[Article] Cullen signs off on Ennis Athenry

[Mark Gleeson]

Read this very carefully

Originally Posted by Ireland.com

Cullen approves funding for Western Rail Corridor
Last updated: 26-09-06, 14:52
The Government has approved funding for the phased restoration of the Western Rail Corridor from Limerick to Sligo.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said today Iarnród Éireann had been given the green light to develop the first phase of the corridor between Ennis and Athenry.

Mr Cullen said the Government had also approved funding for the development of the second phase of the corridor between Athenry and Tuam, subject to completion by Irish Rail of a fuller appraisal of this section.

"The reinstatement of the Ennis-to-Athenry section of the line will allow the introduction of scheduled train services between Limerick and Galway" Minister for Transport Martin Cullen

He said he had requested Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the detailed planning and design of the project.

Today's announcement gives the company the go-ahead to commence line clearance work; undertake detailed design, including level crossing survey work; enter into discussions with land owners and local authorities; and begin design of bridges and the signalling scheme on the Ennis-to-Athenry section.

Under the Government's Transport 21 plan, the Western Rail Corridor is to be reopened on a phased basis with the Ennis-to-Athenry section due to be completed in 2008, the Athenry-to-Tuam section in 2011 and the Tuam-to-Claremorris section in 2014.

Mr Cullen said: "The reinstatement of the Ennis-to-Athenry section of the line will allow the introduction of scheduled train services between Limerick and Galway, the enhancement of existing commuter services between Ennis and Limerick and the development of the Galway Commuter Rail service between Galway and Athenry."

He said: "Galway commuter services from Tuam will subsequently be developed under phase two of the project".

© 2006 ireland.com
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/bre...breaking54.htm

[Mark Gleeson]

Note Tuam is a no go until it has been planned and reviewed

Galway commuter seems to be tied to Tuam

No mention of Oranmore

[Jister]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Today's announcement gives the company the go-ahead to commence line clearance work; undertake detailed design, including level crossing survey work; enter into discussions with land owners and local authorities; and begin design of bridges and the signalling scheme on the Ennis-to-Athenry section.

How long will this take? I understood this had already been completed.

[Mark Gleeson]

Baseline looking at 12 months to do that and another 12 to do the work, planning permission etc takes time. Wouldn't matter the signalling guys are tied up till end 2007 anyway on other projects

IE have a outline scheme, basically they know what bridges will have to go

It could open December 2008 if they are lucky which is within the T21 timeline

[Mark]

Its really just an extension of the Ennis service to Galway (Or just to Athenry with a connection?) Cant see 2008 opening though, early to mid 2009 perhaps.

We know IE will be fairly stringent with the analysis of further lines, especially north of Tuam. Looks like Oranmore is phase 2/3? Or separate project altogether, requires private developer investment.

[Colm Donoghue]

How long ago was Middleton given this type of approval?


Does this not mean commuter services?

Mr Cullen said: "The reinstatement of the Ennis-to-Athenry section of the line will allow the introduction of scheduled train services between Limerick and Galway, the enhancement of existing commuter services between Ennis and Limerick and the development of the Galway Commuter Rail service between Galway and Athenry."

Tuam seems a no-go alright

below are some observations from the drivers seat of a car from Oranmore into Galway ( where the commuter service would hafta run.

My sis lives in Galway. She was looking into the development plans for the east of the city. the city and county have carved up the land from the galwayClinic roundabout back towards Oranmore i.e. from Dubhuisce and Roscam out, with a "green belt" ( or Merlin park hospital as it's now known) inside these estates.
There is a triangle between Roscam the N6 Dway and the train line ripe for levying and providing a commuter station either at the oranmore end, or the roscam end.
There's a LC at the end of the Roscam road, but it could be painlessly be closed fullstop to stop a ratrun or a new road built parallel with the tracks east to the old N6 bridge. This is manned at the minute ( swing type gates)

I guess it depends on how much the city and county councils care about developing this.

The two other LC's on the Ennis Athenry I can think of off the top of my head are Craughwell and Ardrahan. on not to be main roads for much longer, I don't know the policy of replacing these, Craughwell would be difficult as the LC is very near the town, Ardrahan would be possible, its at the bottom of a dip as you leave the village towards Galway.

What talk of stations are there? I presume Gort and then vaguely possibly Craughwell or Crusheen if someone'll pay for them?

[Mark Gleeson]

Galway CC have a list of 3 stations on the line as well as Oranmore and Merlin Park is mentioned as being served

[Nigel Fitzgricer]

LOL! Great to have freinds in high places. I just gave her a call to say thanks for the tip off yesterday and got some more details. North of Athenry is history - DEAD IN THE WATER. The Government is refusing to fund it under any circumstances for at least 10 years. They (Government) have placed such strict criteria on Galway CoCo that no way will they present a business case for reopening the line north of Athenry unless a major change in planning and population settlement in East Galway is undertaken. There is a war within the Government over this, with Galway/Mayo parish pump merchants are being told to basically get their house in order if they want trains to Tuam and further north.

Anyone who thinks a train is going to operate to Tuam between now and 2020 are living on the wrong planet or possible in Bury Saint Edmonds. Common sense prevailed finally and this crackpot idea to reopen a tramway from Sligo to Limerick is finally put to bed for a couple of decades at least.

Maybe Ireland is not such a banana republic afterall.

[Mark Gleeson]

Here is the actuall text http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp...g=ENG&loc=1887

Press Releases for 2006
Cullen gives Iarnród Éireann go ahead to begin work on Western Rail Corridor

26 September 2006
"Green light for the phased re-opening"

Today (Tuesday 26 September, 2006) Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, TD announced that the Government has approved funding for Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the development of the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor. Minister Cullen has requested Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the detailed planning and design of the project. In addition, the Government has also approved funding for the development of phase 2 of the Corridor between Athenry and Tuam, subject to completion by Irish Rail a fuller appraisal of this section, which is scheduled for completion by 2011 under Transport 21.

Making the announcement, Minister Cullen said: "The Western Rail Corridor will have immense social and economic benefits for the region and will promote balanced development across the country. In the spirit of the Transport 21 programme, it will play a major role in connecting communities and promoting prosperity not only in Clare, Galway and Mayo but right through Connacht and Munster."

Minister Cullen has instructed Iarnród Eireann to proceed immediately with the detailed planning and design of the project. Today's announcement gives Iarnród Éireann the go-ahead to commence line clearance work, undertake detailed design including level crossing survey work, enter into discussions with land owners and local authorities, and commence detailed design of bridges and the signalling scheme on the the Ennis to Athenry section. The physical track renewal is due to commence next year and is expected to be completed in 2008.

Minister Cullen said: "The re-instatement of the Ennis to Athenry section of the line will allow the introduction of scheduled train services between Limerick and Galway, the enhancement of existing commuter services between Ennis and Limerick and the development of the Galway Commuter Rail service between Galway and Athenry. Galway commuter services from Tuam will subsequently be developed under phase 2 of the project.

"This decision gives effect to the Government commitment under Transport 21 and the new Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to reopen the Western Rail Corridor on a phased basis with the Ennis to Athenry section due to be completed in 2008, the Athenry to Tuam section in 2011, the Tuam to Claremorris section in 2014. The line from Claremorris to Collooney is being preserved."

The Minister said that the phased implementation was decided on the basis of the recommendations of the Report by the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor chaired by Mr Pat McCann. "The heaviest demand for services is currently on the Ennis Athenry Tuam sections of the Corridor, so these sections will be developed first. In the meantime, it is expected that Galway and Mayo County Councils will develop their land-use strategies in order to generate the critical mass necessary to support the completion of the corridor within the Transport 21 timeframes", added the Minister.

The construction work will involve the upgrading of 36 miles of track and associated infrastructure, the elimination of 125 farm/accommodation crossings and the provision of five stations at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell (on the EnnisAthenry line), Sixmilebridge (on the LimerickEnnis line) and Oranmore (on the AthenryGalway line). The track and signalling will be capable of accommodating both freight and passenger trains. Seven services a day in each direction are proposed between Limerick and Galway.

Ends

Further info:

Veronica Scanlan at (01) 6041087 or 087 6430622

Looks good but there are some missing bits

[Jister]

I live in Sixmilebrodge, have I just read that we are getting a station fairly soon, or am I dreaming??

[Derek Wheeler]

Date: 26th September 2006
From: Derek Wheeler, Communications and Media Office, Platform 11.
Contact : (086) 3452651
Issued by: Platform 11. The National Rail Users Organisation.

“Announcement of WRC reopening “

The announcement of the phased reopening of the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) by the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has been noted by Platform 11, the National Rail Users Organisation.

While Platform 11 is not supportive of the short-term reopening of this route, Communications and Media Officer, Derek Wheeler said,” we accept that current Government policy is committed to it. As a representation body for rail users, we look forward to representing future users of the first phase between Limerick and Athenry and the long overdue commuter services between Athenry and Galway.”

Platform 11, through it’s experience in representing rail users, believes that, due to poor Government decisions and disappointing management, the rail network is still an area of concern to the many customers using it on a daily basis. While Irish Rail have endeavoured to improve their customer service standards, they are still well below standards provided by other European rail operators. Mr. Wheeler added that, “Platform 11 anticipates that this poor standard will be very apparent on the reopened section of line between Ennis and Athenry and on new commuter services between Athenry and Galway.”

While campaigners for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor celebrate the success of achieving the first phase, Platform 11 is already preparing for the inevitable onslaught of complaints that will flow, once the first section becomes operational. Despite massive investment in our rail network, Derek Wheeler said,” this is the sad reality of rail services in 21st century Ireland.”

[dowlingm]

Ardrahan and Craughwell... the former is a joke and the latter, well all I hope is that a LOT more houses have been built since I was there last three years ago. Ardrahan - another Woodlawn...

[Jister]

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Ardrahan and Craughwell... the former is a joke and the latter, well all I hope is that a LOT more houses have been built since I was there last three years ago. Ardrahan - another Woodlawn...

Ardrahan is 7 miles to Gort, and Craughwell must be pretty close to Athernry. Surely there is no need for stations serving these hamlets, when there are larger stations closeby?

[BlahDeBlah]

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

...“Announcement of WRC reopening “...
While Platform 11 is not supportive of the short-term reopening of this route, Communications and Media Officer, Derek Wheeler said,” we accept that current Government policy is committed to it.

What IS Platform 11 supportive of? Instead of criticising the re-opening of the Victorian-era rail service from Ennis to Athenry with proposed stops at tiny villages of Craughwell and Ardrahan, why don't Platform 11 lobby for what is actually needed...

...which is IMHO...

...building a 21st century intercity service between Galway, Limerick and Cork (that routes DIRECTLY South after Oranmore, towards Clarinbridge and not just using existing tracks all the way out to Athenry). With a commuter service at commuter towns of Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Gort to ease the awful traffic congestion to the East and South-East of Galway. Yes a direct, intercity rail service between the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th most populus cities of Ireland.

Galway City Devt Plan describes a new 'town' of Ardaun to the East of Galway, which would be well serviced by a commuter stop at Oranmore - and Oranmore is already populated enough to warrant a commuter rail service today. Gort is certainly a large commuter town now - just check out the bus service at commuter times morning and evening.

Lobbying for a service from times gone by is pure nostalgia (sorry WestOnTrack). Simply criticising it's resurrection, rather than lobbying for what's truly needed is just sitting on the sidelines with passive observations - rather than driving the agenda of promoting the needs of the country's rail users (sorry Platform 11).

[TomB]

Hi BlahDeBlah, and a very warm welcome to the board.

Obviously the Platform 11 committee are well able to speak for themselves and don't need me to stand up for them, but let me offer a few comments:

Transport 21 has a large number of distinct public transport projects contained within the few pages given out at Dublin Castle a year ago. All of them are fairly complex projects with reasonably large budgets. To undertake a detailed economic and engineering critique of every project proposed would be possible but only if Derek, Thomas, Mark, Paul, Louise and Aidan weren't allowed out of doors until 2015.

Platform 11 have already published a (pre-T21) solid report on the potential for commuter rail in Galway, especially Oranmore, available at http://www.platform11.org/reports (think that particular report might be members only though), which I certainly feel had an influence on T21 plans.

For what it's worth, I agree with much of what you say. Reinstating a line to Limerick-Waterford standards would be a disaster, and the only sensible solution is a railway which beats the car by at least 30% of the journey time. That ain't going to happen unless serious investment is put into the line, and silly plans to put stations in hamlets reversed. Although I'm not convinced of the merits of a deviation via Clarinbridge unless Galway Co Co show significantly higher commitments to good planning practice than they do at the moment.

You've obviously taken some time to investigate some of the issues associated with commuting south of Galway. Why not offer to do some work in fleshing out what you've just described into a coherent, justified plan which could form part of the submission that Thomas Stamp has already said would happen?

Again, a very warm welcome to you, and I would encourage you to join Platform 11 for just a tenner and make a difference

[ccos]

From the west on track Website.

Opinion Poll Findings show Significant Passenger Demand for Western Rail Corridor
Press Release 31st October 2006


The West on Track Community Campaign has welcomed the findings of the MRBI/TG4 Opinion Poll in Galway West which show that almost a quarter of those interviewed would use the soon to be reopened section of the Western Rail Corridor from Ennis to Athenry and that 8% would use it at least 2-3 times per week.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesman for West on Track said: "These figures more than bear out the passenger demand projections of West on Track and are in line with ongoing research being conducted both north and south of Athenry which indicate that demand north of Athenry (the Mayo-Galway route) is 80% of that south of it," he said.

"For example, if 23% of the population of Co. Galway over 18 yrs (approx 150,000) were to make a return journey just once a week, as indicated in the MRBI Opinion Poll, that would generate 828,000 passenger journeys per year (see 1 below).

"It should also be borne in mind that this high level of potential patronage is within just one of the counties to be served by the line (i.e. Galway). We welcome the fact that our passenger demand projections have now been independently verified and expect our projections of demand north of Galway to be accepted as equally accurate.

"The findings of the TG4 poll clearly justify the decision to proceed with the Ennis-Athenry section of the WRC and should encourage the Government to include Phase 2 from Athenry to Claremorris immediately.

"Working from the statistics in the poll it may be seen that potentially greater numbers of people would be using that one section of the WRC annually than currently use the Belfast-Dublin route, with numbers being at least as great as those currently using the Limerick-Dublin, Westport-Dublin and Sligo-Dublin routes," he added.

Example:

23% of respondents say they will use the train at least once a month.

As a % of total pop of Co. Galway over 18 yrs (150,000 approx):

= 34,500 people x 12 months

= 414,000 x 2 (return trips count as 2)

= 828,000 = DEMAND

Note: WEST ON TRACK projected a demand of 750,000

How accurate are these figures cosidering most of Galway county isn't anywhere near the rail line????

[PaulM]

If I was asked how often I would use a rail service to Swords, I would probably say "Maybe twice a week.", after all, I might. It doesn't mean I would though.

If the wrc does get 800,000 per year, I will happily admit I was wrong and that it was a good idea. I hope I will be saying that, but I doubt it.

[Mark Gleeson]

This kind of thing assumes a perfect world, where every journey is direct and where there is a train to suit everyones whim, basically a train every 7 minutes. If someone focused on Oranmore Galway and a little thought on stations you could carry significant numbers 300k but thats not the WRC

As it stands Dublin Galway carries only 1.3 million pa

25% of people lie on surveys, 75% of people know that

[Derek Wheeler]

I was interviewed by TG4 in relation to this poll. What WOT didn't reveal in their story was the fact that 40% of responents said they would never use it.

Its just spin.

[Nigel Fitzgricer]

A load of Badgers were made homeless in Sligo and Mayo along the course Burma Road recently to make way for the fence poles. If they lived in East Cork they would protected by the Midleton project. The Badgers of the West are Second Class citizens in the eyes of Irish Rail.

There is Badgercide happening here. I tried to save a family of Badger's home recently from a JCB but alas it was not to be. I tried to explain to the young badgers that them being made homeless was really about regional development.