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Mayo News: Early Bird Train for Westport shelved

  • 16-09-2009 12:36pm
    #1
    Yoda
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭


    From The Mayo News, Tuesday 15 September 2009

    Early Bird train for Westport shelved
    Áine Ryan

    “DEPLORABLE” was how long-time Fianna Fáil Councillor Margaret Adams yesterday deemed Irish Rail’s decision to defer an early train service from Westport to Heuston Station in Dublin.

    She was not alone in her criticism of last week's announcement, which according to Castlebar’s Mayor Michael Kilcoyne is due to the fact that the allocated funding has been diverted to repairing the bridge that recently collapsed in north County Dublin.

    Speaking at an Electoral Area meeting, Cllr Adams proposed that a joint meeting between the town council, area county councillors and Irish Rail officials be scheduled.

    “Maybe the tweaking of the present service may work as an interim measure,” Cllr Adams said.

    Questioning the overall quality of the service Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley observed that this latest decision was “a disgrace”.

    “What is wrong with this service, the trains are late and they are breaking down," he said.

    His Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Peter Flynn said: “This is the era of broken promises. We had been all geared up for this. Myles McHugh [of Irish Rail] told us so often that we would get the Early Bird this Autumn.”

    In a statement issued by Irish Rail last week it was announced that: “The existing timetable has been extended until further notice, and no changes will take place on September 27. In light of the current economic situation, we are currently reviewing our train services to see how best to utilise the resources available to us to maximize overall passenger volumes."

    It continued: “Our priority in this review will be to ensure as best as possible that we maintain current services, while evaluating service improvement possibilities. We expect the timetable review to be complete shortly”

    Responding, Peter Hynes, Town Manager, agreed to organise a meeting—in consultation with both cathaoirleachs, Cllrs Myles Staunton and Johnny O'Malley—with Irish Rail officials.

    “In fairness to Irish Rail they did publish a statement last week about the upcoming review. The question of tweaking the service so that we get better value from the trains we have is an option," said Mr Hynes.


Comments

  • #2
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Well the way things are with the public finances the further expansion of services is obviously going to be put on hold - if people like Colm McCarthy have their way Westport will be luck to even retain its rail link!

    I would be more concerned with this comment:

    'Questioning the overall quality of the service Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley observed that this latest decision was “a disgrace”.

    “What is wrong with this service, the trains are late and they are breaking down," he said.'

    What's the story here? Are we talking about the 22000 railcars again? :confused:


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