The End for Youghal?

BonnieSituation · 20-05-2018 7:34pm

Isambard wrote: »

That's good, can I propose the Newmarket branch line, 45 minutes by congested road to Cork so got to be up there with Youghal when it comes to re-opening

You know what sentiment is being conveyed. There's no real need for the facetiousness.

tabbey · 20-05-2018 9:41pm

Isambard wrote: »

That's good, can I propose the Newmarket branch line, 45 minutes by congested road to Cork so got to be up there with Youghal when it comes to re-opening

While I would love to see a G class borrowed from the ITG pulling a couple of laminates full of enthusiasts and tourists from Banteer to Newmarket, it would not be a real resource for everyday transport needs. It might be busy for the Curran anniversary, but that is it.

Youghal, on the other hand, has an alignment capable of competing with the N25 road, a road which is congested once you leave the N25 and reach Dunkettle or Tivoli.

There is not yet enough traffic to justify immediate re-opening, but it is only a matter of time before it is desirable.

If the Youghal line was abandoned, the authorities would deserve the curses which would be showered on them, in a very short time.

marno21 · 21-05-2018 1:08pm

In my opinion, the Youghal alignment is viable (by the time they actually get around to building it it will be anyway) for these reasons:

1. Youghal has quite a lot of tourist potential both from outside Cork and from within Cork. It's just outside the Wild Atlantic Way but I think it could be regenerated in its own right.
2. Youghal could complement the Waterford greenway by being used for its proximity. I don't think the Midleton-Youghal greenway would be quite as attractive as the Waterford one.

and the key ones:

3. Unlike the other cities in Ireland, there is a focus in Cork on dense development and making full use of newly available development land on both the north and south banks of the River Lee. There is (space for) 5,000 jobs coming online at the railway station itself, 3,000 at Navigation Square just along the river, and more coming along as Tivoli + south Docks are redeveloped. We can't have people driving in to these jobs, the capacity isn't there.
4. If Cork City centre is being developed based on sustainable transport, a railway connected Youghal could be a destination for these people that doesn't require a car.

It's a pity the N25 is so far offline from the railway line east of Midleton as it would create a fantastic opportunity for a "Parkway" type park and rail setup in the short/medium term. Midleton railway station is of no use for citybound commuters on the N25 as it's quite a distance from the Lakeview roundabout and requires transitting Midletown town (there is a relief road west of Midleton but that's a bit circuitous)

I have objected to this line in the past but I think the redevelopment of Cork city centre and the densification makes it a meritorious option, along with the direct routing. I think it would be imprudent to dispose of the alignment at this stage.

It's also a low hanging fruit in such a way as to the fact that of the national routes entering Cork (N8/N20/N22/N25/N27/N28/N71), both the N20 and N25 corridors are the only ones with railway alignments. The alignments along the N22, N28 and N71 corridors have been destroyed

Del.Monte · 17-06-2018 3:05pm

I was going to post this on the Train Porn thread but perhaps it belongs here.

tabbey · 17-06-2018 3:36pm

You could buy a tolerable house for £200 in 1861.

Was Dr Conquest an ancestor of yours?

Incidentally when was the C&Y taken over by the GS&WR, and did the shareholders get any return on their investment?

I posted too soon, I see the liquidator paid 10%.

marno21 · 22-10-2018 10:00am

In the paper again with the public consultation ending soon

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/former-town-councillor-rails-against-plans-to-convert-youghals-old-line-to-greenway-877249.html

Markcheese · 22-10-2018 11:58am

marno21 wrote: »

In the paper again with the public consultation ending soon

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/former-town-councillor-rails-against-plans-to-convert-youghals-old-line-to-greenway-877249.html

He's not all wrong.. the terrain is flat, and relatively straight... But it is scenic....
A greenway will bring more economic activity to youghal than the line has for the last 30years.. Or for the next 30 for that matter...
He's quoting Ennis to Athenry as a success? I don't think it does much economically for any of
The towns and villages along the way..

end of the road · 22-10-2018 1:47pm

Markcheese wrote: »

He's not all wrong.. the terrain is flat, and relatively straight... But it is scenic....
A greenway will bring more economic activity to youghal than the line has for the last 30years.. Or for the next 30 for that matter...
He's quoting Ennis to Athenry as a success? I don't think it does much economically for any of
The towns and villages along the way..

a line that hasn't been operational can't bring anything, so it's unfair to compare it to a not yet built greenway of which the success can't really be gauged until it's built. also, we cannot say that a greenway would bring more, or even any economic activity over a non-existant line for the next 30 years given there is no operational line nor no greenway. realistically, the youghal line's case is about commuters and relieving congestion on the roads rather then economic activity from tourists.

Isambard · 22-10-2018 1:48pm

the thing is, if you listed all the railway projects that might be possible in order of benefits accruing, this line would be well down the list. If any investment becomes available for rail development , it needs to be directed first to the areas where it will be of the most benefit. What we don't need is projects to rebuild lines simply because they were there once. Yes, it would be great to see trains running into Youghal, but there are greater priorities.

end of the road · 22-10-2018 4:48pm

Isambard wrote: »

the thing is, if you listed all the railway projects that might be possible in order of benefits accruing, this line would be well down the list. If any investment becomes available for rail development , it needs to be directed first to the areas where it will be of the most benefit. What we don't need is projects to rebuild lines simply because they were there once. Yes, it would be great to see trains running into Youghal, but there are greater priorities.

yes there are greater priorities, however we aren't talking about reinstating youghal today or tomorrow but down the line. starting a campaign to reinstate it now puts the idea out there and hopefully on the government agenda. we aren't rebuilding lines because they were once there, we are looking to rebuild a couple of lines because they are infrastructure that will allow for the towns they once served to be developed and grown to help boost, and eventually relieve the pressure, of our cities. i believe that towns with road and rail infrastrcture are the ones to grow, as they will have the capacity to handle the people. i believe they would also allow for us to spend money more wisely on road infrastructure, hopefully delivering more and better infrastructure for more people, because we aren't just spending the money on specifically trying to handle the congestion issues of towns with road only access.

whisky_galore · 23-10-2018 7:46am

Markcheese wrote: »

He's not all wrong.. the terrain is flat, and relatively straight... But it is scenic....
A greenway will bring more economic activity to youghal than the line has for the last 30years.. Or for the next 30 for that matter...
He's quoting Ennis to Athenry as a success? I don't think it does much economically for any of
The towns and villages along the way..

Some ho-hum farmland and boring as hell marshes and reeds.

Don't think the people of Youghal are that bothered either way, there was always the air of 'meh' about the place.
The greenway has garnered the usual shares and likes from slacktivists.

Markcheese · 23-10-2018 12:56pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Some ho-hum farmland and boring as hell marshes and reeds.

Don't think the people of Youghal are that bothered either way, there was always the air of 'meh' about the place.
The greenway has garnered the usual shares and likes from slacktivists.

Oh well, I've always liked ho-hum farmland...
And am positively thrilled by marshes and reedbeds... But that's just me,
Youghal has always struck me as a bit... Lost...
Its not industrial or a service centre, its only kind of a dormitory town, and a bit half assed a tourist town, but if kinsale or clonakilty had its history, heritage,monuments, architecture or beaches we'd never hear the end of it..
And now there'll be a green way ending in the town, right next to their board walk...

Del.Monte · 23-10-2018 3:03pm

Markcheese wrote: »

Oh well, I've always liked ho-hum farmland...
And am positively thrilled by marshes and reedbeds... But that's just me,
Youghal has always struck me as a bit... Lost...
Its not industrial or a service centre, its only kind of a dormitory town, and a bit half assed a tourist town, but if kinsale or clonakilty had its history, heritage,monuments, architecture or beaches we'd never hear the end of it..
And now there'll be a green way ending in the town, right next to their board walk...

I imagine Kinsale would kill to have their railway back now - nothing like hindsight as will be the case in 10/20 years time in Youghal.

Markcheese · 23-10-2018 3:20pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

I imagine Kinsale would kill to have their railway back now - nothing like hindsight as will be the case in 10/20 years time in Youghal.

I didn't even realise kinsale had a rail line in the past? When did that disappear?
I know clonakilty did, I think it was a spur off the main west Cork line. (there's still a crossroad just past bandon with a big clonakilty junction sign.)
On the hindsight thing, how long should a poorly used, poorly performing line be kept going for, on the possibility of being resurrected at some distant future point

L1011 · 23-10-2018 5:07pm

Earlier closure then most in 1931

Del.Monte · 23-10-2018 7:20pm

Markcheese wrote: »

I didn't even realise kinsale had a rail line in the past? When did that disappear?
I know clonakilty did, I think it was a spur off the main west Cork line. (there's still a crossroad just past bandon with a big clonakilty junction sign.)
On the hindsight thing, how long should a poorly used, poorly performing line be kept going for, on the possibility of being resurrected at some distant future point

The Kinsale branch closed as long ago as September 1931.

Losty Dublin · 24-10-2018 12:31am

Del.Monte wrote: »

The Kinsale branch closed as long ago as September 1931.

What? We can't blame Todd or CIE??

Seanmk1 · 24-10-2018 1:21pm

Kinsale closed in 1931

Check out GeoHive http://bit.ly/2RdlJ6I

Not much of the station left: http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20K/Kinsale/IrishRailwayStations.html#

Funny that GeoHive still shows the route today:http://bit.ly/2R86fkj

marno21 · 25-10-2018 12:50am

If this closure goes ahead it'll be a very depressing day. There is no shortage of more appropriate greenway alignments in Ireland.

A disused railway connecting into a recently opened commuter line with 30 minute frequency at peak times that goes directly into the city centre of the countries 2nd city, a city currently building vast amount of offices within walking distance of the train station. It's quite disappointing

Youghal could really do with this too seeing as it's a post industrial town that's now an outer commuter town for Cork.

tabbey · 25-10-2018 4:14pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

I imagine Kinsale would kill to have their railway back now - nothing like hindsight as will be the case in 10/20 years time in Youghal.

The Kinsale branch and the City end of the West Cork "main line" were so indirect and twisty (therefore slow) that it could not even compete with a bicycle, never mind motor vehicles.

Other than as a heritage line, it is useless.

Reputable Rog · 25-10-2018 4:19pm

marno21 wrote: »

If this closure goes ahead it'll be a very depressing day. There is no shortage of more appropriate greenway alignments in Ireland.

A disused railway connecting into a recently opened commuter line with 30 minute frequency at peak times that goes directly into the city centre of the countries 2nd city, a city currently building vast amount of offices within walking distance of the train station. It's quite disappointing

Youghal could really do with this too seeing as it's a post industrial town that's now an outer commuter town for Cork.

That's quite a Russian Doll you have going on there. You make some good points but you can seriously see someone cycling from Youghal to Midleton to get on a train to Cork?

Markcheese · 25-10-2018 5:51pm

Reputable Rog wrote: »

That's quite a Russian Doll you have going on there. You make some good points but you can seriously see someone cycling from Youghal to Midleton to get on a train to Cork?

Lads, I think ye're both arguing the same side...

. . . Realistically though , how far in the future could anyone see the youghal line reopening as a railway..? 20 30 years time?
And what advantage would there be for youghal? That couldn't be provided by 4 or 5 decent bus/coaches and a decent timetable at a fraction of the cost...

Reputable Rog · 25-10-2018 6:47pm

It's not going to reopen period, a lot of the way has been annexed by opportunist individuals.

end of the road · 25-10-2018 7:23pm

Markcheese wrote: »

Lads, I think ye're both arguing the same side...

. . . Realistically though , how far in the future could anyone see the youghal line reopening as a railway..? 20 30 years time?
And what advantage would there be for youghal? That couldn't be provided by 4 or 5 decent bus/coaches and a decent timetable at a fraction of the cost...

reopening the line will allow for lots of capacity which in turn can allow the road capacity within the area to last a lot longer before it needs expansion. in turn allowing the town to grow and be attractive to live in.
coaches don't allow for that. they will have to rely on the existing roads and all that brings. extra infrastructure to allow them to be any way attractive will cost, for which you may as well just bite the bullit and reopen the line.

Markcheese · 25-10-2018 11:38pm

There were just 3 stops on that line past Midleton, mogeely (a very small village), killeagh and youghal... (Eastern edge of town).
. . . Not a massive population...
The current line Cork Midleton line needs to be properly "finished" yet.
There's no station In carrigtohil's industrial estate, theres no transport (shuttle) from little island station to the industrial estates in little island, the park and ride stop at dunkettle(to serve glanmire) got scrapped, the idea of a through train to Mallow and reopening kilbarry station(blackpool) was scrapped.
Its not easy to get from Kent station to anywhere but the city centre, which isnt huge, you can't really link up easily with the south ring (n40), the airport, ucc, CUH,
So apart from a relatively small number of city centre office staff, school kids and some weekend shoppers every one else who lives in East Cork drives..
Maybe one day it'll be different...
There are a couple of new stations proposed, mainly for dormitory towns, (where everyone will have 2 car households), but no plans to try link up to where people actually work...
Sticking youghal on would make Feic all difference, now. But maybe in 20 or 30 years time...

Quackster · 26-10-2018 12:52am

Reputable Rog wrote: »

It's not going to reopen period, a lot of the way has been annexed by opportunist individuals.

As far as I'm aware, it hasn't been abandoned so it's still protected from squatters rights by the Act of Parliament that established it.

Markcheese · 26-10-2018 7:34am

I think someone posted a Google maps picture or a link of at least one piece that's been acquired (it may be an old railway house and yard that's been sold off).. And I'm sure there'll be other bits that have been used... But Largely it's still there...

Itssoeasy · 26-10-2018 1:16pm

Reputable Rog wrote: »

It's not going to reopen period, a lot of the way has been annexed by opportunist individuals.

As it's not been officially closed it's not their land to use. If it was to ever open again those Individuals would have their coughs rightly softened.

marno21 · 30-10-2018 10:52am

The Echo had an opinion piece up yesterday by a Councillor in Middleton advocating for the greenway

The comments on the post were about 10:1 in favour of a railway. I really hope these people are making their views known given there is a consultation ongoing

Reputable Rog · 30-10-2018 10:58am

He's not a councillor, Labour have only 1 member and he's Cobh based. It is essentially the same as you or me or any other member of the public writing an opinion piece.
It's the NTA that will decide its future as a rail line in any event.

marno21 · 30-10-2018 11:01am

Reputable Rog wrote: »

He's not a councillor, Labour have only 1 member and he's Cobh based. It is essentially the same as you or me or any other member of the public writing an opinion piece.
It's the NTA that will decide its future as a rail line in any event.

I stand corrected in that case.

XPS_Zero · 30-10-2018 8:39pm

I never understood the Green party.

After reading that utterly terrifying climate change report that just came out (a policy are I cared nothing about before, this has been a huge wake up call) I realized that as one of the central drivers of carbon emissions is transport, private transport, that one of the key ways to save humanity from climate change is going to be required an ENORMOUS unprecedented expansion, funding and construction of public transport and freight rail possibly as well (to get trucks off the road).

Given that people whos no1 issue was the environment would have known this before entering government in 2007, it baffles me that they wasted all their time on light bulb regulations and fur farms/puppy mills...thats' what they wasted their political capital on? At the start they had no leverage and were criminally stupid to go into govt as a result, if they don't need you to make up the numbers , and you are just there as insurance in case others drop out, then you have no leverage, and no leverage means your policies can be ignored which = depressed voters and members. Labours people were more concerend about getting one more pension but they were all pushing 70 anyway so didn't care, Greens were younger and had younger voters so they were playing with fire only lookin after their own pockets with such short term thinking. But even later they had leverage when others DID drop out, and they still allowed rail closures, they should have been screaming from the rooftops "transport infrastructure = less climate change and more economic growth long term which = more tax revenue = less cuts". But they didn't.

I had given them all my no2s and I was disgusted with them, I voted for them because I figured this WAS what a Green party would be pushing.

FF, SF and the other parties with the exception of FG are now filled with people who would wanna build way more, not less, so thats something, but it's my no1 conclusion after reading that report that this is our only way out of the climate change conundrum, and getting middle class people onto rail is the way to get their cars off the road. We may even, long term, have to make PT free or nearly free, or some kind of cheaper annual pass system.

But there is no point wasting money building lines to dead towns so planning policy will have to go right along with this, build places around these lines and make them dense not 100s of dormitory estates but apt blocks going up too. We already do this to a degree in the post Adamstown era, but were gonna have to do more of it.
Closing any line, knowing what we know now, IMO is short term thinking that will be seen as a huge blunder long term.

I don't know the area in this case ^ but waterford-wexford was stupid and to even THINK of closing Rosslare line is utterly moronic, Id be fine routing it to Bray instead of Connolly cos it will mean a more frequent service south, and it won't be getting in DARTs way anymore, but closing the lines mental.

If IE sees it's job as just managing the railways eventual decline (which they seem to) then maybe it's time we abolished them and put rail in the hands of a totally new agency like we did with Metro and Luas.

XPS_Zero · 30-10-2018 8:46pm

marno21 wrote: »

The Echo had an opinion piece up yesterday by a Councillor in Middleton advocating for the greenway

The comments on the post were about 10:1 in favour of a railway. I really hope these people are making their views known given there is a consultation ongoing

It's the NTA that will decide its future as a rail line in any event.

But major strategic decisions like that can be changed by political input. Agencies (Garda Commissioner, HSE, NTA.) manage areas day to day but all their founding legislation has a provision where the govt or minister can give them an order on any matter at any time and they have to comply with it. Even the DPP can have his job just taken off him in a specific area or in a specific case and the govt can order the AG to deal with the matter, though of course that particular powers rarely used compared to the other cases, the fact that its' there even in the case should make it clear where the power really is.

The agencies are partly there to take day to day management out of the hands of ministers that are usually dangerously incompetent bumbling fools (the ones the public enthusiastically elect, don't forget) and know nothing about their policy area, and also to give even the smart ones political cover for bad decisions.

The local council members have very little power over ANYTHING tbh (Irelands local govts a disgrace), yep even that guy who wears the incredibly stupid looking gold chain around his neck that the guys who wear it think makes them look impressive or important can do sweet FA to help you with FA. They can bring pressure on their parties and the parties on the minister but it depends how much of a stink they can kick up about it.

Markcheese · 30-10-2018 10:28pm

In the short to medium term, how many extra passengers would a reopened Midleton to youghal railway carry? And at what frequency?
(Its a single track line)., it'd make the Ennis —Athenry line look good.. Theres a huge amount of development to be done on suburban rail in Cork, to make it more usable,and interconnected, but it ain't on Midleton to youghal... Yet..

Itssoeasy · 31-10-2018 1:52pm

Markcheese wrote: »

In the short to medium term, how many extra passengers would a reopened Midleton to youghal railway carry? And at what frequency?
(Its a single track line)., it'd make the Ennis —Athenry line look good.. Theres a huge amount of development to be done on suburban rail in Cork, to make it more usable,and interconnected, but it ain't on Midleton to youghal... Yet..

It's single line but there is a passing loop at carrigtohill and it's double at the junction at glounthane and Midleton has two tracks running in the station which I pressume would become a passing loop if the line was extended and there are/were loops of some kind at killeagh and mogeely in the past.

wexfordman2 · 31-10-2018 1:56pm

Markcheese wrote: »

In the short to medium term, how many extra passengers would a reopened Midleton to youghal railway carry? And at what frequency?
(Its a single track line)., it'd make the Ennis —Athenry line look good.. Theres a huge amount of development to be done on suburban rail in Cork, to make it more usable,and interconnected, but it ain't on Midleton to youghal... Yet..

Yeah,

cos its not like there is a housing crisis in cork city, and its not like youghal could/should be a commuter town, and its not like houses can be bought in youghal for a fraction of the cost of a house in current commutable distance to cork city.

Nope, no logic at all in extending a commuter line to what should be a commuter town.

marno21 · 31-10-2018 2:00pm

Youghal is quite a bit from the city but it's not really going anywhere other than as a commuter town for Cork. It's also quite scenic and imo is underperforming for what it could be at present.

Added to the fact that the N25 between Midleton and Youghal is heavily congested which shows there is a large volume of commuters using the route.

Isambard · 31-10-2018 3:32pm

I've said it before, but there are far higher priorities to be addressed than this line to a declining seaside town. It seems a no brainer to me to develop the existing lines and it would cost very little imo to have a stopping service Cork to Limerick with several extra stations added. With currently only one train an hour in each direction for much of the day, there's certainly the capacity for it

marno21 · 31-10-2018 3:34pm

Isambard wrote: »

I've said it before, but there are far higher priorities to be addressed than this line to a declining seaside town. It seems a no brainer to me to develop the existing lines and it would cost very little imo to have a stopping service Cork to Limerick with several extra stations added. With currently only one train an hour in each direction for much of the day, there's certainly the capacity for it

I agree with this but I also don't see why we can't do both. We're not exactly a poor country or anything.

Isambard · 31-10-2018 7:45pm

marno21 wrote: »

I agree with this but I also don't see why we can't do both. We're not exactly a poor country or anything.

It's not both, there's dozens of projects of more use than Youghal

Del.Monte · 31-10-2018 8:35pm

Isambard wrote: »

It's not both, there's dozens of projects of more use than Youghal

Such as?

Isambard · 31-10-2018 10:35pm

you know as well as I do.

Itssoeasy · 31-10-2018 10:37pm

Isambard wrote: »

you know as well as I do.

I'm curious is it the fact you don't think the remainder of the Youghal line should be reopened at this time or is it you think it should be made into a greenway.

Isambard · 01-11-2018 10:43am

I don't think it should be re-opened ahead of more useful projects. I'm not bothered either way about the Greenway, IE in other places have indicated that there would be provision for the land to revert to railuse if required one day which seems better protection than just leaving it fall into multiple hands.

I get the feeling that some people think that disused lines should be re-opened regardless of the reality on the ground, and in this case, with little knowledge of Youghal

Frostybrew · 01-11-2018 11:32am

Isambard wrote: »

I don't think it should be re-opened ahead of more useful projects. I'm not bothered either way about the Greenway, IE in other places have indicated that there would be provision for the land to revert to railuse if required one day which seems better protection than just leaving it fall into multiple hands.

I get the feeling that some people think that disused lines should be re-opened regardless of the reality on the ground, and in this case, with little knowledge of Youghal

The reality on the ground in this case is that the Cork to Youghal corridor offers the best opportunity for rail based public transport expansion, post 2030, in the Greater Cork area. It has an existing rail alignment and ample flat land for residential expansion. Both Carrigtohill and Midleton will have reached their target populations by then; as will settlements such as Blarney, and Monard. Blarney and Monard need to be developed before 2030.

Indeed, much of the land between Blarney and Mallow is much less suitable for large scale residential development than the Youghal corridor due to less favourable topography.

A new town of 30000 in the Mogeely Castlemartyr area, with an expanded Youghal and Killeagh makes this a very viable proposition, much more viable than any other possible rail based commuting scenario outside of the GDA.

The Youghal to Midleton greenway on the rail line is an idiotic idea that needs to be knocked on the head ASAP; to ensure the future development of both rail based urban commuting, and viable suitable additions to our greenway network.

Del.Monte · 01-11-2018 11:41am

Isambard wrote: »

I don't think it should be re-opened ahead of more useful projects. I'm not bothered either way about the Greenway, IE in other places have indicated that there would be provision for the land to revert to railuse if required one day which seems better protection than just leaving it fall into multiple hands.

I get the feeling that some people think that disused lines should be re-opened regardless of the reality on the ground, and in this case, with little knowledge of Youghal

I suspect that having regularly holidayed in the area, travelled on the line as often as possible in the late 1970/80s and campaigning for its reopening for years I have some little knowledge of the line and its potential. Your experience of it is?

Turbohymac · 01-11-2018 12:12pm

Re opening the line for trains wouldn't be viable.. it was lost making in the 70s and even then they were taking freight and beet which added to its viability..but nowadays with no beet factories and most heavy haulage conducted by trucks I would certainly support the idea of developing it as a greenway.. having traveled by bicycle a few times recently from dungarvan to Waterford on the greenway down there ..i is a brilliant amenity for lots of people and lots of tourists also ..and they bring much needed revenue to places like kilmacthomas which would be a fair ghost town without the regular daily visitors from the greenway..
Simply open up youghal to Middleton rail line as a greenway and let it benefit the local community and visitors alike..
As for the railway that closed in the 80s RIP .. time to move on and make the current disused and neglected line into something great like our neighbouring waterford greenway

Del.Monte · 01-11-2018 1:57pm

No railway is financially viable as you put it - should they all be turned into Greenways? Cobh/Cork would be very scenic too.

Isambard · 01-11-2018 2:26pm

it's actually the rails that are not necessary nowadays. It should be easier and cheaper to install a system with a guided vehicle that doesn't run on rails. More flexible too as it could be arranged to run on ordinary roads at either end if desired . I wonder would people be so keen on re-opening the line as what amounts to a guided busway?

end of the road · 01-11-2018 2:53pm

Turbohymac wrote: »

Re opening the line for trains wouldn't be viable.. it was lost making in the 70s and even then they were taking freight and beet which added to its viability..but nowadays with no beet factories and most heavy haulage conducted by trucks I would certainly support the idea of developing it as a greenway.. having traveled by bicycle a few times recently from dungarvan to Waterford on the greenway down there ..i is a brilliant amenity for lots of people and lots of tourists also ..and they bring much needed revenue to places like kilmacthomas which would be a fair ghost town without the regular daily visitors from the greenway..
Simply open up youghal to Middleton rail line as a greenway and let it benefit the local community and visitors alike..
As for the railway that closed in the 80s RIP .. time to move on and make the current disused and neglected line into something great like our neighbouring waterford greenway

the fact it was loss making in the 70s means nothing. it's irrelevant to today. most lines in the 70s were loss making and are loss making today, a profitible passenger rail network will never exist in ireland or anywhere.
reopening the line for trains will definitely be viable once the factors in post 196 are taken into account. even as it is, reopening it would certainly be viable as it would remove some of the congestion from the surrounding roads which in turn will benefit road users, and it would also make youghal a more attractive and viable town to live in.
a greenway to youghal would probably end up being used by a small few locals only. the waterford greenway is being used to push all sorts of greenway projects across the country based on it's success, but the reality is that the waterford greenway has what is needed to attract people from far. some of the other suggested ones, especially youghal have absolutely nothing worth bothering about. the line's future is likely going to be a choice of remaining as is, or a rail line.

Isambard wrote: »

it's actually the rails that are not necessary nowadays. It should be easier and cheaper to install a system with a guided vehicle that doesn't run on rails. More flexible too as it could be arranged to run on ordinary roads at either end if desired . I wonder would people be so keen on re-opening the line as what amounts to a guided busway?

no as it would be a waste of money. getting traffic off the roads including where possible busses is the name of the game. + the amount of vehicles and drivers required to operate this at a meaningful capacity and frequency means we are better off just opening a railway.

The End for Youghal?

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