Dillon calls for Western Rail Corridor to be central to strategic rail review

MAYO Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has welcomed news that the Transport Minister is planning to undertake a strategic rail review on an all-island basis in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive. The review will consider all relevant issues in relation to inter-urban rail, inter/intra-regional rail and rail connectivity to our international gateways, with the latter considering the role of rail freight.

Deputy Dillon called on Minister Eamon Ryan to ensure that the Western Rail Corridor will be a central consideration of the review.

He commented: “I feel such a review will be a positive development for the Western Rail Corridor.

“The all-island dimension will paint a comprehensive picture of rail short-comings for the entire island and review projects in their entirety.

“For instance, there were concerns about the limited scope of recently published reports on the Western Rail Corridor which failed to appraise the full piece of infrastructure stretching to Ennis and beyond. Mayo people have a strong reliance on our railways with stations throughout the county in Ballina, Foxford, Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis.”

Deputy Dillon added: “With the work being undertaken by the Western Development Commission on the Atlantic Economic Corridor, there is a clear recognition in terms of policy development of the unique need for regional infrastructural investment running along the western seaboard. With submissions being made to the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, there is definitely scope for funding opportunities to help progress the Western Rail Corridor.

“I would also like to see improvements to the Dublin to Westport/Ballina railway forming part of the strategic review. These include the resolution of unmanned gate crossings and other improvement works which would further decrease journey times.”