Ballina early bird service unlikely

Ballina early bird  rail service unlikely


BALLINA looks set to remain without an early bird train service for the foreseeable future – after Iarnrod Eireann confirmed it has no plans in place to connect the town to its timetable.
Last week, Communications Manager with Iarnrod Eireann, Barry Kenny, told local media that the company has not established a level of demand that would make the connection economically viable. The present timetable, which sees an early bird service to Dublin out of Westport, looks set to remain the same for the foreseeable future.
Mr Kenny’s comments come after elected representatives in the Ballina voiced their strong opposition to the lack of an early bird service from the town since earlier timetable was introduced in Westport last Spring.
Cllr Barry McLoughlin raised the issue at the last meeting of Ballina Town Council when he tabled a notice of motion concerning recent special offer price differences between Ballina and Westport. His party colleague, Cllr Michelle Mulherin, said the lack of the early bird service was ‘ridiculous’. “It is simply unbelievable to think that people living in Ballina have to travel to Westport or Castlebar to get access to the early bird train. It begs the question about the attitude Iarnrod Eireann has against Ballina when the connection at Manulla cannot be added.”
Cllr Johnnie O’Malley said he had taken the issue up with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey who informed him that Westport Chamber of Commerce and other parties had made a case for the service, and it was now his understanding that Ballina Chamber of Commerce were ‘in the process’ of putting its case together.  “A good case needs to be put forward. Westport did that and Ballina needs to follow suit,” he said.
Mayor Frances McAndrew said she ‘completely agreed’ with the remarks made by the councillors and said, ‘this needs to be looked into fast’.
However it seems the voices in the chamber have fallen on deaf ears as Iarnrod Eireann has no plans to integrate a service with the town for the foreseeable future.