Western Rail Corridor (all disused sections)

end of the road

eastwest wrote: »

The notion that IR just wants to close railways belongs firmly in the tinfoil helmet department,

no it doesn't. again, limerick junction to waterford. 3 decent sized towns, clonmell especially. infrastructure slowly left to run down over decades, services slowly decreased. or the wexford line which is getting slower and slower and only had a moddist increase of service dispite a similar line, the sligo line getting a huge increase.

eastwest wrote: »

but let me explain the problem they have.
If you have a fixed lump of money to support public transport, and one or two lightly used lines are sucking up a hugely disproportionate amount of that pot, the only way you can balance the books is either to cut viable services in order to keep white elephant lines open, or close the aforesaid white elephants.
This is obvious to almost everybody.
Almost.

let me explain it as you just don't get it. even if the lightly used lines go the same "problem" will still remain. the closure of athlone mullingar was supposed to help the rest survive. the closure of rosslare to waterford was supposed to help the rest survive. the closure of limerick junction to waterford which actually has a lot of potential and the closure of the ballybroaphy branch will be supposibly to help the rest survive. then it will be on to rosslare gorey or even greystones to help the rest survive. and then the next one, and the next one.
the decades of evidence is there for all to see.

murphaph wrote: »

Yep. IR are a disaster area but that fundamental truth holds.

it doesn't as it isn't how it works in ireland.

Muckyboots

Del.Monte wrote: »

Regular passenger services ended on the Athenry/Tuam section as far back as 1975 but the line remained in use for passenger specials, freight etc. right up until 1997.

Anything after that was either political or religious self-indulgent, money wasting, nostalgic nonsense. After the Tuam Sugar Factory closed the only notable fright traffic was a one off, middle of the night, chemical delivery that left families living along the track wondering why it wasn't suitable for usual road haulage.
Maybe WOT's & Co can send another "special" from Claremorris to Athenry in the next year to reset the clocks and instigate a round of platform flag waving, cheesy grinning and back slapping- but it won't change the fact that the line is dead. IR don't want it. The EU wont fund it. The country can't afford it. Outside of cycling/walking loonies and train fanatics, most sensible people couldn't care less.
Why can't we agree to preserve what is left of the railway infrastructure, rebuild as much as possible of what can be rebuilt and keep the route open as a railway themed Greenway. There'll be funding for that.

end of the road

Muckyboots wrote: »

Anything after that was either political or religious self-indulgent, money wasting, nostalgic nonsense.

no it wasn't. it was keeping an asset in use for traffic that needed to use it.

Muckyboots wrote: »

After the Tuam Sugar Factory closed the only notable fright traffic was a one off, middle of the night, chemical delivery that left families living along the track wondering why it wasn't suitable for usual road haulage.

wrong. those families were glad such a dangerous chemical was brought by a safer method of transport then hugely expensive to the tax payer road haulage. absolutely correct it was brought by rail due to the huge potential danger involved should an accident happened and the better chance of managing the situation.

Muckyboots wrote: »

IR don't want it.

good for them, you won't find many who care a less what IR want or don't want and rightly so as it should have no basis on any decisian over anything. they are the operator and nothing more.
. what IR want or don't want is irrelevant and should have no basis in relation to any decisians made over the line whatever that may be.

eastwest

Muckyboots wrote: »

Del.Monte wrote: »

Regular passenger services ended on the Athenry/Tuam section as far back as 1975 but the line remained in use for passenger specials, freight etc. right up until 1997.

Anything after that was either political or religious self-indulgent, money wasting, nostalgic nonsense. After the Tuam Sugar Factory closed the only notable fright traffic was a one off, middle of the night, chemical delivery that left families living along the track wondering why it wasn't suitable for usual road haulage.
Maybe WOT's & Co can send another "special" from Claremorris to Athenry in the next year to reset the clocks and instigate a round of platform flag waving, cheesy grinning and back slapping- but it won't change the fact that the line is dead. IR don't want it. The EU wont fund it. The country can't afford it. Outside of cycling/walking loonies and train fanatics, most sensible people couldn't care less.
Why can't we agree to preserve what is left of the railway infrastructure, rebuild as much as possible of what can be rebuilt and keep the route open as a railway themed Greenway. There'll be funding for that.

There won't be agreement because of politics. The worst thing a councillor or TD can do isn't mother-rapin or father-rapin, it's u-turnin.
So if he promised a train ten years back, that's the end of that, even if he knows that a train is the last thing we'll see in Tuam before the next ice age.

eastwest

Muckyboots wrote: »

Del.Monte wrote: »

Regular passenger services ended on the Athenry/Tuam section as far back as 1975 but the line remained in use for passenger specials, freight etc. right up until 1997.

Anything after that was either political or religious self-indulgent, money wasting, nostalgic nonsense. After the Tuam Sugar Factory closed the only notable fright traffic was a one off, middle of the night, chemical delivery that left families living along the track wondering why it wasn't suitable for usual road haulage.
Maybe WOT's & Co can send another "special" from Claremorris to Athenry in the next year to reset the clocks and instigate a round of platform flag waving, cheesy grinning and back slapping- but it won't change the fact that the line is dead. IR don't want it. The EU wont fund it. The country can't afford it. Outside of cycling/walking loonies and train fanatics, most sensible people couldn't care less.
Why can't we agree to preserve what is left of the railway infrastructure, rebuild as much as possible of what can be rebuilt and keep the route open as a railway themed Greenway. There'll be funding for that.

There won't be agreement because of politics. The worst thing a councillor or TD can do isn't mother-rapin or father-rapin, it's u-turnin.
So if he promised a train ten years back, that's the end of that, even if he knows that a train is the last thing we'll see in Tuam before the next ice age.

Muckyboots

end of the road wrote: »

no it wasn't. it was keeping an asset in use for traffic that needed to use it..

You've nailed the Greenway argument in one.

Del.Monte

Muckyboots wrote: »

You've nailed the Greenway argument in one.

What was the middle of the night chemical train to which you refer?

Muckyboots

Del.Monte wrote: »

What was the middle of the night chemical train to which you refer?

You missed the quote bracket on "one off".. But the truth is that if there was regular trains with either passive chemicals or dangerous people we wouldn't be having this debate.

Del.Monte

Muckyboots wrote: »

You missed the quote bracket on "one off".. But the truth is that if there was regular trains with either passive chemicals or dangerous people we wouldn't be having this debate.

There were coal and oil trains from Foynes to Ballina and these kept a lot of heavy vehicle movements off the roads. A greenway isn't going to be much use for any heavy industry wishing to establish in the region. Still keep the West for the Corncrake and the birdwatchers will keep the economy going.

CIE have also wrecked the Foynes line - head wrecking stuff.

Isambard

how many coal and oil trains a week could you reasonably expect and what would you do with the equipment and personnel the rest of the time?

Del.Monte

Isambard wrote: »

how many coal and oil trains a week could you reasonably expect and what would you do with the equipment and personnel the rest of the time?

Why would you expect any now that the Asahi factory at Killala is gone?

Pete2k

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-962236350/kiltimagh-velorail-1

Plan for turntables at either end of the 6km from kiltimagh station as well as stopping areas which i can only assume would involve installing a short siding.
Eventual plan is to run the project from Claremorris to county line n Charlestown.

Del.Monte

I'm looking forward to it and judging by the Development man's input they will be going motorised in due course, closing in and roofing the bikes and guess what - they end up with a RAILWAY!

eastwest

Isambard wrote: »

how many coal and oil trains a week could you reasonably expect and what would you do with the equipment and personnel the rest of the time?

It's not called a 'handy number' for no reason. They'd just lean on the gate.

eastwest

Del.Monte wrote: »

Muckyboots wrote: »

You missed the quote bracket on "one off".. But the truth is that if there was regular trains with either passive chemicals or dangerous people we wouldn't be having this debate.

There were coal and oil trains from Foynes to Ballina and these kept a lot of heavy vehicle movements off the roads. A greenway isn't going to be much use for any heavy industry wishing to establish in the region. Still keep the West for the Corncrake and the birdwatchers will keep the economy going.

CIE have also wrecked the Foynes line - head wrecking stuff.

Heavy industry in the west? Oh, aye, that'd be great, Ted.

Muckyboots

Del.Monte wrote: »

I'm looking forward to it and judging by the Development man's input they will be going motorised in due course, closing in and roofing the bikes and guess what - they end up with a RAILWAY!

You latched on to the word "motorised" like it was from the lips of a prophet. The developer called it a "four wheeled bike".:D
It's basically a plan for a privatised Greenway on a 12 year lease. It does demonstrate that IR are willing to lease the track to County Councils for recreational use and sets a workable template for Galway and Sligo Council who are just a whisker away from approving respective Greenway feasibility studies.
"Game over for the railway" - as our own local prophet stated.

Isambard

Del.Monte wrote: »

I'm looking forward to it and judging by the Development man's input they will be going motorised in due course, closing in and roofing the bikes and guess what - they end up with a RAILWAY!

i'm looking forward to all the videos of the bikes meeting on a single line and both guys refusing to give way

Del.Monte

eastwest wrote: »

Heavy industry in the west? Oh, aye, that'd be great, Ted.

Oh, I know, you would prefer it kept as a reservation for the Corncrake but time moves on and the Corncrake has nearly gone the way of the Dodo.

westtip

Pete2k wrote: »

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-962236350/kiltimagh-velorail-1

Plan for turntables at either end of the 6km from kiltimagh station as well as stopping areas which i can only assume would involve installing a short siding.
Eventual plan is to run the project from Claremorris to county line n Charlestown.

This whole project is flawed on the basis the track is not even fit for velo-rail, it would require both a railway order and investment that goes well beyond the 200K already committed from Michael Rings slush fund to make this happen, the track is simply rotten, and at points badly buckled. This photo for example taken today about 1 km south of Kiltimagh closed station. Do you really think the track is going to be lifted and replaced because that is what is needed? It will of course hold up the greenway for a few more years which is what West on Track want......Stop the greenway at all costs.

Del.Monte

Velo-rail vehicles are extremely light weight and replacing a few buckled rails isn't going to break the bank. I'm looking forward to cycling through to Derry and onto Letterkenny in due course, but not on your poxy greenway.

Del.Monte

I really need it to open.

Pete2k

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/15/4136679-kiltimagh-greenway-petition-opened/

Theyre not against the velorail but yet they serve notice on mayo coco questioning the planning permission and the knotweed?! Id like to know if it really was the group that served notice or just one certain vocal individual

loyatemu

the Velorail idea is crazy - what does it offer that a Greenway would not and more?

L1011

loyatemu wrote: »

the Velorail idea is crazy - what does it offer that a Greenway would not and more?

Lower capex (well, allegedly - the track isn't anywhere near good enough) basically. The opex is seen as someone elses problem, and will be many times higher than occasionally weedspraying/mowing (as appropriate for surface type) a greenway.

eastwest

Del.Monte wrote: »

Oh, I know, you would prefer it kept as a reservation for the Corncrake but time moves on and the Corncrake has nearly gone the way of the Dodo.

Feck the corncrake, bring back Harland and Wolfe.

eastwest

loyatemu wrote: »

the Velorail idea is crazy - what does it offer that a Greenway would not and more?

Profit for the velorail company, set up with taxpayer funds?

eastwest

Del.Monte wrote: »

Velo-rail vehicles are extremely light weight and replacing a few buckled rails isn't going to break the bank. I'm looking forward to cycling through to Derry and onto Letterkenny in due course, but not on your poxy greenway.

Mind yourself on the road, it's not that safe!

Del.Monte

loyatemu wrote: »

the Velorail idea is crazy - what does it offer that a Greenway would not and more?

A novelty - something not available elsewhere in the British Isles?

L1011

Del.Monte wrote: »

A novelty - something not available elsewhere in the British Isles?

The Lartigue was a novelty not available elsewhere in the British Isles but that doesn't mean it was a good idea!

eastwest

Pete2k wrote: »

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/15/4136679-kiltimagh-greenway-petition-opened/

Theyre not against the velorail but yet they serve notice on mayo coco questioning the planning permission and the knotweed?! Id like to know if it really was the group that served notice or just one certain vocal individual

I presume that a planning application has been made, or what's the story?

Del.Monte

L1011 wrote: »

The Lartigue was a novelty not available elsewhere in the British Isles but that doesn't mean it was a good idea!

The reincarnation http://www.lartiguemonorail.com is one of the few railway preservation projects to have succeeded in the Republic, so perhaps another novelty project will too.

eastwest

Del.Monte wrote: »

A novelty - something not available elsewhere in the British Isles?

Like Guinness Light...

Isambard

Del.Monte wrote: »

The reincarnation http://www.lartiguemonorail.com is one of the few railway preservation projects to have succeeded in the Republic, so perhaps another novelty project will too.

It succeeded because it got €1 million funding and was the pet project of the Minister .

westtip

Pete2k wrote: »

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/15/4136679-kiltimagh-greenway-petition-opened/

Theyre not against the velorail but yet they serve notice on mayo coco questioning the planning permission and the knotweed?! Id like to know if it really was the group that served notice or just one certain vocal individual

One person served the notice it was me, your "vocal individual" the notice was posted up on facebook and got many "likes", I also set up the petition on change.org but didn't force 600 people to sign it, it's called leadership. Nor have I forced 1700 people to sign the more general petition asking for a greenway from Athenry to Sligo on the closed route.

I also drove this idea for years in Sligo,as a vocal individual and eventually a group of people contacted me and formed the Sligo Greenway Co-op, the Co-op is now doing very nicely with over 500 members who have paid €10 each to be members, that group is now driving the greenway on the section from Collooney to Charlestown. Good luck to them I am happy to see the nitty gritty work they are now doing, my campaigning was the catalyst that got them going; as I said its called leadership.

People in Mayo have contacted me to get ideas on how they can form a similar group in Mayo, whilst I have been one of the most vociferous voices on the greenway campaign I am pleased to say many local people in towns like Kiltimagh, Charlestown, Foxford and Swinford have picked up the mantle and are making the noise they now know they can to challenge the decisions made in places like County Mayo planning department which used incorrect information to stop the greenway from being written into the county plan as they have their heads so far up the *****es of West on Track they simply will not accept the truth of the matter.

About five years ago people in Tuam contacted me about the sligo mayo greenway campaign, they had picked up on what was happening in Sligo and Mayo. Now in part thanks to me but also due to similar lateral thinking happening in tandem in Tuam there is a massive support for the greenway in both Athenry and Tuam.

So to answer your point was it the group who served notice or one certain vocal individual, the answer is the latter, but I did so in the knowledge that many many people now support this idea in Mayo, but the public servants in Mayo county council are doing everything they can not to serve the public on this matter. Mayo county council effectively ignored 284 submissions asking for greenway on the county plan, choosing to say a velo rail should go on the route, Mayo coco planning department are being challenged as they are misleading the public and the chamber using false information about this closed railway. They have threatened to take me to court over the matter sending me threatening solicitors letters as I have challenged the way they have mislead both the public and the council using false information.

Interesting times ahead, I personally will not let go of this issue, If anyone from Mayo coco is reading this. Bring it on sunshines.

Del.Monte

Isambard wrote: »

It succeeded because it got €1 million funding and was the pet project of the Minister .

Tralee and Dromod received similar sums but look at them today.

eastwest

westtip wrote: »

Pete2k wrote: »

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/15/4136679-kiltimagh-greenway-petition-opened/

Theyre not against the velorail but yet they serve notice on mayo coco questioning the planning permission and the knotweed?! Id like to know if it really was the group that served notice or just one certain vocal individual

One person served the notice it was me, your "vocal individual" the notice was posted up on facebook and got many "likes", I also set up the petition on change.org but didn't force 600 people to sign it, it's called leadership. Nor have I forced 1700 people to sign the more general petition asking for a greenway from Athenry to Sligo on the closed route.

I also drove this idea for years in Sligo,as a vocal individual and eventually a group of people contacted me and formed the Sligo Greenway Co-op, the Co-op is now doing very nicely with over 500 members who have paid €10 each to be members, that group is now driving the greenway on the section from Collooney to Charlestown. Good luck to them I am happy to see the nitty gritty work they are now doing, my campaigning was the catalyst that got them going; as I said its called leadership.

People in Mayo have contacted me to get ideas on how they can form a similar group in Mayo, whilst I have been one of the most vociferous voices on the greenway campaign I am pleased to say many local people in towns like Kiltimagh, Charlestown, Foxford and Swinford have picked up the mantle and are making the noise they now know they can to challenge the decisions made in places like County Mayo planning department which used incorrect information to stop the greenway from being written into the county plan as they have their heads so far up the *****es of West on Track they simply will not accept the truth of the matter.

About five years ago people in Tuam contacted me about the sligo mayo greenway campaign, they had picked up on what was happening in Sligo and Mayo. Now in part thanks to me but also due to similar lateral thinking happening in tandem in Tuam there is a massive support for the greenway in both Athenry and Tuam.

So to answer your point was it the group who served notice or one certain vocal individual, the answer is the latter, but I did so in the knowledge that many many people now support this idea in Mayo, but the public servants in Mayo county council are doing everything they can not to serve the public on this matter. Mayo county council effectively ignored 284 submissions asking for greenway on the county plan, choosing to say a velo rail should go on the route, Mayo coco planning department are being challenged as they are misleading the public and the chamber using false information about this closed railway. They have threatened to take me to court over the matter sending me threatening solicitors letters as I have challenged the way they have mislead both the public and the council using false information.

Interesting times ahead, I personally will not let go of this issue, If anyone from Mayo coco is reading this. Bring it on sunshines.

There seems to be some strange goings on in Mayo county council, judging by this and other related matters over the last few years. Using lawyers to try to silence opposition, but not having the b***s to follow through (or more likely, not having any case), binning hundreds of submissions for a greenway in favour of the velorail (which appears not to have even been submitted by anyone), all stink of an organisation that has lost the plot somewhat.
There seems (to this observer at least) to be a certain almost vitriolic flavour to their opposition to a greenway on the closed line, an attitude more usually associated with the pro-rail lobby than a local authority (which in theory should be supporting the citizens).
And it's not like they don't know that the railway is now effectively a myth. If they haven't been listening to the DOT, surely the fact that IR is willing to lease the line for an obscure project for a minimum of twelve years must tell them something?
Or, as many of now suspect, is the velorail simply a way of stopping the greenway and making it look like the track is being reinstated, to appease WOT (who appear to be embedded in the council to an unhealthy degree), and to make a certain Junior minister and WOT stalwart look good?
It's kinda pathetic, in the context of the supposed role of a local authority in serving the people.

westtip

If Mayo county council had any gumption they would go down to Waterford to see the transformation the Waterford Greenway (AKA the Deise Greenway) is making down there. I could not believe the sheer volumes of people using this free to use leisure facility yesterday, Sunday March 26th. A blissfully warm spring day had bought out walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers, families, teenagers all creeds of mankind. It was a wonderful sight.

And Mayo coco backs a scheme - a velo rail, to be run by a private company, which will have zero appeal to local people and will exclude people from using the closed route as a leisure amenity, it is little short of a disgrace. They should go to Waterford or even their own backyard in Westport and give the people of East Mayo what they are clamouring for.

eastwest

westtip wrote: »

If Mayo county council had any gumption they would go down to Waterford to see the transformation the Waterford Greenway (AKA the Deise Greenway) is making down there. I could not believe the sheer volumes of people using this free to use leisure facility yesterday, Sunday March 26th. A blissfully warm spring day had bought out walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers, families, teenagers all creeds of mankind. It was a wonderful sight.

And Mayo coco backs a scheme - a velo rail, to be run by a private company, which will have zero appeal to local people and will exclude people from using the closed route as a leisure amenity, it is little short of a disgrace. They should go to Waterford or even their own backyard in Westport and give the people of East Mayo what they are clamouring for.

They're won't. When it comes to the whole leisure and tourism sector in mayo, policy appears to be effectively dictated by a tiny rail lobby group and vested interests that want to keep all investment in the westport/castlebar area. Places like Kiltimagh are considered a lost cause; the velorail money is all about stopping the greenway, they haven't even thought it through judging by the condition of the track.

Quackster

Muckyboots wrote: »

It's basically a plan for a privatised Greenway on a 12 year lease. It does demonstrate that IR are willing to lease the track to County Councils for recreational use and sets a workable template for Galway and Sligo Council who are just a whisker away from approving respective Greenway feasibility studies.
"Game over for the railway" - as our own local prophet stated.

Irish Rail recently transferred ownership of the Tralee-Fenit and Tralee-Abbeyfeale lines to Kerry Co Co for development as greenways and I've absolutely no doubt they'd do the same with this line if Mayo and Sligo Co Cos showed a similar level of enthusiasm for developing greenways.

Del.Monte

Quackster wrote: »

Irish Rail recently transferred ownership of the Tralee-Fenit and Tralee-Abbeyfeale lines to Kerry Co Co for development as greenways and I've absolutely no doubt they'd do the same with this line if Mayo and Sligo Co Cos showed a similar level of enthusiasm for developing greenways.

I've no doubt that Irish Rail would happily handover the entire railway system for use as greenways if they thought that they could get away with it.

eastwest

Quackster wrote: »

Muckyboots wrote: »

It's basically a plan for a privatised Greenway on a 12 year lease. It does demonstrate that IR are willing to lease the track to County Councils for recreational use and sets a workable template for Galway and Sligo Council who are just a whisker away from approving respective Greenway feasibility studies.
"Game over for the railway" - as our own local prophet stated.

Irish Rail recently transferred ownership of the Tralee-Fenit and Tralee-Abbeyfeale lines to Kerry Co Co for development as greenways and I've absolutely no doubt they'd do the same with this line if Mayo and Sligo Co Cos showed a similar level of enthusiasm for developing greenways.

Irish Rail don't have a budget for preserving closed railways, so for them the greenway option fulfils two functions -- it preserves the route, and gives them the option to use it for rail use at any time.

westtip

Sligo county plan finally recognizes a greenway can go on the closed railway. The revised county plan debated at Sligo county council meeting last Monday has changed the wording of the previous five year county plan that would only allow a greenway "alongside" the closed rusting railway.

This is a breakthrough as the "alongside" only wording was added into the last county plan (county plan 2011 - 2016) by anti greenway cllrs to stop the greenway from happening, It was pretty obvious to anyone that having the restriction "alongside" in the county plan was inserted by the anti-greenway cllrs five years ago to stop the greenway from happening. Thankfully due to incessant lobbying the anti-greenway councillors are now in the minority in Sligo. It has taken six years to move this forward, the line is still a rusting heap of scrap but finally we have the greenway written into a county plan as something that can happen. No doubt the railway lobby will still do its best to stop this from happening in Sligo but it is now the greenway campaigners turn to say enough is enough, let's get on with it.

The new county plan recognizes a greenway can either go "on or alongside the closed railway". Keeping the alongside phrase in the county was a compromise, but you have no idea how long it has taken to fight those who opposed putting the simple phrase "on the closed railway" into the county plan. As Irish Rail have stated the closed railway only has scrap value the way is now open to use the route as a greenway; lifting the closed tracks and using the trackbed as the base for a greenway will be the most cost effective option and has already been the recommendation of a report to the council last year. All the processes, such as feasibility study, submission for funding and actually building the greenway will take time. But after a five year hold up due to this small piece of wording now being turned over we can be confident the Sligo section of the Western Rail Trail will happen. Lets see it press ahead and well done Sligo coco.


https://www.oceanfm.ie/2017/03/30/sligo-councillors-keep-options-open-on-greenway-plans/

Quackster

westtip wrote: »

Sligo county plan finally recognizes a greenway can go on the closed railway. The revised county plan debated at Sligo county council meeting last Monday has changed the wording of the previous five year county plan that would only allow a greenway "alongside" the closed rusting railway.

Fantastic news. This is the beginning of the end of any deluded notion in officialdom of reopening further sections of the WRC.

Hopefully SCC will, without delay, enter into negotiations with IR to take ownership of the line.

eastwest

Quackster wrote: »

westtip wrote: »

Sligo county plan finally recognizes a greenway can go on the closed railway. The revised county plan debated at Sligo county council meeting last Monday has changed the wording of the previous five year county plan that would only allow a greenway "alongside" the closed rusting railway.

Fantastic news. This is the beginning of the end of any deluded notion in officialdom of reopening further sections of the WRC.

Hopefully SCC will, without delay, enter into negotiations with IR to take ownership of the line.

A small but significant step forward, not only towards building a greenway but also in ensuring that the alignment stays in public ownership.
The biggest threat to a future rail link on this route was never a greenway, it was loss to roads or sell-off or adverse possession. The closed railway will at all times stay in the hands of CIE Properties and be available for rail or other transport use. It's great that sligo county councillors have seen the sense of that.

nuac

Roads and railways are mainly directed to Dublin.

This made sense when almost all exports went thru' Dublin to UK.

Following Brexit more exports will be going out via Rosslare and possibly Cork direct to France.

That strengthens the case for restoration of rail services Sligo to LImerick Junction across to Rosslare

nuac

nuac wrote: »

Roads and railways are mainly directed to Dublin.

This made sense when almost all exports went thru' Dublin to UK.

Following Brexit more exports will be going out via Rosslare and possibly Cork direct to France.

That strengthens the case for restoration of rail services Sligo to LImerick Junction across to Rosslare

Does the freight you expect to be displaced arrive at Dublin port by rail now?

eastwest

Deleted User wrote: »

Does the freight you expect to be displaced arrive at Dublin port by rail now?

That's the key; Ireland is too small to use rail freight for much of the freight we move by road already.
The cost of moving freight on and off rail not only delays its journey time, but costs money each time you handle it. The notion that you can shift any significant amount of existing freight to rail is delusional. In the area that is the subject of this thread, pretty much any of the existing material that can be handled by rail is being handled by rail, and it amounts to a mere couple of trainloads a day.
Even if by some miracle you managed to double that, it doesn't justify having two rail routes to service it; I hear no complaints from existing users about the existing service.
In addition, of course, despite the likelihood that some ferry routes from Rosslare will see extra traffic, the 'landbridge' route to mainland Europe is still cheaper and faster, even if charges apply.
There is also an argument for having extra European funding for freight operators having to transit through the UK, given the commitment to servicing the peripheral regions of the EU.
So, will Brexit cause the government to suddenly change direction and build a railway to carry two trains, or one long train a day? Not a chance.

end of the road

eastwest wrote: »

That's the key; Ireland is too small to use rail freight for much of the freight we move by road already.
The cost of moving freight on and off rail not only delays its journey time, but costs money each time you handle it. The notion that you can shift any significant amount of existing freight to rail is delusional. In the area that is the subject of this thread, pretty much any of the existing material that can be handled by rail is being handled by rail, and it amounts to a mere couple of trainloads a day.
Even if by some miracle you managed to double that, it doesn't justify having two rail routes to service it; I hear no complaints from existing users about the existing service.
In addition, of course, despite the likelihood that some ferry routes from Rosslare will see extra traffic, the 'landbridge' route to mainland Europe is still cheaper and faster, even if charges apply.
There is also an argument for having extra European funding for freight operators having to transit through the UK, given the commitment to servicing the peripheral regions of the EU.
So, will Brexit cause the government to suddenly change direction and build a railway to carry two trains, or one long train a day? Not a chance.

i disagree. relying on road freight is hugely expensive over all compared to any costs of rail freight. there will be some flows currently on road that could be put on rail if the will was there. there would be little cost of moving freight on and off rail if everything is set up correctly and the journey time would not be much longer. the old handling methods employed by the railways at one stage are irrelevant as such methods would not be employed on modern rail freight services and can no longer be used as a reason for no rail freight. the notion that you can shift any significant amount of existing freight to rail is not delusional, but the reason it won't happen is government policy and no wish to go up against the road hauliers.

Muckyboots

nuac wrote: »

Roads and railways are mainly directed to Dublin.
This made sense when almost all exports went thru' Dublin to UK.
Following Brexit more exports will be going out via Rosslare and possibly Cork direct to France. That strengthens the case for restoration of rail services Sligo to LImerick Junction across to Rosslare

Brexit ?? What exactly are these exports you speak of that will be carried via Sligo to Rosslare - post Brexit? Pies in the sky have their own, pre-drone, propulsion system.

whisky_galore

Del.Monte wrote: »

The reincarnation http://www.lartiguemonorail.com is one of the few railway preservation projects to have succeeded in the Republic, so perhaps another novelty project will too.

They were on shaky financial ground according to one article I read.

To be fair, North Kerry is not exactly a tourist mecca. Listowel has (or rather had) John B. and that's about it.