Greaney wrote: » My answers are genuine. This thread has a tone that I don't really want to 'do'.
Muckyboots wrote: » The whole debate has a tone and some nasty undercurrents. There are some people who treat all things railways with an unholy reverence and anyone who speaks disparaging of them as blaspheming trots. They are here too.
Greaney wrote: » Indeed, and those who are pro-greenway who are both haughty ... among other things
eastwest wrote: » Planning would be required. In the case of claremorris-collooney, the original line was built as a light railway and would have to be largely rebuilt completely. All that is left is most of the alignment.
Pete_Cavan wrote: » I used the same wording as ezstreet5. Does the term really bother you that much or is it fine when used by someone pro-WRC?
eastwest wrote: » Not much bothers me, to be honest. But I do get some amusement out of grown men believing in myths.
ezstreet5 wrote: » Consider Switzerland. The island of Ireland has about twice the land area, and about 78% of the population of Switzerland. Ireland's topography is rather flat compared to to Switzerland's (those annoying Alps!). Yet, the Swiss have almost double the trackage compared to Ireland (with hundreds of km of tunnels), and nearly all of it is electrified. The Swiss would not think twice about reinstating the WRC to Sligo (and beyond to the North). And they would electrify it (and all other lines). It would be a no-brainer to them, and not a myth. And I suppose you could look at German rail and French rail in a similar manner.
intellectual dosser wrote: » This is the part I don't get. Phase 1 of the WRC is complete. An independent review was commissioned on the remainder. A motion to conduct a feasibility study on the QMG couldnt get past a vote by Galway County Council, but in your eyes its the WRC that is the myth. The QMG side seem to spike the ball at any soundbite in favour of greenway regardless of its origin or context and declare this whole thing a foregone conclusion. The posts and commentary on that NWRA strategy publication this week proved that. Its bizarre to be honest.
intellectual dosser wrote: » This is the part I don't get. A motion to conduct a feasibility study on the QMG couldnt get past a vote by Galway County Council, but in your eyes its the WRC that is the myth.
ezstreet5 wrote: » The motion ultimately did pass the County Council - that is - to seek funding for a feasibility study under a new 4.5 million funding stream from DTTAS. That study may not be approved, and it probably shouldn't be. It's entirely unnecessary. Of course it is feasible or possible or plausible to build a bicycle path on an unused rail line. The question is, is it expedient? The answer will be a resounding 'no.' The opportunity cost is too high. The problem is that Galway Co. Co. is packed with novice politicians that are still swayed by Facebook campaigns, and affected by email and text message campaigns, and other 'low-level' activism (stirred by a local TD). The Galway councilors are not experienced enough to ignore that noise.
intellectual dosser wrote: » Even as a rail advocate I would prefer if there was a feasibility study done on the Quiet Man Greenway. At the moment Ciaran Cannon is regularly stating that it would transform the region and provide countless jobs. It would be useful if these statements were substantiated and we could critically evaluate both options based on actual findings.
Greaney wrote: » You've brought up something rather interesting because I'd like to see figures comparing the Westport greenway to the Mullingar greenway also. Not all greenways are equal.... Meanwhile, the funding & expertise is still working on the Eurovelo in East Galway... and what with the Connemara Greenway that has 'actually' gotten the green light, I don't see money pouring into a third cycling route into the county unless it is shovel ready. Furthermore, everyone seems to forget.... Iarnrod Eireann own the land the WRC runs on.... I'm sure they're watching and listening to everything, and are on standby. My experience of them is they don't say no to stuff... they don't say yes either, unless you've got all your ducks in a row and are ready to shoot. There was a lot more work done on the Connemara Greenway, by more seasoned cycling advocates than the Quiet Man Greenway long before they got a look in.... I watch and learn
Sligo eye wrote: » I’d say the powers that be who determine Greenway spending will prioritise the EuroVelo from Athlone all the way to Clifden. That’s a greenway that will catch the imagination alright. Dublin all the way to Connemara by bike will attract far more tourists from Ireland and beyond than the so called Quiet Man greenway., Perhaps I have spotted something. The Quiet Man greenway will indeed be quiet. Apart from Sunday mornings when muckyboots and pals go for their Sunday morning spin up to Claremorris and back. A Local Greenway for Local People, perhaps that will be their motto.
Sligo eye wrote: » A Local Greenway for Local People, perhaps that will be their motto.
MayoForSam wrote: » 3000 local people from Tuam perhaps? - September 23rd, 2018, Tuam people march in support of QMG campaign.....
Greaney wrote: » You've brought up something rather interesting because I'd like to see figures comparing the Westport greenway to the Mullingar greenway also. Not all greenways are equal....
Greaney wrote: » Furthermore, everyone seems to forget.... Iarnrod Eireann own the land the WRC runs on.... I'm sure they're watching and listening to everything, and are on standby. My experience of them is they don't say no to stuff... they don't say yes either, unless you've got all your ducks in a row and are ready to shoot.
Greaney wrote: » I will add that the Ballyglunin station committee officially support rail, they made a statement regarding that on their facebook page.
Greaney wrote: » I've personally talked to the folk in Ballyglunin in one of their station events. They'd all like the rail. They're under no illusion to the tourism draw of their wee station that they love and have put a lot of work in to.
Sligo eye wrote: » Keeps you occupied? I suggest you find a more rewarding hobby.
donvito99 wrote: » His hobby would seem to be more rewarding than yours, which is just to post snotty, one line retorts to substantial points that you cannot challenge.
Sligo eye wrote: » You have to remember that no matter how outlandish, or how implausible, greenway supporting statements do not need proof, financial justification or even credibility checking. The Lord(s) hath spoken, and we should quake at their power and awesomeness, etc.
Pete_Cavan wrote: » Reopening Athenry to Tuam as railway would likely cost in the region of €50m (its about half the length of Athenry to Ennis which cost over €100m, add in bridge and a decade of inflation). For that, you would only be able to run a shuttle service between the two towns, the single track mainline won't facilitate more services. Given Athenry - Tuam would be single track, the service would be infrequent, how many morning commuter services could it realistically accommodate? The capital and operating costs of the above would be significant. For virtually no additional capital spend and a fraction of the operating costs, a shuttle bus service could be provided instead. The bus would likely provide a better service as there is no infrastructure limitations on the frequency. There is no case for the railway and the yet to be released report almost certainly states as much.
TCDStudent1 wrote: » One way, what would be the travel time on rail between Tuam and athenry?
eastwest wrote: » I'll tell you what's bizarre. A TD who is deeply embedded in WOT agrees to support a minority government on one condition (apart from a good slice of extra money for himself), that he gets a review of the wrc within six months. He could have got almost anything for his constituency, but he chose instead to devote all.his political capital towards getting this report done. Six months came and went, and no report, yet he never threatened to pull the plug. Had he realised at that stage that there was never a chance of getting the railway? Had he found out that reality is a different thing from campaign promises? When he finally got the report, he allowed his ministerial colleague to suppress it. He didn't at any time publicly ask for the report. Of the approximately twenty TDs who sought the report under PQs, our hero wasn't one of them. Just consider that for a minute. Twenty TDs asked to see the rail report, formally and on the record of the Dail. Yet the man who had staked his political credibility on this same report, the man who caused half a million euro of our money to be spent on it, never opened his mouth. Now that's bizarre. It's GUBU.
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