Fianna Fáil councillor wants two Mayo railway stations reopened

A FIANNA Fáil councillor has called for the reopening of railway stations in Ballyvary and Islandeady and the introduction of a 'halt and demand' system on the Westport line.

Cllr Martin McLoughlin who is a member of West-on-Track made his comments at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District where he said there was a growing need to invest in rail in the west of Ireland.

“We are moving into an era where rail is the way forward and is how people will be travelling in a few years time as opposed to roads. The more efficient the rail service becomes the more it will be used. There is a huge mindset of people moving from road to rail,” he said.

The Derrycoosh-based councillor who is also Leas-Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council also called on the council to write to Irish Rail calling for the reopening of Ballyvary and Islandeady train stations.

“In relation to Islandeady and Ballyvary there is a system which is used widely across the water and throughout Europe. It is called halt and demand and anyone who knows anything about railways will be familiar with halt and demand.

“If there is somebody who wants to get on or off, the train stops at the station but if there is nobody there the train goes right through and that is done by technology. There is a growing need for Ballyvary and Islandeady to be considered in this,” he argued.

This is not the first time a Castlebar-based councillor has called for the reopening of railway stations in the area with Cllr Cyril Burke previously calling for the reopening of the old Balla Railway Station.