Railway Order - Public Inquiry

impr0v

Has anyone ever been to one of these?

Considering the small amount of investment to date in the sector, they're not nearly as common as road scheme oral hearings.

I'm interested in how long they go on for, if there is generally much public attendance and to what extent the scheme is examined.

I know the minister appoints the person chairing the inquiry, as opposed to An Bord Pleanala in the case of road projects, but what powers has he/she and from what background does he or she usually come from?

Would there realistically be many objectors, if any, to the railway order? Presumably if some land was being compulsarily acquired under the order the affected landowners would be making representations at the Inquiry, but I'd imagine this is at a much smaller scale than at a greenfield motorway project.

MarkoP11

There have been 4 railway works orders in recent times, Luas A, B and C as well as one by Iarnrod Eireann for Killkenny

The act is here
http://www.ucc.ie/law/irlii/statutes/2001_55.htm

Previous public inquiry for Luas http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/2634.pdf

The person in charge typically will be a senior chartered engineer or a senior member of the legal profession

You do get a lot of objectors mainly from local people who are directly effected by the works which is fair enough
You do get some more vocal views

To be fair Iarnrod Eireann have been in contact with all landowners already so a lot of issues have been dealt with before the inquiry