'The time has come for people in Sligo to call a halt to this nonsense' - Western Rail Corridor row erupts

Irish Rail's decision to lease over 30km of disused railway track between Collooney and Bellaghy to Sligo County Council for the development of a greenway has triggered a wave of criticism from opposition politicians and rail campaign groups, who argue the move deals a serious blow to hopes of extending the Western Rail Corridor to Sligo.

The Department of Transport confirmed that Minister Darragh O'Brien "welcomes this development, and the pragmatic approach being taken by all agencies to ensure that state-owned lands are being used to progress transport infrastructure projects," adding that it would "ensure that sustainability mobility options are available to local communities and visitors to the region."

But that view was firmly rejected by opposition TDs and senators, as well as two of the region's leading rail advocacy groups.

Sinn Féin's Martin Kenny, TD for Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal, said the greenway plan "must not become a block to the development of the rail corridor along the western seaboard."

He argued that greenway schemes nationally had become "an industry, a gravy train, for a certain number of consultancy companies and a distraction for the government away from providing real, permanent, safe road and rail transport infrastructure."

The Sinn Féin TD said a rail link to Galway was essential for those in the north-west travelling for medical treatment, business and education, adding that "while leisure and cycling infrastructure is nice to have, it is insignificant in comparison to developing the railway line."

Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove, her party's spokesperson on Rural and Community Development, said people in the region were "sick of the flip-flopping on this issue" and "sick of waste," pointing out that between €1 million and €1.6 million had already been spent on planning the greenway with no reliable construction estimate available.

She contrasted this with the cost of reinstating rail infrastructure, claiming the entire 74.5km Western Rail Corridor could be restored "for less cost than ½ km of the Dublin Metro."

Senator Cosgrove also questioned the logic of Sligo County Council developing its 35km section while Mayo pursues rail development on the neighbouring 39.5km stretch, and accused the constituency's three government TDs of "actively campaigning in favour of Dublin against the best interests of the North-West."

The Western Inter-County Railway Committee, representing eight local authorities from Donegal to Clare, described the move as "an appalling mistake," noting the contradiction with ongoing development of the Galway-Mayo rail line.

The committee pointed to Cork County Council's replacement of the Youghal railway with a greenway as evidence that such arrangements "have no credibility," warning that "once a greenway is put down, it will stay down." It called on the Minister for Transport and Irish Rail to pursue "a dual solution that allows for the parallel development of a greenway adjacent to the rail line."

West on Track, another prominent campaign group, said the reported removal of the railway "beggars belief" and claimed Irish Rail had been "forced to change its position" following lobbying by local TDs.

The group said Irish Rail had originally offered to accommodate a greenway at a safe distance from the track, an option it said had been rejected by local representatives. It renewed its call for a "dual solution" and warned that the Youghal precedent showed that once a track is lifted, "it will NEVER be replaced."

Responding to queries from The Mayo News, Irish Rail said its agreement to licence the lands reflected "the merits of the proposal in the absence of specific medium-term plans to reopen the railway," but added that progress on the Athenry-to-Claremorris section of the Western Rail Corridor "may strengthen the business case" for eventually reinstating the line as far north as Sligo, a prospect it said would be reviewed periodically.

The company said it would work with Sligo County Council on the greenway's exact route "with the aim of minimising the need for any land acquisition and associated costs to the Exchequer, while also preserving the possibility of the alignment being reopened for rail services at some point in the future."

The dispute comes as work continues on restoring rail links between Athenry, Tuam and Claremorris, a project West on Track and Mayo County Council have both said should ultimately extend north through Sligo to Ireland West Airport.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme