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Western Rail Corridor (all disused sections)

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Comments

  • #7902
    westtip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    When the last Sligo county plan was approved in 2011, for the county plan 2011-2016 it would have said a greenway only "alongside" the closed railway, which was a stalling methodology of certain cllrs to stop the greenway. For those of us who have been involved in this long arduous battle for years the significance of the new county plan using the phrase a greenway can go on or alongside the closed railway is indeed a huge breakthrough as it means the greenway on the old trackbed lifting the rusting no longer fit for purpose railway can actually happen as it is now officially approved by the council

    Getting the idea of a greenway into the last county plan only came about because of the campaigning of one person, and despite general agreement from cllrs back in 2011 that a greenway was a good idea a small handful of cllrs insisted on the stalling phrase "alongside" being used in the county plan as they knew it could effectively be used stop the greenway. It has taken the entire period of the county plan to build a movement to get the cllrs on board, to get the official policy documentation changed; West on Track used to own the political high ground, and they used to dominate how policy was written and how the words crafted in policy were written; they no longer do. The significance of this minor change in wording in the Sligo county plan to "build a greenway on or alongside the closed railway" is huge. West on Track for years played the game that you can't have a greenway as it is official council policy and government policy to build a railway - even though we all knew it would never happen, the significance of now changing the policy documentation so that a greenway is perfectly acceptable means there is now no official reason for any cllr to object to it. It has taken six years for this slight change in wording but it means the project can no go ahead. Anyone who has been involved in this campaign understands the significance of this moment. It is a pity that a handful of cllrs have allowed Sligo tourism to be stymied for so long, but don't worry it will now happen of that I am increasingly confident:D


  • #7903
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Can I have some of whatever this guy is smoking

    http://connachttribune.ie/galway-td-slams-misinformation-over-western-rail-corridor/
    Galway TD slams misinformation over Western Rail Corridor
    By Our Reporter - August 19, 2017

    Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Galway East TD is slamming what’s being described as ‘consistent misinformation’ being spread about the performance of the Western Rail Corridor.

    Deputy Sean Canney says the first phase of the corridor has exceeded the projected level of use – with 279 thousand passengers using the Galway to Limerick line in 2015.

    He says the second and third phases of the Western Rail Corridor will further revitalise towns such as Tuam, Milltown, Athenry, Ardrahan, Gort and Craughwell.

    However, the Independent Deputy is warning the continued spreading of misinformation is a direct threat to these plans and increased investment across the west.

    Deputy Canney says the railway is hugely important to the regions future development as a counterbalance to the greater Dublin area.


  • #7904
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,460 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Can I have some of whatever this guy is smoking

    http://connachttribune.ie/galway-td-slams-misinformation-over-western-rail-corridor/

    He will lose his seat if he carries on with this rubbish.

    It would be more in his interest to get the completed motorway to Tuam which isn't supposed to open for another 4 months and build a greenway to get some proper investment in Tuam rather than this nonsensical drivel.

    Of course the likes of Google and Intel are waiting in the wings for this to open so they can open their Ballyglunin campus. :rolleyes:


  • #7905
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Can I have some of whatever this guy is smoking

    http://connachttribune.ie/galway-td-slams-misinformation-over-western-rail-corridor/
    Galway TD slams misinformation over Western Rail Corridor
    By Our Reporter - August 19, 2017

    Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Galway East TD is slamming what’s being described as ‘consistent misinformation’ being spread about the performance of the Western Rail Corridor.

    Deputy Sean Canney says the first phase of the corridor has exceeded the projected level of use – with 279 thousand passengers using the Galway to Limerick line in 2015.

    He says the second and third phases of the Western Rail Corridor will further revitalise towns such as Tuam, Milltown, Athenry, Ardrahan, Gort and Craughwell.

    However, the Independent Deputy is warning the continued spreading of misinformation is a direct threat to these plans and increased investment across the west.

    Deputy Canney says the railway is hugely important to the regions future development as a counterbalance to the greater Dublin area.

    What he's having is just a large dose of parish pumpery, shovelling out the usual blather about 'them crowd up in Dublin has the dart so we are entitled to a railway.'
    He'd be better off getting behind the voters who increasingly are getting very tired of this nonsense and this 'fake news' about railway usage figures. People see the success of greenways in places like waterford and won't continue to allow wot and it's handful of politicians to deny these amenities to east Galway.
    Canney will be looking for another job after the next election.


  • #7906
    Sloopys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭Sloopys


    eastwest wrote: »
    What he's having is just a large dose of parish pumpery, shovelling out the usual blather about 'them crowd up in Dublin has the dart so we are entitled to a railway.'
    He'd be better off getting behind the voters who increasingly are getting very tired of this nonsense and this 'fake news' about railway usage figures. People see the success of greenways in places like waterford and won't continue to allow wot and it's handful of politicians to deny these amenities to east Galway.
    Canney will be looking for another job after the next election.

    It's like watching the first dreaded back to school ads on the telly isn't it. We had three weeks break from all of this codology so I guess we are now back to business as usual here. But before I go back to lurking I will say this; Canney is going to top the poll - again.


  • #7907
    road_high
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,474 ✭✭✭✭road_high


    eastwest wrote: »
    What he's having is just a large dose of parish pumpery, shovelling out the usual blather about 'them crowd up in Dublin has the dart so we are entitled to a railway.'
    He'd be better off getting behind the voters who increasingly are getting very tired of this nonsense and this 'fake news' about railway usage figures. People see the success of greenways in places like waterford and won't continue to allow wot and it's handful of politicians to deny these amenities to east Galway.
    Canney will be looking for another job after the next election.

    "phase" 2, whatever chance it may have had it about to be killed stone dead by the new M17/18 motorway. Fair enough, leave phase 1 as it has it some in merit in that it (badly) connects Limerick, Ennis and Galway to eachother.
    The rest well we don't need to repeat what's been said 1000 times over here.


  • #7908
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    road_high wrote: »
    "phase" 2, whatever chance it may have had it about to be killed stone dead by the new M17/18 motorway. Fair enough, leave phase 1 as it has it some in merit in that it (badly) connects Limerick, Ennis and Galway to eachother.
    The rest well we don't need to repeat what's been said 1000 times over here.

    Every time the former Junior Minister comes out with this nonsense, he throws another hundred votes over the side. Fewer and fewer people believe this blather any more. He had a chance to do something for Tuam when he held the balance of power, and he decided not to avail of it in favour of his cronies' dreams in WOT. He will live to regret that stance come next election. He had a chance to do something locally, and he turned his back on it.
    What is certain therefore is not his re-election, but that the upcoming railway review will look coldly at the figures and recommend the closure or downgrading of the three major lossmaking lines, including Ennis Athenry. The seemingly healthy figures for the entire Limerick Galway route cannot get away from the fact that the Ennis Athenry bit has failed abysmally. The review cannot possibly recommend throwing good money after bad by developing a railway north of Athenry; it just won't happen. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply in absolute denial of reality.
    What people around Tuam and Collooney and places in between need isn't a slow train, its the development of a decent road link north of Tuam on the N17. They also need the defunct rail line to be developed for their benefit, same as was done for the people in Waterford.


  • #7909
    Muckyboots
    Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    Sloopys wrote: »

    It's like watching the first dreaded back to school ads on the telly isn't it. We had three weeks break from all of this codology so I guess we are now back to business as usual here. But before I go back to lurking I will say this; Canney is going to top the poll - again.

    You are probably right. He's a smooth operator and there won't be an envelope opened in Tuam in the next 12 months with out his presence . He has lost the "young family" town vote.


  • #7910
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,140 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    eastwest wrote: »
    Every time the former Junior Minister comes out with this nonsense, he throws another hundred votes over the side. Fewer and fewer people believe this blather any more. He had a chance to do something for Tuam when he held the balance of power, and he decided not to avail of it in favour of his cronies' dreams in WOT. He will live to regret that stance come next election. He had a chance to do something locally, and he turned his back on it.

    we will see at the next election but i suspect you may be engaging in wishful thinking. the reality is a minority of people are focused on the greenway issue over all just like the railway, most people have more important issues to worry about in reality.
    eastwest wrote: »
    What is certain therefore is not his re-election, but that the upcoming railway review will look coldly at the figures and recommend the closure or downgrading of the three major lossmaking lines, including Ennis Athenry. The seemingly healthy figures for the entire Limerick Galway route cannot get away from the fact that the Ennis Athenry bit has failed abysmally. The review cannot possibly recommend throwing good money after bad by developing a railway north of Athenry; it just won't happen. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply in absolute denial of reality.

    ennis athenry is unlikely to close. the couple of small stations on it maybe but not the line itself. busier lines will go before it. in fact, there are a number of through busy trains on the galway limerick line i believe anyway.

    eastwest wrote: »
    What people around Tuam and Collooney and places in between need isn't a slow train, its the development of a decent road link north of Tuam on the N17. They also need the defunct rail line to be developed for their benefit, same as was done for the people in Waterford.

    they are getting a road. it will be enough to meet the traffic needs, the needs in that area aren't that great in reality anyway.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



  • #7911
    Muckyboots
    Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    http://www.seancanney.com/western-rail-corridor-crucial-future-development-west-canney

    He's coming out fighting.


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  • #7912
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,460 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    http://www.seancanney.com/western-rail-corridor-crucial-future-development-west-canney

    He's coming out fighting.

    This rubbish sums up what's wrong with Irish politics. Money has to be wasted in the West to achieve parity with Dublin's spending. The main reason why Dublin has a project backlog and there are empty trains chugging in the rest of the country.

    An N17 upgrade Tuam-Collooney and minor regional road upgrades would do 100x what this mess would do


  • #7913
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    Can't find a used section thread so gonna ask here, what trains are normally used on the Limerick-Galway route? What 3 carriage train was I on yesterday evening?


  • #7914
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    http://www.seancanney.com/western-rail-corridor-crucial-future-development-west-canney

    He's coming out fighting.
    It's all a load of nonsense. The bulk of the passenger numbers are on ennis-Limerick and Athenry- Galway. The investment in the wrc was the bit in between, characterised by the empty trains.
    Unfortunately this kind of bullchit is never called out by the media, and gullible people believe it.
    There is one truth that cannot be escaped however, regardless of passenger numbers on the wrc. There is no money and they're won't be any money for another white elephant north of Athenry.


  • #7915
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    eastwest wrote: »
    It's all a load of nonsense. The bulk of the passenger numbers are on ennis-Limerick and Athenry- Galway. The investment in the wrc was the bit in between, characterised by the empty trains.
    Unfortunately this kind of bullchit is never called out by the media, and gullible people believe it.
    There is one truth that cannot be escaped however, regardless of passenger numbers on the wrc. There is no money and they're won't be any money for another white elephant north of Athenry.

    Train between Ennis-Athenry had more passengers yesterday than Athenry-Galway. Do you travel the route?


  • #7916
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    Train between Ennis-Athenry had more passengers yesterday than Athenry-Galway. Do you travel the route?

    I do, occasionally.
    I agree, selected trains on weekends can be busy-ish, but the majority are not.
    Successive governments have clearly stated that this mistake won't be repeated.
    There is no possibility of EU funding for the route.
    The motorway is opening shortly.
    Mayo is already served by a railway.
    Population densities north of Tuam do not justify a train.
    It's simply not going to happen.


  • #7917
    serfboard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,720 ✭✭✭serfboard


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    Train between Ennis-Athenry had more passengers yesterday than Athenry-Galway. Do you travel the route?
    I'm guessing he doesn't, but then not that many people are - on a regular basis.

    What you report is interesting - am I understanding you right - that the Ennis->Athenry section carried more passengers yesterday than the Athenry->Galway section on the train you were on? Where did they all get out? Athenry?

    In any case, the real usefulness of any train line comes not from Sunday trippers during the busiest tourist month of the year, but all-year around commuters - of which there are very few on the Ennis->Athenry section. The empty car parks at Gort and Craughwell stations will tell you that.

    Furthermore, from this December, the X51 bus will be going along the full M18, reducing the Inter-City time to (I'm guessing about) an hour and ten minutes - while the train will still be trundling around the countryside taking two hours.


  • #7918
    westtip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    Wow I missed all this fun on Canney in the past couple of days. What on earth is wrong with this man? Did he not see 600 people in a small little town like Tuam take peacefully to the streets recently asking for a greenway? All politics in Ireland we often hear are local; why is this man so obsessed with a project he knows full well cannot be delivered, why doesn't he put his shoulder to the wheel for something which with the full support of all cllrs and the likes of Canney would be a shoe in of an idea. What is this obsession with the Western Rail Corridor a project that simply is not going to happen. From what I have heard in Tuam the tide has turned and Canneys' opposition to the greenway could well lose him his seat. I do hope so.


  • #7919
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,460 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    westtip wrote: »
    Wow I missed all this fun on Canney in the past couple of days. What on earth is wrong with this man? Did he not see 600 people in a small little town like Tuam take peacefully to the streets recently asking for a greenway? All politics in Ireland we often hear are local; why is this man so obsessed with a project he knows full well cannot be delivered, why doesn't he put his shoulder to the wheel for something which with the full support of all cllrs and the likes of Canney would be a shoe in of an idea. What is this obsession with the Western Rail Corridor a project that simply is not going to happen. From what I have heard in Tuam the tide has turned and Canneys' opposition to the greenway could well lose him his seat. I do hope so.
    He can retire to spend more time watching construction begin on Bank of America's new Milltown campus after their post Brexit decision to relocate to the bustling Galway metropolis in anticipation of construction of Phase II of the Western Rail Corridor.

    Meanwhile workers for Bank of America in Dublin have no way of getting to work and nowhere to live. But it's ok cos Galway has its trains.


  • #7920
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    eastwest wrote: »
    I do, occasionally.
    I agree, selected trains on weekends can be busy-ish, but the majority are not.
    Successive governments have clearly stated that this mistake won't be repeated.
    There is no possibility of EU funding for the route.
    The motorway is opening shortly.
    Mayo is already served by a railway.
    Population densities north of Tuam do not justify a train.
    It's simply not going to happen.

    I would agree fully, no scope for any railway after Athenry. However, for both sides, I don't think you can use the figures for Ennis-Athenry as any indication of demand for a railway to Tuam or further on.

    Ennis to Athenry figures are not too bad, and a big plus is the train is cheaper than the bus currently. They're not brilliant however, but much better than lines like LJ-WAT (which Imo could be improved with ease) and Limerick to Ballybrophy (needs to die).


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  • #7921
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    serfboard wrote: »

    What you report is interesting - am I understanding you right - that the Ennis->Athenry section carried more passengers yesterday than the Athenry->Galway section on the train you were on? Where did they all get out? Athenry?

    That's exactly what I'm implying, several people got out in Athenry.
    The empty car parks at Gort and Craughwell stations will tell you that.

    Why would they? Surely stops on a line don't prove how well a line is doing?
    Furthermore, from this December, the X51 bus will be going along the full M18, reducing the Inter-City time to (I'm guessing about) an hour and ten minutes - while the train will still be trundling around the countryside taking two hours.

    Personally I don't think so, the M18 will just be bringing you further outside Galway to near Athenry and onto the M6, the potential congestion on the way into galway could well negate any time savings during peak times.

    Speed improvements could be well worth it along the line, at some stages the train slows to 50km/h, which to me seems rather strange, shouldn't the issues have been sorted out before they rebuilt the line?


  • #7922
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,460 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    I would agree fully, no scope for any railway after Athenry. However, for both sides, I don't think you can use the figures for Ennis-Athenry as any indication of demand for a railway to Tuam or further on.

    Ennis to Athenry figures are not too bad, and a big plus is the train is cheaper than the bus currently. They're not brilliant however, but much better than lines like LJ-WAT (which Imo could be improved with ease) and Limerick to Ballybrophy (needs to die).

    Ennis-Athenry is cheaper by rail vs bus because it gets a massive operating subsidy and is made cheaper on purpose to encourage use rather than shuttling empty trains up and down the line.

    Given the enormous operating subsidy it makes sense to lower fares as the fare income won't cover costs anyway.
    JCX BXC wrote: »
    That's exactly what I'm implying, several people got out in Athenry.

    Why would they? Surely stops on a line don't prove how well a line is doing?

    Personally I don't think so, the M18 will just be bringing you further outside Galway to near Athenry and onto the M6, the potential congestion on the way into galway could well negate any time savings during peak times.

    Speed improvements could be well worth it along the line, at some stages the train slows to 50km/h, which to me seems rather strange, shouldn't the issues have been sorted out before they rebuilt the line?

    Stopping in extra places for no one to get on is just increasing journey times further discouraging use.

    The M18 will improve bus journey times because the bus can travel at a constant 100km/h from Gort to Galway as opposed to the current slow rate with all the villages (and level crossings).

    The low speed restrictions are due to poor alignment and level crossings along the route, which would have been cost prohibitive to remove during construction. The alignment is much worse from Tuam-Collooney so that show you how bad that would be if built.


  • #7923
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,140 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    a 100kmph bus (a ridiculous speed for a bus to be traveling IMO) is all well and good until the inevitable long stop for traffic on the way in to either city.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



  • #7924
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Furthermore, from this December, the X51 bus will be going along the full M18, reducing the Inter-City time to (I'm guessing about) an hour and ten minutes - while the train will still be trundling around the countryside taking two hours.

    Personally I don't think so, the M18 will just be bringing you further outside Galway to near Athenry and onto the M6, the potential congestion on the way into galway could well negate any time savings during peak times.
    [/quote]
    There is a lot of work planned or being done on bus corridors into Galway which will ensure that this isn't an issue.


  • #7925
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Muckyboots wrote: »
    Sloopys wrote: »

    It's like watching the first dreaded back to school ads on the telly isn't it. We had three weeks break from all of this codology so I guess we are now back to business as usual here. But before I go back to lurking I will say this; Canney is going to top the poll - again.

    You are probably right. He's a smooth operator and there won't be an envelope opened in Tuam in the next 12 months with out his presence . He has lost the "young family" town vote.
    He'll be very wary of attending any envelope-openings in Tuam, unless before a captive audience, given the depth of feeling about his blocking of the greenway.


  • #7926
    westtip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    marno21 wrote: »
    He can retire to spend more time watching construction begin on Bank of America's new Milltown campus after their post Brexit decision to relocate to the bustling Galway metropolis in anticipation of construction of Phase II of the Western Rail Corridor.

    Meanwhile workers for Bank of America in Dublin have no way of getting to work and nowhere to live. But it's ok cos Galway has its trains.

    Marno yes I appreciate your humour, but in what you say there is some truth and how the housing crisis in Dublin could be addressed through a proper radial highspeed train service into and out of Dublin. I worked in London for several years, its where the jobs are, where the critical mass of skilled mindset is, and like it or not, large cities are the driver of economies. Ireland, like it or not has to have a Dublin Centric economic view, that doesn't mean the rest of the country will fall to its knees economically, but in this long standing debate we have all had about greenways and trains trundling at low speed from Claremorris to Tuam what we have lost sight of (or least what the WOT lobby lost sight of years ago) is the need to focus our train service on high speed shifting of lots of bodies into and out of Dublin.....When I worked in London I lived in Basingstoke, 60 miles from my job. On a good day and hey South West Trains are not the best, I could make it to work in just over an hour.

    People commute into London on a lot longer journies. The focus of the Railway lobby should be high speed services into and out of Dublin. And I mean high speed and a good service up to midnight. Of course it will require subvention of course many trains will be running at low capacity. But if you could get on a train in Galway and be in Dublin an hour and quarter later would you commute? This is the real benefits trains can bring to a society, not re-opening branch lines that fit a C19th century requirement.

    Anyway just felt like writing an essay this morning.:pac:


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  • #7927
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    The bus from Limerick to Galway is currently 30 minutes faster than the train. What will this increase to once the motorway is opened?

    Unless a Cork-Limerick-Galway service is built with similar speeds to Cork-Dublin then rail has no future from Limerick to Galway.


  • #7928
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    westtip wrote: »
    marno21 wrote: »
    He can retire to spend more time watching construction begin on Bank of America's new Milltown campus after their post Brexit decision to relocate to the bustling Galway metropolis in anticipation of construction of Phase II of the Western Rail Corridor.

    Meanwhile workers for Bank of America in Dublin have no way of getting to work and nowhere to live. But it's ok cos Galway has its trains.

    Marno yes I appreciate your humour, but in what you say there is some truth and how the housing crisis in Dublin could be addressed through a proper radial highspeed train service into and out of Dublin. I worked in London for several years, its where the jobs are, where the critical mass of skilled mindset is, and like it or not, large cities are the driver of economies. Ireland, like it or not has to have a Dublin Centric economic view, that doesn't mean the rest of the country will fall to its knees economically, but in this long standing debate we have all had about greenways and trains trundling at low speed from Claremorris to Tuam what we have lost sight of (or least what the WOT lobby lost sight of years ago) is the need to focus our train service on high speed shifting of lots of bodies into and out of Dublin.....When I worked in London I lived in Basingstoke, 60 miles from my job. On a good day and hey South West Trains are not the best, I could make it to work in just over an hour.

    People commute into London on a lot longer journies. The focus of the Railway lobby should be high speed services into and out of Dublin. And I mean high speed and a good service up to midnight. Of course it will require subvention of course many trains will be running at low capacity. But if you could get on a train in Galway and be in Dublin an hour and quarter later would you commute? This is the real benefits trains can bring to a society, not re-opening branch lines that fit a C19th century requirement.

    Anyway just felt like writing an essay this morning.:pac:
    You don't get it, do you? They have the LUAS up in Dublin, so we're entitled to the same. It's not about whether we need it or not, or whether it makes sense. And to make it worse, they're proposing to take our railway and replace it with a cycle path for Dublin 4 types. We must fight them to the death (of all our small towns ).
    You'd never make a politician.


  • #7929
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    Train fairly full at the moment leaving galway, few free seats.


  • #7930
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    What sort of business case was there for Ardrahan? On the 13:45 service today there were a few people getting off at every station except Ardrahan, which nobody got on or off at and there wasn't a car to be seen in the carpark whatsoever.

    Pity they spent money on it really, could cut a few minutes off the service with no real loss of passengers.


  • #7931
    Muckyboots
    Closed Accounts Posts: 652 ✭✭✭Muckyboots


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    What sort of business case was there for Ardrahan?

    Business case? You're having a laugh, yes?


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  • #7932
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,543 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    What sort of business case was there for Ardrahan?

    There was no business case for the entire line. A few extra Athenry-Galway and Ennis-Limerick services would have had the same increase in passenger numbers.


  • #7933
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    I won't disagree on the reasons how the line came about, however, that wasn't my question. Why is Ardrahan still a station if it's use is so low? Surely it is worsening an already struggling line?


  • #7934
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,543 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    I won't disagree on the reasons how the line came about, however, that wasn't my question. Why is Ardrahan still a station if it's use is so low? Surely it is worsening an already struggling line?

    The last non-excursion station to close without direct replacement on an open railway line here must be the mid 1970s - Mosney, Curragh and Ashtown's brief 1979 opening were excursion stations. Its just Not Done even when it makes sense.


  • #7935
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    L1011 wrote: »
    The last non-excursion station to close without direct replacement on an open railway line here must be the mid 1970s - Mosney, Curragh and Ashtown's brief 1979 opening were excursion stations. Its just Not Done even when it makes sense.

    A few stations on the Waterford-Rosslare line closed in 2010 when the service was withdrawn.

    I get your point though, surely it should never been opened in the first place? Even the never opened but planned Crusheen station would have probably performed better.


  • #7936
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,543 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    A few stations on the Waterford-Rosslare line closed in 2010 when they closed.

    The entire line closed.


  • #7937
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    L1011 wrote: »
    The entire line closed.

    Meant to input when the line closed. However it doesn't take from your explanation either way.


  • #7938
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    L1011 wrote: »
    There was no business case for the entire line. A few extra Athenry-Galway and Ennis-Limerick services would have had the same increase in passenger numbers.

    Back in those days when the boom could only get boomier, you didn't need a business case, you just needed a minister to throw a pile of money at somebody's pet project.
    Therein lies the problem. A handful of politicians, despite knowing that there is no case for extending the line and despite knowing that there is no money for it, still believe that the old days will come back and that someone will chuck a pile of taxpayer funds at their little hobby horse.
    It's not going to happen if course, but this small club is in complete denial of the facts.


  • #7939
    Sloopys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭Sloopys


    eastwest wrote: »
    Canney has zero chance of getting elected to the Dail. His best chance would actually have been to save some face in Tuam by backing the greenway, but Tuam will give him a roasting at the polls.

    Canney topped the poll. So much for your political analysis and forecasts!


  • #7940
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Sloopys wrote: »
    Canney topped the poll. So much for your political analysis and forecasts!
    Tuam has a history of giving chancers the heave after one term.
    The growing realisation in Tuam and Athenry that he is the one stopping the greenway will come back to bite him.
    There's getting a seat, and there's keeping a seat. The former is often the easier job.


  • #7941
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,140 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    eastwest wrote: »
    Tuam has a history of giving chancers the heave after one term.
    The growing realisation in Tuam and Athenry that he is the one stopping the greenway will come back to bite him.
    There's getting a seat, and there's keeping a seat. The former is often the easier job.

    ah but he isn't stopping the greenway. the reality is there are more important things for government to be spending money on and i suspect most people have other issues they have a greater interest in solving first. in reality i suspect only a minority like the railway care about the greenway. we will see at election time what happens.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



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  • #7942
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    end of the road wrote: »
    ah but he isn't stopping the greenway. .

    He's not stopping the imaginary greenway, the one that avoids towns and goes through lands where the owners won't allow it. The one he dreamed up to stop the actual greenway.
    Yer right there!


  • #7943
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,140 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    eastwest wrote: »
    The owners of the route support the greenway option

    the owners who (funnily enough) don't have a great track record when it comes to running railways. of course they support the greenway option, it's nothing to do with them supposibly believing it might be a good asset to the area (which it may or may not be)
    eastwest wrote: »
    These 'rail to trail' projects are successful everywhere (see 'Diese greenway' for example in this country)

    a couple of them here are successful yes. however we need to take some time before judging over all success. we do not want to end up like the uk where we have a number of greenways which are used by only 1 man and his dog but which the owners/operators will fight tooth and knail to prevent it from being reused for transport again dispite it's reuse for transport being beneficial to a lot more people.
    eastwest wrote: »
    the people want the greenway and are increasingly getting mad at the small cabal who are stopping it.

    some of the people want the greenway and may be mad at those who they claim are stopping it, but who actually aren't.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words.



  • #7944
    Sloopys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭Sloopys


    eastwest wrote: »
    Not really.
    The route exists.
    The owners of the route support the greenway option
    There is funding available
    These 'rail to trail' projects are successful everywhere (see 'Diese greenway' for example in this country)
    There is no funding stream that can be accessed for a railway, except good old 'general taxation'
    There is no business case for a railway
    The first phase of the wrc hasn't delivered as promised
    There is insufficient demand and population on the section north of Athenry
    The European union won't part-fund a railway on the route
    The greenway won't prevent a railway being built if any of the above changes.
    And finally, the people want the greenway and are increasingly getting mad at the small cabal who are stopping it.
    But you know all that.

    You suggest I know all you have just posted, I don't, I'm just an interested bystander. Having said that as a mere observer I would suggest that the constant whinging and whining about the railway and its supporters won't win you the railway line. Also the passenger numbers on the Galway Limerick line are far in excess of what you and your comrades regularly claim on this board.


  • #7945
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,543 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Sloopys wrote: »
    Also the passenger numbers on the Galway Limerick line are far in excess of what you and your comrades regularly claim on this board.

    Are you, by any chance, using the passenger numbers quoted by Irish Rail?

    The ones that include passengers on the existing Galway-Athenry and Ennis-Limerick sections?


    They're irrelevant to the reopened section.


  • #7946
    Quackster
    Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 5,842 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quackster


    end of the road wrote: »
    a couple of them here are successful yes. however we need to take some time before judging over all success. we do not want to end up like the uk where we have a number of greenways which are used by only 1 man and his dog but which the owners/operators will fight tooth and knail to prevent it from being reused for transport again dispite it's reuse for transport being beneficial to a lot more people.

    Given we lack the enlightened network of off-road public paths that criss-cross the entirety of England & Wales and which somewhat limit the need for greenways there, at least for able-bodied walkers, I don't think there's much fear of greenways in this country being under-utilised.


  • #7947
    serfboard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,720 ✭✭✭serfboard


    end of the road wrote: »
    we do not want to end up like the uk where we have a number of greenways which are used by only 1 man and his dog but which the owners/operators will fight tooth and knail to prevent it from being reused for transport again dispite it's reuse for transport being beneficial to a lot more people.
    I'd agree with that. In Ireland however we have far lower population density, and absolutely no planning at all with houses scattered higgeldy-piggeldy around the countryside, thus providing no critical mass in towns which would strengthen the argument for railway use.

    The situation here in fact is exactly the opposite to the case you cite - we have a crowd of trainspotters who are fighting tooth and nail to prevent an idle railway line being reused as a Greenway.


  • #7948
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    THREAD REOPENED

    Lets get two things clear here.

    Attacking the poster and not the post is not permitted under any circumstances. If you have a problem with a post or the way another member has acted towards you please report the post and let the moderators deal with it.

    Secondly naming any poster in thread is a breach of the terms of your continued use of this website:
    http://www.boards.ie/content/terms?site=desktop
    We expect you to act responsibly in posting Material on Boards.ie. You agree, through use of this service, NOT to use boards.ie to:

    identify or speculate as to the identity of any anonymous or pseudonymous user

    If we find that this rule has been broken then it is highly likely that you will be sanctioned up to and including having your posting rights removed from this forum and I'm sure you wouldn't want that.

    Do not reply to this message.

    - Moderator


  • #7949
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Frankly I have to say that the standard of posting in this thread has been far less than I come to expect from those who paricipate in it and despite having issued a clear mod warning just a couple of days ago it seems some believe that they still are exempt from the rules here and can do as they please.

    To borrow BuffyBots words, I'm saying that this will not stand from this point on, I'm saying that things are going to get tough on this thread from here on in, and do not be surprised if you get severely sanctioned for not posting within the rules.

    I do not wish to see any more of the following
    - sniping at each other and being uncivil
    - personal attacks and digs
    - speculating on the idenity of others
    - back seat moderation
    - replying to moderation in thread.

    If you cannot take part in this thread and adhere to the above rules, then I would suggest you refrain from posting. If you do post, and ignore the charter and basic rules of the site, do not expect much sympathy.

    - Moderator


  • #7950
    westtip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭westtip


    October 6th!

    The day this thread can apparently really close.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104513592&postcount=6845


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  • #7951
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,228 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    westtip wrote: »
    October 6th!

    The day this thread can apparently really close.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104513592&postcount=6845

    Well it's not like it'll ever become a railway with or without the motorway.

    Discussion will continue about the possible Greenway though?


This discussion has been closed.
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