Cross-border review of rail network officially launched

That's fair enough if you didn't go enough into the detail. I can see you are not against the idea. None of us are authorities on the subject - we can only give opinons based on available information.

There are others here however who don't want the WRC to go ahead under any circumstances. Back during the recession it was said that the WRC would need to be suspended until conditions improved and I dont think many argued with that such was the state of the economy. But now that there is a bigger budget surplus than ever before the talk has switched to resources. Thats fair enough too but some people are using that to put the WRC near the end of the list which pretty much means never do it.

I hear what you are saying about taking resources off other projects but given the scale of the project I would like to think it could be done in tandem with some of the bigger projects. I dont think there are many planning issues but even if it took a year and a half to deal with that and try and get started with the work in the next 10 years then that seems reasonable to me. If the recession hadnt arrived the next plase to tuam and probably on to Claremorris would probably be in place by now. Based on everything Ive read I see it as a medium term project rather than a 30 year/never timeline that others predict.

There will always be major projects demanding the bulk of money and resources but it is important to fit in lesser projects also in the interests of balanced regional development.

Commuter rail for Galway and Limerick should have a much higher priority than the WRC, even then LUAS lines should have a higher priority again.

The report is all very nice, but commuter rail was excluded from its remit, and there are many many commuter rail projects with a much higher priority than anything in this report.

"Any capacity diverted into the WRC is capacity removed from other projects"

You are misrepresenting what I said which is frustrating. I didn't deny that installing the WRC would need resources. Every piece of infrastructure demands resourses and if you apply the logic that it shouldn't be done because it needs resources then its like saying we should stop road upgrades in the west because its using resources that could be used to build roads elsewhere. Not every project is the cause of lack of progress on other projects.

"The argument on here that we should "do it all" simply doesn't stack up. There isn't an infinite amount of capital or resources available to do it all.."

Again I never said "do it all". I'm simply stating that its a relatively inexpensive, shovel-ready section of rail that could be put in place. I'm sure it could be gradually progressed while the bigger projects are delayed in planning and land acquisition.

"When I last used the Park n' Ride at Oranmore a few months ago, the train was barely over Lough Atalia before it had to wait for ten minutes for another train to come in. That's a consequence of the prioritisation of the WRC over the main line. Let's not repeat that".

Where is the evidence that failure to upgrade that line was caused by work on the WRC? So we know for sure that if the WRC didnt happen the issues at Lough Atalia would definitely be sorted now?.

"There isn't an infinite amount of capital or resources available to do it all."

Again that backs up the point I was making in my previous post - Like when is there ever infinite resources or capital? Never is the answer. So unless that situation arises the message is never upgrade the WRC.

Based on what? Sounds like you are doing your own research there.

It's a no-brainer to double track the rail from Galway to Oranmore and make it a commuter rail. Maybe even double track it to Athenry if necessary.

Then Galway should grow along this corridor rather than all the once off housing in the west of the city. Have nice apartment developments of 6 - 8 storeys with all the necessary amenities like schools, creches, shops, sports etc.

Most of the big employers are in the East also.

That's how you grow a city rather suburban sprawl.

Maybe 3 stations between Galway Ceannt and Oranmore. Can put in a nice Greenway and park along the coast.

I agree with this.

Exactly pitting one piece of infrastructure against another is pointless. I doubt very much that shelving the WRC would speed up work much on other larger scale projects.

Because its part of the AIRR and people here have decided to talk about it. Feel free to bring up other parts of the review if you wish.

Not really, more stops closer to the city to allow development is what is needed.

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😂

So much for no more mention of the WRC. But in fairness the map edit is an appropriate symbol for your long running contempt for the line.

AIRR discussion is going to discuss the most controversial aspects of the plan. Lots of people dislike WRC as a concept so it is going to attract lots of discussion. Deeming it "off topic" is silly given the plan proposes to extend the existing WRC to Claremorris.

Haha, well if I were to discuss other parts of the plan, I'm enjoying the "new connection" to Sligo harbour. I didn't even know that Sligo port did run freight still, but after checking Sligo CoCo website, I'm enjoying their description.

Strandhill last had Dublin flights 12 years ago.

It probably will be built on a new route so it hasn't been worked out how to block it with a cycle path yet. 😜

As long as the sclerotic ABP process is dumped then things will happen

I like this idea for the new/closed lines. Even god forbid we could do this for the Portadown/Cavan line. Even if it has a really poor business case as a railroad, it could be an excellent greenway to link to the Royal Canal one