Future Transport in Galway...

Recently, there has been a lot of talk from various groups about finally putting a realistic transport system in Galway City (though some proposals have also extended into the County as well). What are your views on the proposals and are any of them realistic?

Here are a few that I was able to dig up...

1. Light Rail
1.1 Corrib Light Rail

This I found while browsing Wikipedia. It's basically a proposal put forward by an independent researcher. Here are the key points:

• Two lines
• 28km long (in total)
• ~€5m per km (~€140m total)
• Line 1: Oranmore - Knocknacarra
• Line 2: Ceannt Station - Moycullen
• Major landmarks served: Ceannt Station, Eyre Square, NUIG, UCHG, GMIT, Merlin Park Hospital, Corrib Village and Oranmore Station.

More information (with a map and pictures) can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrib_Light_Rail


1.2 Green Party's {Unnamed} Light Rail Proposal

This was on the RTÉ News one day, so I decided to do a little more research into the topic; here's what I found.

• One line
• Unknown length
• Unknown cost
• Line: Barna - City Centre - Oranmore
• Major landmarks served: NUIG, Eyre Square, Oranmore Train Station

More information can be found here:

http://www.greenparty.ie/en/news/latest_news/green_party_commits_to_new_light_rail_projects_in_cork_galway_and_dublin

http://www.greenparty.ie/en/policies/transport

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0121/greens.html

http://www.greenparty.ie/en/policies/transport

2. Bus Rapid Transit (also known as 'Streetcars') and Buses in General

This seems to be extremely popular with Bus Éireann (unsurprisingly) :rolleyes: .

This involves having 'bus trams' which will sometimes run on their own special 'tracks' (usually outside the city centre). In addition to this proposal, bus services in and around the city will get a major boost as this plan by Bus Éireann has just been announced:

http://www.buseireann.ie/site/news_centre/press_centre.asp?action=view&news_id=525

See also:

http://www.transport21.ie/MEDIA/Press_Releases/Cullen_announces_details_together_with_CIE_of_expansion_plans_for_Galways_Ceannt_Station_and_improvements_in_bus_and_rail_services_for_Galway.html

3. Suburban/Commuter Rail

This long-awaited plan has gotten some steam (no pun intended)in recent months with the announcment that the Western Rail Corridor is to be improved.

The plan is for a Galway Ceannt - Oranmore - Athenry - Tuam service, though this is almost definately going to go ahead (the reopening of the WRT, coupled with the Ceannt Station redevelopment and public demand).

Here's a bit more information:

http://www.transport21.ie/MEDIA/Press_Releases/Cullen_announces_details_together_with_CIE_of_expansion_plans_for_Galways_Ceannt_Station_and_improvements_in_bus_and_rail_services_for_Galway.html

http://www.transport21.ie/PROJECTS/HEAVY_RAIL/Western_Rail_Corridor.html

4. Ceannt Station Redevelopment/Ceannt Station Quarter

A very interesting €1bn project, Ceannt Station will finally be brought into the 21st century, with 3 rail platforms (for both intercity and commuter/suburban rail) and 25 bus-bays, presumably both for City, Commuter and Intercity bus routes.

The 'Ceannt Station Quarter' also seems interesting, with 800 residential units, bars, restaurants and shops to be built - some of which could be high-rise - on the 6 hectare site.

More here:

http://www.transport21.ie/MEDIA/Press_Releases/Cullen_announces_details_together_with_CIE_of_expansion_plans_for_Galways_Ceannt_Station_and_improvements_in_bus_and_rail_services_for_Galway.html

5. Roads Network

The roads network will improve significantly too, with the N6 to Dublin, N17 to Tuam and N18 to Limerick all planned to be either motorway or dual carriageway by 2015, and the 27km Galway City Outer Bypass to be built.

5. Galway Airport

There are proposals to extend Galway Airport's runway meaning it could allow larger planes (and therefore further destinations).

The government also just (last week) gave the airport €6.3mn in capital grants.

Maybe now there'll be some more exciting destinations in mainland Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway_Airport

6. Galway Harbour

Pending planning permission, the harbour might see major changes under a €1.5bn plan.

http://www.galway.net/GalwayNet/img/orig/506.jpg

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A brilliant article with all the development in and around the city can be found here (worth a good read):

http://www.kmsgalway.com/menu.asp?menu=122&parent=0&item=0003


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Well, what do you think about the transport ideas for Galway; are they needed (or not)? Are they popular with you? Does it make economical sense? Etc...?