The aim of the game should be... ahem... palerail. Ennis-Athenry will partially cannibalise the existing Ennis-Limerick passenger numbers as it offers an alternate routing to Dublin (although for Ennis-Sixmilebridge-Limerick commuters that will be a good thing as it will make room for them) so people will have a better choice of journey times and less time hanging around Heuston.
It offers a Gort-Dublin/Athlone/(Mullingar one hopes) service that didn't previously exist - I doubt many people drove to Athenry to pick up the train but if they did it relieves pressure on parking there. It also adds some new GAA special options if Clare get out of Munster or Galway out of Connaught.
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