Western Rail Corridor / Rail Trail

ohographite wrote: »

The patronage of the Ennis-Athenry section is barely below the patronage of Limerick-Ennis, and Manulla-Ballina.
I think it is harsh to suggest closing down these lines.

While I'm not too sure how many here are advocating that, the main feeling here of Greenway supporters is not to repeat previous mistakes, and to use the line north of Athenry for a public good - and which enjoys popular support.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Also, the WRC does not qualify for TEN-T funding no matter what way you try to dress it up, it just simply does not meet the criteria

Why would the WRC not qualify?

Greaney wrote: »

I dunno about popular support

Well I do and I've just posted the link to prove it which you've ignored.

Greaney wrote: »

the Athenry St. Patricks Day parade last year had bikes in it's theme.... they talked about entering, but not one advocate for the Quiet Man Greenway turned up on a bike.

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything ... the QMG doesn't have popular support because no-one from the campaign showed up on a bike in a St. Patrick's day parade in Athenry?

serfboard wrote: »

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything ... the QMG doesn't have popular support because no-one from the campaign showed up on a bike in a St. Patrick's day parade in Athenry?

It illustrates their commitment to their 'cause' in Athenry. Not much. They're not cycle advocates. Athenry was the place that the pro-rail meeting happened because Athenry actually experiences how much people really use the railway.

The quietman greenway facebook page deletes and bans anyone that had a disenting view other than theirs so I can understand how folk think there's no support for the railway. But there is another page that's pro-rail... and that campaign sucessfully got phase 1 opened...

Greaney wrote: »

It illustrates their commitment to their 'cause' in Athenry. Not much. They're not cycle advocates. Athenry was the place that the pro-rail meeting happened because Athenry actually experiences how much people really use the railway.

The quietman greenway facebook page deletes and bans anyone that had a disenting view other than theirs so I can understand how folk think there's no support for the railway. But there is another page that's pro-rail... and that campaign sucessfully got phase 1 opened...

That campaign was based on a 'build it first, and work out the business case later' type of thinking that was common enough when Charlie McCreevy couldn't wait to spend all the stamp duty he was collecting from the housing bubble.
Those days are gone, but the rail campaign can't seem to accept that. They live in hope that somehow the ducks will line up again and some Taoiseach will throw a few hundred million at the project just to get support from a WOT TD whose vote makes the difference.
But they can't seem to grasp that they had that lever last time around, and all it could produce was a rail report, a report so damning of the case for rail north of athenry that the same lever had to be used to make sure it never saw the light of day.

eastwest wrote: »

But they can't seem to grasp that they had that lever last time around, and all it could produce was a rail report, a report so damning of the case for rail north of athenry that the same lever had to be used to make sure it never saw the light of day.

So you have seen the report? Tell more please. I'm very interested. What was the conclusions???

eastwest wrote: »

That campaign was based on a 'build it first, and work out the business case later' type of thinking that was common enough when Charlie McCreevy couldn't wait to spend all the stamp duty he was collecting from the housing bubble.
Those days are gone, but the rail campaign can't seem to accept that. They live in hope that somehow the ducks will line up again and some Taoiseach will throw a few hundred million at the project just to get support from a WOT TD whose vote makes the difference.
But they can't seem to grasp that they had that lever last time around, and all it could produce was a rail report, a report so damning of the case for rail north of athenry that the same lever had to be used to make sure it never saw the light of day.

I believe that if the WRC was extended to Tuam or Claremorris or Collooney that it wouldnt be profitable on Day 1, after Year 1 and maybe not even after Year 5.

But look at the mass migration from west to east, from our rural areas to economic centers. How do we either prevent or support that or both? Galway's population is going to grow by 50% by 2025, where will people live and how will they get from A to B?

If Dublin was rebuilt in the morning would people wait for the population to increase before putting in public transport? No. We need to build for the future. Knock it back as anecdotal, but this is what we need to do.

intellectual dosser wrote: »

I believe that if the WRC was extended to Tuam or Claremorris or Collooney that it wouldnt be profitable on Day 1, after Year 1 and maybe not even after Year 5.

But look at the mass migration from west to east, from our rural areas to economic centers. How do we either prevent or support that or both? Galway's population is going to grow by 50% by 2025, where will people live and how will they get from A to B?

If Dublin was rebuilt in the morning would people wait for the population to increase before putting in public transport? No. We need to build for the future. Knock it back as anecdotal, but this is what we need to do.

If you are building for the future, you would build a new line via Claregalway and the industrial estates north of Galway. A hell of a lot more useful for people commuting to Galway, and suburban traffic in the city

realistically, a train from Tuam would entail changing at Athenry. Not likely to be a popular option.

Accidentally wrote: »

If you are building for the future, you would build a new line via Claregalway and the industrial estates north of Galway. A hell of a lot more useful for people commuting to Galway, and suburban traffic in the city

But that is not going to happen no matter what. The railway has predated all building activity in the country. The fact that we did not utilize the service is our own fault. We should have prioritised construction around stations, IDA should have purchased land surrounding or adjoining the railway. We can't go back but we can change the way we plan for the future. Athenry looks like it could be a hub for alot of activity in the next few years if the government wanted or local politicians for that matter. The IDA site needs to be serviced. If even one of the medical factories moved some R&D to athenry surely more would follow. Then there would be connectivity to where people wanted to go.
Parkmore is beyond capacity, especially for transport whereas Athenry is primed for development. Motorway access north, south east and west. Railway access same directions. Crazy to keep putting buildings and more people in Parkmore when this right on the doorstep.

intellectual dosser wrote: »

I believe that if the WRC was extended to Tuam or Claremorris or Collooney that it wouldnt be profitable on Day 1, after Year 1 and maybe not even after Year 5.

But look at the mass migration from west to east, from our rural areas to economic centers. How do we either prevent or support that or both? Galway's population is going to grow by 50% by 2025, where will people live and how will they get from A to B?

If Dublin was rebuilt in the morning would people wait for the population to increase before putting in public transport? No. We need to build for the future. Knock it back as anecdotal, but this is what we need to do.

Unfortunately that's what gave us the debacle of ennis athenry, building infrastructure based on a gut feeling and guesswork.

Lord Glentoran wrote: »

Realistically there could be double track from Galway to Athenry.

Build that. Create 2/3 NEW stations as well while doing it.

intellectual dosser wrote: »

Galway City Council are calling for that. IE have said they're positively disposed to the double tracking for a start. I'd imagine this would take time and disruption, bridges and level crossings would take work.

I'm certainly for it, but I think it would take years to deliver?

Yes Alas, it all takes years to happen... West on Track started in 2003 but there was a campaign going long before that. The Athenry to Tuam section was to be built in 2011 so you can see how projects can stall without political will... And politics will always go with short term goals (votes) over long term stratagey ( the common good)

what_traffic wrote: »

Yes - but it will be worth delivering as it will be used.

For sure, but worth factoring into the WRC discussion. There would be little point in connecting Claremorris to Athenry only for Athenry to be cut off from Galway for a year (?) while they double track the line.

If double tracking is a runner it should probably be done first. I know doing them in tandem would be most ideal but that doesn't exactly happen with the funding and political will.