Western Rail Corridor / Rail Trail Discussion

You never cease to amaze with your contradictions. You said that the report was just a box ticking exercise and for the purposes of playing games and now you are saying it was done correctly. Unbelievable.

You're saying the line needs to be purchased and also leased.

The AiRR said the line is relatively straightforward in comparion to other projects and is on the list of short term projects but you say otherwise with nothing to back it up. Of course you know more than Arup and the government departments involved. Truly hilarious.

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I welcome moves by the Minister for Transport to clear the existing railway line between Athenry and Claremorris and rebuilding the Ballyglunin bridge in preparation for the opening of the rail line.

I welcome the announcement by Minister Eamon Ryan that Irish Rail have been instructed to clear the existing rail line between Athenry and Claremorris in preparation for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor Phase 2 & Phase 3. He has also confirmed that he contacted TII to commence the replacement bridge at Ballyglunin.

This development following on from the findings of the All-Ireland Rail Review is a statement of intent and will begin the process of restoring the line.

https://www.seancanney.com/i-welcome-moves-by-minister-for-transport-to-clear-existing-railway-line-between-athenry-and-claremorris/

Some more coverage and comments on yesterdays announcement

Yes, nothing more than maintenance and reaffirming ownership, in spite of greenway fanboys jumping to conclusions and rubbing their hands in anticipation. I wouldn't read too much into claims of reopening either. I'll believe it when I see it.

Very interesting. That's another potential step forward for the 2 lines. No guarantees the application would suceed but given the west's and northwest's infrastructural deficit it's likely that Europe would look favourably on it.

I think they may have to accept that north of Claremorris is a non-runner for rail for the time being at the very least. In fairness to Eamon Ryan he has been consistent about favouring the opening of Claremorris to Athenry but has resisted making false promises beyond that. I think Ballina freight (and the planned Castlebar freight yard) is a big factor in the push for phase 2 and without it I dont think even that phase would have been considered.

Also when one considers the lengths of each stage it would mean over 126km of rail reinstated in one go to bring it to Collooney without the benefit of another 'Ballina' added. To me it seems prudent to open to Claremorris and let the performance of that line decide whether to go further or not. A greenway would preserve the route in the meantime.

Phase 1: Ennis to Athenry 58 km

Phase 2: Athenry to Claremorris 52 km (previously split into 2 sections - one either side of Tuam).

Phase 3: Claremorris to Collooney 74.43 km

Ideally funding would be available for both the WRC and line into Galway but I'm not sure what the Ten-T criiteria is.

I doubt that doubling Galway to Athenry is a prerequisite for WRC Ph 2 -initially at least - as the WRC won't be carrying passengers to begin with . It's more about decarbonising freight and getting it from the west to the southeast. Ideally the double tracking would be underway before passengers are added.

No, apparently passengers alone (other than from Tuam) won't justify it but freight will. The HGVs are a big polluter and Iarnród Éireanns 2040 rail freight strategy aims to increase Ireland's low freight percentages in line with Europe. So passenger travel is not driving it but passengers will get to use it in time.

Quote from the AIRR re Phase 2 explaining the rationale and why further extensions northward weren't considered.

"It was also noted that the link between Claremorris and Athenry provided an important link for the island’s rail freight network, and that the town of Tuam would probably generate demand for a passenger service. This link was also retained, but all other proposed links in Package 3b were dropped form the Final Scenario."

Currently no. The entire freight plan is expecting significant growth to justify the investment

That's more than a bit of a joke when so many other heavily used parts of the network have been crying out for investment for years.

Even if you have conventional truck haulage to and from rail depots, there are huge savings to be made from rail freight. I don't have the original source, but some estimates from Portugal (a country similar in area to Ireland) are that Diesel Rail haulage saves about 75% of emissions compared to conventional Road haulage. Than if you electrify the railway, the emissions can fall by as much as 95% (depending of course on how the electricity is generated).

Some time ago Irish Rail said that Ballina-Waterford by Rail instead of road saved about 70% of fuel consumprion, so this is consistent.

Are you referring to containers? Ballina-North Wall carries a lot more than Ballina-Waterford.

Confirmation from IE that any plans to put a greenway north of Claremorris are a non runner.

The Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Mr. Jim Meade, has told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport that Iarnród Éireann supports keeping the railway from Collooney to Claremorris for rail traffic and ‘not for anything else’.

In a wide-ranging commentary he also indicated that the next phase of the rail corridor will require a lead-in period of two years for planning and preparation at an estimated cost of €7m to €12m and that it will then require a three year construction period. 

Speaking to the Committee on Transport on Wednesday 24th January 2024 Mr. Meade said:

“We know it’s an ambition of our own Minister to reinstate it (the WRC) if he can. It’s called out in the Strategic Review. We have started doing some vegetation works on it recently to keep the line clean and open, some de-vegetation. But particularly for a freight corridor, the review is saying it’s very viable for a freight corridor and you would do it probably in stages from Athenry to Claremorris. 

“Beyond Claremorris, we certainly would support the ambition to keep that for rail traffic, not for anything else, and in time if the decision is made to connect to Collooney, so be it.”

His comments were welcomed by Councillor Michael Connolly, Chair of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee. Speaking at a meeting of the Committee in Sligo City Hall Councillor Connolly said: 'I want to warmly welcome the comments by the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport yesterday, where he said that Iarnród Éireann would support the ambition to keep the railway from Claremorris to Collooney for rail traffic, and not for any other use.

"The 47 miles of existing railway from Claremorris to Collooney is an extremely valuable piece of state-owned public transport infrastructure, passing an international airport (IWAK) and connecting many towns, which would cost many hundreds of millions to acquire today. To build an equivalent line to the Mayo-Sligo section from scratch could potentially cost €15m/km or close to €1.5bn. It is therefore essential that the rail alignment is protected for future rail use.

"The likelihood that the Galway line is soon to reopen as far north as Claremorris offers an important opportunity for Sligo as it means that the Sligo-Galway line will then be more than 60% in operation. Mayo’s industries will then be able to use the WRC line for moving raw materials and finished products, saving time and money and reducing their carbon footprint. The same opportunity needs to be afforded to Sligo," he concluded.

They'll have plenty of time to plan that as it's likely to only go as far as Claremorris initially. Changing the alignment would mean dropping Swinford and a lot of hassle with landowners. More likely to stay on the existing line with a Knock airport park and ride facility at Charlestown initially I'd say.

They could but the airport executive have said that a rail link either directly or via a P & R would benefit the airport more.

That's not how it works. The government of course would either fund it or reject the proposal based on an assessment of the pros and cons.

And secondly bus eireann DOES require state subvention to compensate for losses. Luas on the other hand does not.

Iarnród Éireann is seeking ways to improve the capacity and resilience of its Ennis to Limerick rail service.

The national railway network operator says potential enhancements on the route would reduce journey times and create more space on both passenger and freight journeys.

Canadian engineering and design consultancy AtkinsRéalis has been hired by Iarnród Éireann to propose infrastructure improvements that would enable the Irish government to grow public transport’s market share thus helping to deliver on its Climate Action Plan.

Among the goals of the multi-disciplinary study is to enhance the rail line which runs between Limerick and Ennis and onto Galway in order to boost capacity and reduce journey times.

The Ennis line enhancements are also intended to assist in plans to increase the number of services running between Limerick and Galway.

https://www.clare.fm/news/iarnrod-eireann-looking-improve-capacity-resilience-ennis-limerick-rail-service/

I just love this from the article: "These works are being carried out to see if there's a viable rail line that can be used at the location starting with freight trains before eventually expanding to passenger rail".

Do they hope to find evidence beneath the overgrowth of vegitation that there is a viable rail line? WHat sort of nonsense is this?

What a daft article. Hedge trimmed = "New Irish Rail train service step closer as photo shows railway reopening start - Surely we're edging closer to it finally reopening"

If ever there were a case of hope springs eternal...........

And yet none of this actually means anything other than the vegetation being cleared