and expectations and will not utilise the potential of the line.
“Once again passengers are faced with a substandard service as Irish Rail has failed to deliver on promises,” he said.
“Irish Rail continue to timetable each line as if it was totally independent of all others instead of following industry best practice of building a network of connections to enable journeys.”
