[Article] Irish Rail says planning appeal will not delay western route

Victor

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0924/1222205369894.html

Irish Rail says planning appeal will not delay western route
GORDON DEEGAN

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN said last night that the reopening of the €106 million first phase of the Western Rail Corridor will not be delayed by a planning appeal against the refurbishment of Gort train station.

The reopening of the line between Ennis and Athenry will restore intercity services between Galway and Limerick and Cork along with increased commuter services into Galway city.

Five stations, including Gort train station, are to be upgraded as part of the works. However, Gort company Coen Holdings Ltd has lodged an appeal against a decision by Galway County Council to give the go-ahead for the new station at Gort. The works include a new station, including the provision of two 90-metre platforms along with an 80-space car park.

The appeal lodged by Coen Holdings - even if it not upheld - delays the works on the new station until early 2009 as a decision is not expected on the appeal before December 22nd next.

Iarnród Éireann held an information evening for the public on the rail project in Ennis last night and its business development manager for the midwest, Jim Gallivan, said the reopening of the corridor will not be delayed by the appeal.

Mr Gallivan said the corridor will open in late spring 2009 and is not dependent on the upgrading of the Gort station being completed as the trains on the corridor will be able to go past Gort before the station upgrade is complete.

In their appeal, Coen Holdings state they have no objection to the development at Gort train station. However, they say that on the basis of traffic difficulties and traffic hazards likely to arise as a result of the proposal, they recommend planning permission be refused and the applicant be required to reconsider the plan.

The company claims the proposal is premature pending an overall proposal in relation to the upgrading of the roadway from Gort to the location.

Mr Gallivan said the train will be two-carriage with capacity for 105 people and it is the intention that the initial frequency will be five times each way per day, increasing to seven times per day.

Cookie_Monster

Irish Times wrote:

on the basis of traffic difficulties and traffic hazards likely to arise as a result of the proposal

Excess traffic as a result of a 105 person capacity train, when on a fraction of those people will be getting on/off there, seems a bit mad.

Or are the concerned about people simply parking up and downs the roads around the station and blocking them, or is it purely the construction traffic they are worried about?

paulm17781

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Excess traffic as a result of a 105 person capacity train, when on a fraction of those people will be getting on/off there, seems a bit mad.

The road is probably tiny though. Mr. Gallivan probably doesn't realise there will only be 5 people using it at Gort and is expecting something like is seen at DART stations.

Nostradamus

paulm17781 wrote: »

The road is probably tiny though. Mr. Gallivan probably doesn't realise there will only be 5 people using it at Gort and is expecting something like is seen at DART stations.

I was thinking the same thing.

DWCommuter

Nostradamus wrote: »

I was thinking the same thing.

I wasn't even thinking that. I was just plain convinced.:D

IIMII

105 passengers a train? You'd fit more passengers on a double decker bus. I hate when I read this sort of stuff, I really do

DWCommuter

IIMII wrote: »

105 passengers a train? You'd fit more passengers on a double decker bus. I hate when I read this sort of stuff, I really do

But you've read it before.:D

A little 2 coach DMU trundling up and down pretending to be an inter city train while the subsidy goes nuclear.

Navan gets shafted. WRC gets trains. I said it 4 years ago. Just wait until Metro North and the Interconnector get done over. I'll be demanding apologies then.:D But then again I could be wrong and no doubt a dippo will jump out from the bushes and quote it as an example of how Im out of touch. Who knows anymore? Who cares? The Government don't anyway.

IIMII

I know, and it still annoys me

dowlingm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Excess traffic as a result of a 105 person capacity train

I'm betting on a single 2750 class myself - and everyone on it connecting to a Dublin train at Athenry

Sponge Bob

A Choo In Rye ...or Limerick ?

the_syco

It seems the answer is more bullsh|t.

[url=http://www.galwaynews.ie/4792-planning-appeal-could-put-gort-western-rail-stop-danger]GalwayNews[/url] wrote:

Coen Holdings Ltd, Station Road, Gort, which is owned by the JP Corry Group in Belfast, is claiming the new car park would interfere with its right of way through Iarnód Eireann property.
The company is a major building materials business in the South Galway area and has used the right of way for over thirty years.

Was looking at Live Maps, and the "Station Road" that Coen Holdings Ltd is based is located here (road didn't appear on google maps).
I do find it odd that althought the company has been there for 30 years, they never thought of making their own road, but relied on going through Iarnód Eireann property? Would this then mean that as it goes through Iarnód Eireann property, ANY car park would probably get in their way?

dowlingm

rights of way through other people's property are hardly a novelty. IE having no idea who is using its property and thereafter claiming adverse possession is no novelty either.