eastwest wrote: » I'd love to see a graphic that analyses the figures properly, stripping out the business that would have been achieved on existing lines before the ennis athenry section was built.
westtip wrote: » Press release From: The Western Rail Trail campaign September 5th 2018 for immediate release • Passenger figures on Western Rail Corridor show route has failed despite increase in numbers • Only achieving 52% of original business case target. • Massaging figures cannot deny underlying failure • Report into extension of Western Rail Corridor will have to consider failure of Ennis/Athenry line A spokesman for the Western rail Trail Campaign to preserve the alignment of the closed rail line from Athenry to Collooney by utilising the route for tourism and leisure as a greenway, until such time as a railway may be possible, today said recent claims that the Western Rail Corridor phase one from Ennis to Athenry is a success story due to increased passenger numbers need to be examined closely. A spokesman for the Western Rail Trail campaign said headline figures released by supporters of extending the railway north of Athenry do show growth in usage of the railway line between Galway and Limerick re-opened in 2010 but on closer analysis are not an indicator of a great success story. Figures released to Sean Canney TD by Irish Rail were discussed on September 4th on the Galway Bay FM Keith Finnegan show. The greenway campaign were aware of these figures as they had already been released by Mayo County Councillor, Gerry Murray of Sinn Fein/West on Track in August on a Facebook post. Mr Canney is very closely associated with the Mayo based West on Track group. Mr Canney referred to 133,000 people using the Ennis/Athenry railway line in 2017 compared to 43,000 in the first year the line was opened in 2010. Whilst this may appear to be a large increase in numbers they need to be put in context. 133,000 passengers in 2017 amounts to 52% of the passenger numbers forecast in the original business plan. The figures equate to 31 passenger on average per train; half a bus load. The original business case to re-build the railway line from Ennis to Athenry, providing a rail link between Limerick and Galway was based on achieving 250,000 intercity passengers from Galway to Limerick by year five (2015). The figures are transparent. The numbers using the Ennis/Athenry line as intercity passengers is 133,000; this represents 52% of the business case used to persuade the Government of the time to spend just over €100 million on this project; plus the ongoing subvention of over €3 million a year required to run the line. The bulk of the numbers quoted in relation to passenger traffic on the western rail corridor are commuters using the Ennis-Limerick and Athenry-Galway lines, lines that already existed before the government built the Ennis-Athenry section for over €100 million. The simple facts are after eight years in operation achieving 133,000 passengers using the Ennis/Athenry line as intercity passengers from Galway to Limerick when the business case said there would be 250,000 is not a success, it is a failure. ENDS: body text 386 words Contacts: contact via the Sligo mayo greenway facebook page
Bray Head wrote: » I suspect a lot of those passengers had a FTP.
Lord Glentoran wrote: » We could get one of the lads here to spend a week going up and down the line checking for passes. Then organise a cup of tea at a venue and take a picture of happy travellers after calling "Who wants a cup of tea? Put up both your hands if you want a biscuit as well!"
Deleted User wrote: » Carrying on with the discussion as the other thread is fullhttps://touch.boards.ie/thread/2055766866/1
Deleted User wrote: » Hi voz, missed ya buddy, good to see you are well
westtip wrote: » the layout of the land is pretty much what is happening as you describe. The Sligo section is a shoe in. A rail link to Knock Airport is based on the myth of extending to Charlestown, North of Claremorris has more or less been conceded even by West on Track and their diehard supporters in Mayo coco as they have allowed a change of use of the line to velo-rail in and around Kiltimagh (although this project is failing to get off the ground) there is some truth in what you say about decrease the costs of fares the subvention in total stays the same. I have heard figures like the Ennis/Athenry line is costing about €60k per week, not fully sure of that need to double check before someone jumps down my throat, but that works out at around 3million a year. It is true the most likely greenway to be completed first will be Charlestown - collooney, when that happens the impact will be interesting to measure.
voz es wrote: » The Politicians on the north are arguing for all Ireland rail on both the east and west axis which is brilliant. - very good points of view made www.derryjournal.com/news/opinion-all-ireland-rail-network-is-the-way-of-the-future-foyle-mp-1-8622051Spain’s high-speed railway - ''Over the past few decades, high-speed rail has penetrated European countries at an increasingly rapid pace''https://www.railway-technology.com/features/spain-ave-rail/
voz es wrote: » You know, got to keep a bit of noise going when I see you guys pulling fast ones around thread names and that To be fair to you, I don't think it is something your able to do yourself after you start the thread, and it was probably an honest oversight in the first place. P.S. Hello to Tuam How is the half hour city commute in the car going for the cyclists?
Muckyboots wrote: » Haven't you heard? Tuam is Quiet....Maaan :cool:
voz es wrote: » Chice, i heard its lakes with all the jammers wide to the city :-D A lot of Tuam folk I do be talking to are well wise to the importance of having a Tuam T.D., with the mannnnn Canney doing a parnell with the bike track people snipping more votes for Fine Geal, while his leader is on about backing rail to the hilt.
Muckyboots wrote: » "May" is the key word in Leo's letter to Tuam's Nevile Chamberlain. He's got to ride into town on that train or he's just another on a long list of "you got your chancer's" ex-TDs.
Isambard wrote: » https://connachttribune.ie/taoiseach-may-back-rail-link-reopening-690/
Mr Varadkar has written a letter saying that if the review into restoring a rail service between Athenry and Tuam makes a positive recommendation, then it is a project that will be prioritised and advanced.
sonnyblack wrote: » https://connachttribune.ie/taoiseach-may-back-rail-link-reopening-690/ What is Leo up to here I wonder. A bit of kite flying before a possible election. Canney fairly bullish to the other TD's
Mr Varadkar has written a letter saying that IF the review into restoring a rail service between Athenry and Tuam makes a positive recommendation, then it is a project that will be prioritised and advanced.
Muckyboots wrote: » Canney played what he thought was an ace card in an effort to frustrate the vote at Galway County Council. Cannon has seen his ace review with a full house of Athenry businesses and a Cllr with a change of heart. Canney looks like he has flipped the table over in panic. Weeks to go before the vote. This is going to get interesting.
voz es wrote: » One thing about Varadkar's announcement is that If the report finds there to be a justified case for rail on the western north south axis its all systems go. There is a green way that would make so much more sense for people to be causing a stir about and the would be the Shannon-Suck-Boyle Riverloop It would encompass Lough Gara, Lough Key, Lough Drumharlow, Lough Corry, Lough Boderg, Lough Bofin, Lough Ree. Towns covered would be: Athleague, Ballinasloe, Ballyforan, Ballymoe, Castlerea, Glinsk, Frenchpark, Boyle and from Carrick on Shannon down to Shannon Bridge along the Shannon. Some of the most beautiful, historic and Untapped from a tourism point of view..... great name too.
voz es wrote: » I would have to wonder if it is empty gesture from him for positive rural headlines, I feel Varadkar is trying the quell the rural disdain for Fine Gael that is building rapidly. I wonder as a sub plot is his aim to confuse or divide the rural FG voter, having Kyne shouting Railway line, Cannon shouting Bike, Ring Shouting Velo-rail or is he genuine in his rail efforts, time will tell.
voz es wrote: » One thing about Varadkar's announcement is that If the report finds there to be a justified case for rail on the western north south axis its all systems go.
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