Plans to reopen railway line between Claremorris and Athenry outlined in new report

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. 

The All-Ireland Rail Review has detailed plans for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor, which was first recommended when the draft report was published last year. 

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. 

The All-Island Rail Review aims to triple the number of people using the island’s rail system annually from 65 million to over 180 million by 2050.

Services every two hours on rural routes are also set to be prioritised, as well as line speed of at least 120km/h on rural routes and up to 200km/h on intercity routes. 

At present, six trains a day travel to and from Westport to Dublin Heuston from Monday to Saturday, including an early service leaving Westport at 5.15 am and a late service departing Dublin Heuston at 7.35 pm. 

The full reopening of the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris and Sligo has not been included in the report. 

A report edited by Mayo News columnist Dr John Bradley has estimated that the full reopening of the line between Claremorris and Colooney, Co Sligo,  would cost €411.72 million.

Cllr Paul Lawless welcomed the All-Island Rail Review's recommendations but said it was 'disappointing' that the reopening of the Claremorris to Colooney section has not been included. 

“The recently published report from the Northern and Western Regional Assemble (NWRA) found that this region is on par with the least well-off areas in Europe in terms of infrastructure and languishing far behind other regions across Ireland and Europe. In addition, the existing N17 from Mayo to Sligo is one of the worst national routes in the country. It is critically imperative that the people of the west and north west enjoy the infrastructural benefits to the rest of the country and Europe,” the Aontú councillor said.