West on Track welcome Minister's commitment to Western Rail Corridor

West on Track has warmly welcomed the news that the next stage of the Western Rail Corridor, linking Mayo and Galway, is recommended for re-opening in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

Plans to reopen the disused railway line between Claremorris and Athenry have been formally outlined as part of a €35 billion overhaul of Ireland’s rail network. If delivered, the plans outlined in the report would connect Ballina with Rosslare via the reopened Western Rail Corridor and a new railway line between Waterford and Wexford.

West on Track, a community-based campaign group which has been lobbying for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) welcomed the news and the commitment made by the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan towards the reopening of the Tuam to Claremorris line.

A spokesman for West on Track said the re-opening for both freight and passengers will represent a major delivery of key infrastructure as part of the Atlantic Economic Corridor and provide a huge boost for the western region.

“This is an existing railway, fully in public ownership, and is a shovel-ready project. It is listed as a short-term project in today’s report.

“Last December the Government succeeded in having the Athenry-Claremorris link included in the EU’s Comprehensive Ten-T network and people in the west will expect to see appropriate initial funding being made available to initiate the work of restoring the line without delay. An implementation strategy, currently being developed in association with the EIB, is due to be published shortly.

“Congestion in the regional capital of Galway has already reached crisis proportions so re-opening the Galway-Mayo rail link for passengers and freight will have a major positive impact. This is strongly supported by Galway City and County Councils and by Mayo County Council. It will make an enormous difference to places like Tuam and Claremorris, allowing people to commute easily into their local city for work, business and medical appointments etc. and even allowing many students to travel in and out to college while living at home, representing a massive saving in accommodation fees.

“This next phase of the Western Rail Corridor can be made operational within three to four years, linking Tuam, Westport, Ballina, Castlebar and Claremorris to Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford and is the only shovel-ready infrastructure project for the west that can be initiated without delay.

“Once work is under way on bringing the railway to Mayo we expect the next phase to Sligo to then become the focus for subsequent development,” the spokesperson stated.

West on Track pointed to the success of Phase one of the WRC which was the reopening of the Athenry to Ennis line as an example of why the re-opening of the line is important.

Meanwhile, the board of Ireland West Airport Knock have called for the development of the railway line from Claremorris to Sligo in order to serve the airport.

Responding to the publishing of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, the board called for the upgrading of critically important rail and road infrastructure in the region.

“The upgrading of the N17 to Motorway status and the restoration of the currently disused Sligo-Galway railway in order to provide modern and efficient connectivity to the airport is of critical importance to support the airport’s future growth plans which include achieving the major milestone of one million passengers in the next number of years.

“The Airport Board also believes that the further development of this rail corridor onwards from Claremorris for both passenger and freight to Sligo with sustainable connectivity from Charlestown into the Airport would significantly contribute to the future sustainable development of ground transportation to and from Ireland West Airport.

“A strategic connection to the rail network would contribute significantly to a more integrated and sustainable form of travel for the many international visitors and travelling public using the airport from across the region,” the airport's board stated.