Isambard wrote: » you're not really reading it right. I'm suggesting that the rail lobby will not believe that the Greenway lobby do not want to forever prevent a rail service, and will move heaven and earth to prevent a Greenway on that basis. I'm not touting a line that the Greenway people actually want to prevent a rail rail forever. I'm suggesting a middle line (sic) trying to understand the desires of both parties who are in deeply entrenched positions.
What about the potential reopening of the line? Communication with Irish Rail and other greenway projects has repeatedly highlighted the absolute requirement of a clause in the greenway licence that requires the revocation of the licence if the line is reopened at any stage. This is strictly enforced and reemphasised by Irish Rail, who also require, where necessary, additional costs to be incurred in the development of the greenway to ensure future-proofing in the event of a reopening of the line.What is the final recommendation? The final recommendation is that Option Two, the single-use greenway should be pursued in the short-term, however Option One, the reopening of the line to rail traffic should be the longer-term objective.
Isambard wrote: » it's going nowhere with an attitude like that
Deleted User wrote: » What attitude? It's been pointed out that the final decision would not be impacted by any greenway due to the lease agreement but you are choosing to ignore that one simple fact and instead keep trotting out an illogical fallacy with no basis in reality.
westtip wrote: » Da Cor is it worth it? they just don't gettit, Irish Rail are adamant this clause goes in these closed railway to greenway projects, it is there in black and white and signed by the county councils not the mythical "greenway people" its not worth wasting anymore time on the argument. If a greenway happens and the route is required again for rail, that's it. The railway gets rebuilt. Simple as. It is in black and white, it is legally binding and please don't come back to us with Comber Valley or any other case. That is why this clause in. Da Cor they just don't gettit. Not worth the effort engaging.
Del.Monte wrote: » How is the Velo Rail project going? Should be approaching Letterkenny by now. :pac:
Deleted User wrote: » While I agree, in large part, with most of your post, I would be more inclined to say that only through engagement can the fallacies be exposed, the worries acknowledged and addressed and the opportunities realised. As a wise old man (Bob Hoskins) used to say, its good to talk
Here is something to mull over during the Easter break, bear with me and read it if you have any desire to know what we have been up against over the years. EY DKN who are they? EY DKN is the consulting company which has won the half million euro contract to undertake the economic review of the closed railway from Athenry to Claremorris. The review is the price of support for the government from independent TD Sean Canney. For those of you steeped in the history of the Western Rail Corridor let me explain why this review is so important and why it is undertaken by well-qualified people. The original basis for re-opening the railway was based on a report called the McCann Report back in 2005; this report presented to the then Minister of Transport as the blueprint and reasoning to re-open the railway, with phase one being Athenry Ennis. Now here is the fly in the ointment. The McCann report, was written by what was rather quaintly called "An Expert Working Group".....Members of this so called expert working group included from West on Track Mr Martin Cunniffe Claremorris,Cllr Tom McHugh Tuam, Ms Helen Rochford-Brennan Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, There was a sub group of the working group called the WRC Dimensions and Costs and Benefits Sub-Group, and low and behold look a the members of this sub cmt: Mr Frank Dawson, Galway County Development Board (Chairman) Mr John McAleer, Director, South West Regional Authority Mr Gerry Behan (for Edmond Gleeson, Limerick County Manager) Cllr Tom McHugh, West on Track Mr Robert Leech, Railway Procurement Agency Frank Dawson may be known to some of you as a prominent member and support of West on Track, and we all know about Cllr McHugh. Not a single well qualified Transport Economist was on the entire expert working group. Then look at the shape of another sub committee The Rail Travel Demand Sub-Group Mr Hubert Kearns, Sligo County Manager (Chairman) Mr Tom Kirby, Director, Mid West Regional Authority Mr Michael Reidy, Manager, Programmes and Projects Unit, CIE Fr Michéal MacGréil SJ, Inter-County Rail Committee Mr Martin Cunniffe, West on Track Father Micheal MacGreil a member of the Inter County Rail committee is one of the founding members of West on Track. This sub committee to look at Rail Travel demand has not got a single qualified transport planning professional on its membership but has two members of lobby group West on Track! Effectively the McCann report which was to shape policy on the Western Rail Corridor was written by West on Track, asa Michael Caine said "Not a lot of people know that "It was akin to a government asking the tobacco industry to write the policy on tobacco advertising This is why spending 500k using the skill sets of highly qualified economists, transport planners, intelligent people with no agenda who understand demographics to produce this new report should be money well spent. Mr Canney should be careful what he wishes for. We actually have the chance to cast off the anvil around our necks the McCann report written and presented to government 14 years ago by the very lobby group who wants to re-open the railway. EY DKN have been told to carry out a public consultation process in which we can all let EY DKN know what we think. This is the next important step, to once again make our voice heard. Interesting times ahead, but the outcome of this report cannot be allowed to be another discredited McCann Report, lets hope those days are over. For those that have read this piece on a Bank Holiday Monday many thanks.
marno21 wrote: » Colm McCarthy has an article on the WRC in last week's Farmers Journal.. you have to sign up to read it Nothing new in there but a reality check for the supporters of the WRC north of Athenry, especially when the spend on further rail services could go a long way towards dualling the N17 which improves bus service times.
Del.Monte wrote: » More worthless rubbish from a well known anti-railway pundit. Paper never refused ink but how he gets paid for repeating the same old tripe over and over again.
Deleted User wrote: » Which provable fact that he stated do you have a problem with?
jasper100 wrote: » The fundamental issue is that constantly building roads and motorways is not the solution. It just leads to further congestion at the edges of cities and more gridlock. Ireland also needs to get its emissions under control and more roads and cars ain't the answer.
Deleted User wrote: » Can you clarify how half-empty 2 carriage trains address that
jasper100 wrote: » High density housing clustered around a railway station with a frequent and reliable service.
London Correspondent wrote: » This is a very serious point; Ireland’s emissions are not under control and we face significant carbon taxes as a result. Listening to fools like McCarthy and those who believe him has led us to the place we are in now.
Deleted User wrote: » Cyclists produce no emissions, sounds like we should have a lot more greenways
jasper100 wrote: » Another round of silly cyber high five LOL's all round posts from the lads. Commuters travelling to work over a long distance won't be taking the bike.:rolleyes:
Muckyboots wrote: » They won't be taking a train to Athenry either - rolls eyes, dishes out high fives and L'sOL...
Lord Glentoran wrote: » I wouldn’t be surprised if there’ll be a fella soon with a megaphone on the Galway - Limerick trains roaring “Why aren’t ye on yer bikes!!!!” at the passengers...
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