WRC still on track

Western Rail Corridor still on track – Ó Raghallaigh


Áine Ryan

THE Western Rail Corridor (WRC) – which runs in its entirety from Limerick to Sligo –  is still on track and will not be a casualty of next week’s emergency budget, according to long-time campaigner, Mr Colman Ó Raghallaigh.
Speaking to The Mayo News last week, he said: “I believe the Government will proceed with the Western Rail Corridor because, inch for inch and mile for mile, it provides the best value in Transport 21. It can be built for a cost of €2 million per mile.”
“The WRC is the only major public transport project for the west. This is not a local project, it is a regional one. It takes in five counties,” he continued.
Mr Ó Raghallaigh believes the Fianna Fáil party is ‘fully behind the project’, as is Fine Gael, particularly leader, Deputy Enda Kenny. He also noted the on-record support of Ministers Éamon Ó Cuív and Noel Dempsey, as well as the Green party ministers. 
Last week Colman Ó Raghallaigh appeared on an RTÉ Prime Time programme on the future of major infrastructure projects included in the National Development Plan (NDP). Over recent months the scrapping of the project – along with Metro North in Dublin city – has been mooted by a number of economists and commentators.
While one side argues that the critical mass does not exist in the region to justify the rail infrastructure, the other side is convinced that to develop critical mass the infrastructure must be in place.
Delivery of the first phase of the corridor, from Ennis to Athenry, was delayed due to a planning problem at Gort, County Galway. It is now due to be completed by August next. According to Transport 21, it will cost another €100 million to bring it to Claremorris. That’s in dramatic contrast to the Dublin projects which will run up to €16 billion.
“Technically, the WRC could be completed to Claremorris within the next couple of years while the other projects would still be at the planning stage,” added Mr Ó Raghallaigh.
Established in 2003, the community-based campaign to re-open the Western Rail Corridor – West On Track –  has affiliated groups or committees in over 30 towns and cities in the west.