Western Rail Corridor / Rail Trail

Westernview

Recent article from Fleet.ie on the advantages of moving haulage containers to rail and WRC thus reducing congestion in Dublin.

Again no specific figures given but interesting to consider the demand that could be created for warehouses outside towns and the opportunities for haulage changing over to shorter routes. A change in mindset is needed according to the piece.

Ronald Binge Redux

The word "consternation" is interesting. It seems probable then that the road haulage industry has been lobbying by one means or another over the years since the resurrection of the WRC was first proposed.

Decades

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121480169#Comment_121480169

"other big national projects underway" in the last paragraph probably takes you closer to reality than a wished-for mindset change alluded to in the op-ed.

Ronald Binge Redux

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121483361#Comment_121483361

Ultimately, infrastructure 'reality' is whatever politics chooses it to be.

Westernview

Sinn Fein making some big promises well over a year out from the election. Not sure what the basis would be for extending to Sligo other than trying to top the promises of the current government. Sounds like a bit of a photo op at the train station.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/sinn-fein-backing-the-re-opening-of-sligo-to-galway-rail-line/a227378665.html

Westernview

Confirmation from IE that any plans to put a greenway north of Claremorris are a non runner.

The Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Mr. Jim Meade, has told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport that Iarnród Éireann supports keeping the railway from Collooney to Claremorris for rail traffic and ‘not for anything else’.

In a wide-ranging commentary he also indicated that the next phase of the rail corridor will require a lead-in period of two years for planning and preparation at an estimated cost of €7m to €12m and that it will then require a three year construction period. 

Speaking to the Committee on Transport on Wednesday 24th January 2024 Mr. Meade said:

“We know it’s an ambition of our own Minister to reinstate it (the WRC) if he can. It’s called out in the Strategic Review. We have started doing some vegetation works on it recently to keep the line clean and open, some de-vegetation. But particularly for a freight corridor, the review is saying it’s very viable for a freight corridor and you would do it probably in stages from Athenry to Claremorris. 

“Beyond Claremorris, we certainly would support the ambition to keep that for rail traffic, not for anything else, and in time if the decision is made to connect to Collooney, so be it.”

His comments were welcomed by Councillor Michael Connolly, Chair of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee. Speaking at a meeting of the Committee in Sligo City Hall Councillor Connolly said: 'I want to warmly welcome the comments by the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport yesterday, where he said that Iarnród Éireann would support the ambition to keep the railway from Claremorris to Collooney for rail traffic, and not for any other use.

"The 47 miles of existing railway from Claremorris to Collooney is an extremely valuable piece of state-owned public transport infrastructure, passing an international airport (IWAK) and connecting many towns, which would cost many hundreds of millions to acquire today. To build an equivalent line to the Mayo-Sligo section from scratch could potentially cost €15m/km or close to €1.5bn. It is therefore essential that the rail alignment is protected for future rail use.

"The likelihood that the Galway line is soon to reopen as far north as Claremorris offers an important opportunity for Sligo as it means that the Sligo-Galway line will then be more than 60% in operation. Mayo’s industries will then be able to use the WRC line for moving raw materials and finished products, saving time and money and reducing their carbon footprint. The same opportunity needs to be afforded to Sligo," he concluded.

Consonata

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121677684#Comment_121677684

If they are going to go ahead with this, they better at least try and attempt fixing the alignment of the line. That it goes so close to Knock Airport and yet still a probably 30 minute drive away, is bananas.

Westernview

They'll have plenty of time to plan that as it's likely to only go as far as Claremorris initially. Changing the alignment would mean dropping Swinford and a lot of hassle with landowners. More likely to stay on the existing line with a Knock airport park and ride facility at Charlestown initially I'd say.

serfboard

Or passengers could just take the bus directly to the airport, which they can already do.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121681819#Comment_121681819

They could but the airport executive have said that a rail link either directly or via a P & R would benefit the airport more.

Jizique

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121682857#Comment_121682857

Are the prepared to fund it? Given that no funding is required for the current "bus directly to the airport"

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121682877#Comment_121682877

That's not how it works. The government of course would either fund it or reject the proposal based on an assessment of the pros and cons.

And secondly bus eireann DOES require state subvention to compensate for losses. Luas on the other hand does not.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121677684#Comment_121677684

Hopefully that'll put an end to speculation and media nothing stories about greenways but I doubt it.

Bodan

Iarnród Éireann is seeking ways to improve the capacity and resilience of its Ennis to Limerick rail service.

The national railway network operator says potential enhancements on the route would reduce journey times and create more space on both passenger and freight journeys.

Canadian engineering and design consultancy AtkinsRéalis has been hired by Iarnród Éireann to propose infrastructure improvements that would enable the Irish government to grow public transport’s market share thus helping to deliver on its Climate Action Plan.

Among the goals of the multi-disciplinary study is to enhance the rail line which runs between Limerick and Ennis and onto Galway in order to boost capacity and reduce journey times.

The Ennis line enhancements are also intended to assist in plans to increase the number of services running between Limerick and Galway.

https://www.clare.fm/news/iarnrod-eireann-looking-improve-capacity-resilience-ennis-limerick-rail-service/

loco_scolo

Posting this here (and hoping the thread isn't closed down 🙄).

The article's opening line is quite optimistic, but nice to see some news on this long overdue project.

Now that clearance work is almost complete, hopefully it won't take long before engineers are on site for initial assessment on reopening costs.

https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/galway-news/new-irish-rail-train-service-9141743

Economics101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121862907#Comment_121862907

I just love this from the article: "These works are being carried out to see if there's a viable rail line that can be used at the location starting with freight trains before eventually expanding to passenger rail".

Do they hope to find evidence beneath the overgrowth of vegitation that there is a viable rail line? WHat sort of nonsense is this?

L1011

Reach Plc pays virtually nothing and hence the "journalism" that gets produced is absolutely appalling.

They've made this entire 'article' out of one hopeful tweet.

Hibernicis

What a daft article. Hedge trimmed = "New Irish Rail train service step closer as photo shows railway reopening start - Surely we're edging closer to it finally reopening"

If ever there were a case of hope springs eternal...........

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121863625#Comment_121863625

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121863609#Comment_121863609

There have been dozens of tweets and articles about this since November 2023 when Eamon Ryan told Irish Rail to clear the line. There have been constant updates and pictures since then regarding the clearance work, which started one week later in December 2023.

The fast track pace of the Foynes line (from planning to construction in less than 12 months) are clear evidence of what is possible when reopening recently closed lines. The section between Athenry and Claremorris was used up until 1997.

Clearing the vegetation from the line allows engineers to assess the line and determine how much work, and cost, would be needed to reopen it.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121863832#Comment_121863832

And yet none of this actually means anything other than the vegetation being cleared

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121864003#Comment_121864003

Have I claimed otherwise? As I said, the article's opening line is "quite optimistic", but it goes on to explain very well why they are clearing the line.... to enable engineers to get on site and properly assess reinstatement costs.

Once again to reiterate, the Foynes line went through planning and started construction in less than 12months. The "WandererPhotos" link below has an a fantastic set of photos showing the speedy progress since November 2022. Works are on schedule for 2025 completion.

https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-

Westernview

Nothing really new in that Galway Beo article but then a lot of their articles just repeat what has been said elsewhere.

It matters little anyway as all the indicators are that the line will open sooner rather than later. Hopefully with Stormount up and running the full AIRR report will be released and news of funding will follow.

The CE of Irish Rail has recently confirmed the government's intention for the line between Athenry and Claremorris.

https://westernpeople.ie/news/irish-rail-wants-to-keep-sligo-line-for-rail-use-only_arid-8468.html

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121862907#Comment_121862907

One must treat anything on Galway Beo with caution. It is a website for clickbaits, is that the correct word?

Only a fool would depend on it for the truth.

intellectual dosser

I had figured the line was cleared as scheduled periodically for lines that are not in service. The clue is in that Claremorris to Colooney has also been cleared and I don’t believe that is in any near term plans (not recommended in AIRR).

Eamon Ryan is just putting some spin on. He must love the likes of Galway Beo who will amplify any small soundbite.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121864156#Comment_121864156

The Foynes line didn't go through planning, however they are now going through planning to raise the height of a bridge.

Further WRC reopening will almost certainly require planning permission. A new N63 bridge is required and works would be required at the three N17 LCs south of Claremorris at the very least. It also runs through more built up areas.

Hibernicis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121864240#Comment_121864240

More spin and reading what you want to see, not what's on the page - Where is what you read:

The CE of Irish Rail has recently confirmed the government's intention for the line between Athenry and Claremorris.

And here is what Jim Meade actually said:

“We know it’s an ambition of our own Minister to reinstate it (the WRC) if he can" 

Equating "the government's intention" with "the Minister's ambition" is a leap, even by the standards of this forum.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121865045#Comment_121865045

Intention/ambition has pretty much the same meaning (i.e. what he wants to do) unless you are obsessed with silly semantics. I didn't put anything in quotation marks so I didn't misquote anyone.

mayo.mick

Its funny how only certain sections of the line are cleared. Its been so for the last 30yrs. I've seen somewhere else, cant remember where, that the clearance works on the Sligo section are to facilitate laying of fibre optics for the NBP.

RE: that clickbait sites article. It could also be stated that the route clearance works are to see how the route would be suitable for a greenway 😉

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121865060#Comment_121865060

A Minister's personal ambitions are a hell of a lot different to the intentions of the Government.

Ryan doesn't get to commit significant capital without getting cabinet sign-off. Without Cabinet approval, Ryan's "ambitions" can be classed on the same level as his aspirations to reintroduce wild wolves to Ireland.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121865234#Comment_121865234

I never said Ryan got funding without cabinet sign-off. There is every indication that he has cross party cabinet support. There isn't cabinet sign off for most of the projects in the AIRR yet so the term aspirational is applied to most of it not just the WRC. Every plan and idea in every government department can be classified as aspirational until it has approval.

Your wild wolves comment is just childish and irrevelant to any discussion on rail.

Speaking during the launch of the revised NDP in Cork on Monday 4th October 2021, An Taoiseach Mícheál Martin stated that the Government would "enthusiastically" support expenditure for the Western Rail Corridor going forward. “I think you can be assured the Minister for Public Expenditure will support the Western Rail Corridor very enthusiastically,”

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail Leader Micheal.

Responding to Deputy Dillon's call for support, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD, told him: “This issue is currently under consideration in the context of the All-Island Rail review. I think the case for extending the Western Rail Corridor is stronger than it had been in the past, given the fact that the public finances are in a much better state, and we are able to increase capital spending, the need to meet our climate plans and also the high cost of fuel and the desire to get more freight off the roads and onto rail.”

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar