Early trains to arrive

Early bird trains look set to fly from Westport – despite doubts

Neill O’Neill

THE Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann has informed Westport Town Council that it is his company’s intention to introduce a new early train service from the west, which will allow rail passengers from Mayo to arrive in Dublin before 9am.
In a letter to Westport Town Clerk Ann Moore – which came in response to an earlier letter that Westport town councillors agreed to send to him regarding train services on the Westport to Dublin line – Richard Fearn stated: “We are currently preparing our schedules for 2009 to take advantage of the benefits of our new fleet of InterCity railcars introduced on the Mayo line. I am very pleased to inform you that it is our intention to increase the number of services on the route and specifically introduce a new early service enabling passengers to arrive in Dublin before 9am.”
Also last week, Deputy Michael Ring was informed that an ‘early bird’ train service from the west of Ireland is on track by Mr Barry Kenny, Corporate Manager of Iarnród Éireann. Deputy Ring met with Mr Kenny to impress on him the need for the service so commuters can get to the capital for early morning appointments, and was assured by Mr Kenny that an announcement on the early morning service to Dublin is imminent.
Giving the news a guarded welcome at last week’s monthly meeting, the councillors stressed that while the letter was encouraging they would have to see this new service in operation before they will believe it.
Cllr Margaret Adams said the service would be pointless if the train only got into Dublin at 8.55am, while Cllr Myles Staunton said that a return service must also leave Dublin in the afternoon, to allow people to get back to Westport early in the evening.
Cllr Brendan Mulroy was more sceptical, saying if the news was so good Myles McHugh (Iarnród Éireann’s Service Planning Manager for the west) would be at the meeting. “He is drip-feeding us bits and pieces. What planet does this man live on?” he said.
The councillors also restated their concerns about over-crowding, pre-booked seats not actually being reserved for passengers, the trains being split in the middle and the lack of dining facilities.
Richard Fearn also indicated in his letter that he would discuss catering issues on Westport to Dublin train services with the on-train catering service providers Rail Gourmet Ltd, and that he would ask Myles McHugh to arrange his attendance at the Council’s September meeting.
Meanwhile, Castlebar Town Councillor Noel Campbell has backed Westport Town Council’s bid to establish an early bird train service to Dublin. Cllr Campbell has added a motion to Castlebar Town Council’s July meeting agenda seeking the support of councillors for the early train service.