Western Rail Corridor (all disused sections)

Muckyboots wrote: »

Sean Canney. - an empty promise would do him the finest - wink wink, nod nod, see what I got ye !!

He is in a minority of 2:1 in his own back yard, both Ciaran Cannon and Anne Rabbitte support the Tuam Greenway Group/Western Rail Trail idea.

Denis Naughten is pro-greenway (in Roscommon).

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Denis Naughten is pro-greenway (in Roscommon).

None of the wrc route is in his constituency though...

Muckyboots wrote: »

Any Gov formation with Ind Alliance & the Rural Five involved is going to set the greenway campaign back until its term is complete. There are a few greenway- "over my dead body" types included in their numbers. Hope we are not drifting into a FG+ 15 Michael Lowry's solution - but it's looking increasingly likely.

In the Galway East Constituency Sean Canney needs to be reminded he is in a minority of TDs of 2:1 when it comes to the Greenway now railway when we can afford it debate.

I presume he knows there is a railway already from Athenry to Derry.... via the Phoenix Park Tunnel...

eastwest wrote: »

Is Sean Canney the one looking for a railway from athenry to Derry as part of his shopping list for supporting a minority government? He'd be better off looking for something for his constituents instead of trying to implement pie in the sky IRA policies.
Or is he being clever, trying to ensure that he has no part in government so that he can go back to the electorate and say 'it wasn't me!'

Most likely he is the one that is quoted in yesterdays Sunday Indo, which reported widely on the wish list of €13 billion from various independents to be be spent on various fantasy projects in exchange for support of the possible minority administration led by FG, the idea of a railway from Athenry to Derry and the motorway from Tuam to Letterkenny could really only come from WOT supporting Sean Canney, who constantly blocked the Tuam Greenway Group proposals for tourism infrastructure in East Galway when he was at Galway County Council. Todays media reports seem to be shooting the report down, or at least one set of the independents (the rural alliance) as opposed to the independent alliance are saying this is not on their agenda. Mr Canney needs to make a statement on this, is he holding the show up by placing unrealistic demands on a minority government, Has he read European TEN-T Transport policy, does he realise that he is in minority in his own constituency on this matter, does he realise in Sligo/Leitrim all four TDs from recognised political parties now want to see the closed for 40 years railway to be a greenway. Or is he just flexing his muscle to ensure retention of his seat at the soon to be general election.

Muckyboots wrote: »

It's most definately Sean Canney and he is deliberately putting an unrealistic opening demand on the table. Just one single empty train rolling meaninglessly from Claremorris through Tuam in the lifetime of the next government would be considered a massive victory for him. A Greenway would be seen as an outright defeat and it won't happen while FG rely on his & Fitzmaurice's support.

Ming is very pro-Greenway. I assumed his ally and successor in the Dail Michael Fitz would also be pro-Greenway. Fitz's co-option to GCC is Des Joyce and he's anti-Greenway. Go figure.

Muckyboots wrote: »

It's most definately Sean Canney and he is deliberately putting an unrealistic opening demand on the table. Just one single empty train rolling meaninglessly from Claremorris through Tuam in the lifetime of the next government would be considered a massive victory for him. A Greenway would be seen as an outright defeat and it won't happen while FG rely on his & Fitzmaurice's support.

Does this mean Sean Canney will be campaigning to stop Ballyglunin bridge from coming down in order to widen the road? Perhaps he needs to make his position clear on that as well?

Muckyboots wrote: »

Statement in the Tuam Herald says that the Athenry-Letterkenny rail proposal was for future ten-T funding and not from the current government
budget. A handy can kicking exercise and a great way to ensure that there is neither Greenway or Railway. I think we should look for ten-T funding to put a Kerryman on the next passing comet.

Canney knows full well that there is no railway, there will be no railway and there will be no Ten-T funding. This is 'cute hoor' politics at its worst, he's simply playing to the gallery.

eastwest wrote: »

Cannon knows full well that there is no railway, there will be no railway and there will be no Ten-T funding. This is 'cute hoor' politics at its worst, he's simply playing to the gallery.

He needs to acquaint himself with TEN-T policy, the western rail corridor was totally excluded from the policy.

He got a copy of the attached document in 2013. I will send it to him again today.

westtip wrote: »

He needs to acquaint himself with TEN-T policy, the western rail corridor was totally excluded from the policy.

He got a copy of the attached document in 2013. I will send it to him again today.

sorry meant to add this attachment plus information on TEN-T which Mr. Canney would have received in December 2013, clearly he did not take on board what TEN-T policy means, there will be no funding for the Western Rail Corridor, so if the government applies for it they will be told as much, The department of transport is totally committed to TEN-T as are the Departments of Transport in every other EU state government.

J.pilkington wrote: »

It's alive(well under review anyway)

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2016/how-micheal-martin-won-the-sweetest-deal-in-fianna-fail-history-34686721.html

The Irish Independent understands that Irish Rail CEO David Franks was also called to Government Buildings this week to brief TDs on the possibility of extending the Western Rail Corridor

Lesson here is voting in large numbers of independents will result in hospitals/roads/rail lines etc bring built without merit at the expense of much needed other infrastructure

This was always going to happen when a shaky government needed support from the Sean Canneys of this world, but at least they have asked Irish Rail first this time. There is no way that David Franks can agree to taking on another heavily loss making service without a guarantee of increased subsidy.
However we have seen in the past that governments will scatter tax euros around like confetti if it keeps them in power. I wouldn't put it past Enda Kenny to give this consideration, but the backlash from the public if he wastes a billion euro while people are homeless or in need of hospital beds would be severe.
Most likely outcome, if they want to appease Canney and give him a whitewash for his anti-greenway supporters will be a commitment to fund a study of the WRC with vague references to bringing trains up the hill to Knock Airport. The railway won't be built, but blocking the preservation of the route by means of a greenway for a few years will be enough for Canney, who knows that the railway idea is a fantasy but who has made it part of his platform and will want something vague and aspirational that can't be pinned down.

Ah but that's Waterford, like. What would we do with tourists here, sure we'd have nowhere to put them. Anyway, they might fall off their bicycles and sue us, or dump fridges on our land. Fidelma said that these things are bad, they bring crime. God alone is in charge of the railways, and combustibles engines.

The leaked programme for government suggests that an independent cost-benefit analysis will be undertaken on the issue of whether it should be extended beyond Athenry.

Interestingly enough for any potential greenway, there is a reference made to nothing being done with the aligment that would preclude potential return to railway use.