Historic day for Western Rail Corridor link to Mayo
CONFIRMATION that the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) extension from Athenry to Claremorris is now a 'project in motion' has been welcomed by councillors in Mayo.
The Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for rail, Seán Canney, says all necessary steps are being taken to progress the project as quickly as possible.
And onward connection to Collooney, with a link to Knock airport, is also part of the future vision.
Four councillors from the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District (MD) were in Galway for the announcement by Minister Canney that the WRC will be in the National Development Plan, funding is available, and it will start in the next 18 months.
One of them, Councillor Gerry Murray, explained at an MD meeting today how clearance of the line will start next year.
He hailed it as a great and historic day, and this first phase to Claremorris could open within the lifetime of the council. The line is in-situ and there are no impediments.
And the minister has given a commitment, said Councillor Murray, that when this phase starts, they will look at the next phase, from Claremorris to Sligo, with the line preserved for rail.
Application is being made for European funding.
Tribute was paid at the MD meeting to all who have campaigned for the WRC over the years, with special mention for Fr. Micheál Mac Gréil.
This would open up access to Galway but they have to pursue it from Claremorris to Sligo, linking in with Ireland West Airport, said Councillor John Caulfield, to really open up the west.
Councillor Richard Finn said the Athenry to Claremorris phase alone will have serious implications for the development of this area and they will continue to fight to bring the rail system on to Collooney.
The Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and a rail link at Ireland West Airport would be a 'massive game changer' for the whole region, noted Councillor Damien Ryan. And he paid tribute to the councillors who had included the WRC in successive county development plans and resisted relinquishing the rail line.
Councillor Patsy O'Brien also thanked the people who had shown vision down through the years in keeping it in the development plan, noting how important it was that the route was left in the custody of the state.
Members attended a meeting of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee in Galway where Minister Canney set out how the WRC is 'a priority project'.
He said: “The All-Island Strategic Rail Review has set out a roadmap for the development of rail across the whole island with 32 strategic recommendations including the redevelopment of the Athenry-Claremorris line. The redevelopment of the Limerick-Foynes line, a major development for the entire west of Ireland, is scheduled for completion in 2026 and has greatly enhanced the business case for the WRC.
“The Department of Transport is currently engaging with the European Investment Bank and the business case for Athenry-Claremorris is being put in place. And as the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport last week, that business case is looking very positive.
“I’m pushing for this to be implemented as quickly as possible. We do not require planning permission because the line was protected for future rail use. Preliminary planning and studies have already begun so it is now a question of when and not if the project is delivered.
“We have a lot of money in the revised National Development Plan which will be published next month. So we are in a great place with implementation plans being prepared and no one is talking negatively about the WRC any more.
“I also welcome the recent redevelopment plan and investment of over €6m for the former railway station building in Tuam, an excellent example of innovative thinking and I look forward to further significant development there in the near future.
“The future continuation of the line northwards to Sligo is also a consideration and as the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann told the Joint Oireachtas Committee last week that section of the corridor from Claremorris to Collooney is being protected for rail use only.”
He added: “I want to thank all of the members of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee and West on Track for their tireless commitment to the development of the WRC and I am very much looking forward to the next four years and to delivering this project with your help and support.”
Colmán Ó Raghallaigh of West on Track commented: “The confirmation by the minister that the Athenry-Claremorris rail link is going ahead is enormously significant for the entire western region and for the rail network at large.
“This project is about so much more than the 55km of track between Claremorris and Athenry. In fact, this vital link will enable the creation of a 250km passenger network from every major town in Mayo through Tuam and on to Galway and Limerick.
“In terms of freight it will connect many of our critical manufacturing companies in the west directly to the deep water ports of Foynes and Waterford, a network of some 450km.”
(Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme).