[article] Green light for rail line re-opening

Navan Junction · 19-01-2007, 19:24

[article] Green light for rail line re-opening
Dave O’Connell editor, Westmeath Examiner, Saturday January 20th 2007

The Government has effectively cleared the way for work to start on the restoration of the Mullingar to Athlone rail line.

Next week’s National Development Plan will include the announcement of a Gateways Innovation Fund, with a €300 million budget for a transport initiative to encourage a ‘shift from private car towards public transport’.

This is designed to stimulate ‘joined-up thinking’ at local level to give added value to the Gateway development under the National Spatial Strategy.

And while there is no specific mention of the rail line in print, given that the only linked Gateway Towns are Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, the scheme appears tailor-made for its restoration.

Full details of the project will be announced in next week’s NDP, but it is understood that it will be initially funded for a two year period to 2010.

And the €300m provided by the state to cover the operations of the fund is also designed to leverage matching funds from public and/or private sectors - possibly including CIE.

The proposal is not part of the existing Transport 21 which addresses the Western Rail corridor, but is designed to accelerate gateway development in a co-ordinated way.

While she would not be drawn on specific details, local Senator Mary O’Rourke welcomed what she believed was the next step towards the rail line’s restoration.

“I feel very positive that the NDP will contain the mechanism and finance to see the re-opening of the Athlone to Mullingar rail line,” she said.

“It would be the culmination of the Midlands Railway Action Group’s work over a long period and my own strong involvement along with that of other politicians,” she added.

The rail development is one of four objectives under the Gateways Innovation Fund, but it is by far the most costly one.

The scheme could also see money for key local economic infrastructure, not funded from mainstream or local capital programmes; integrated physical and socio/economic regenerations projects, and quality of life investment in terms of recreational amenities.

The plan requires a lead local authority - in this case Westmeath County Council - to bid for the central funding.

© Westmeath Examiner
http://www.unison.ie/westmeath_examiner/ & http://www.unison.ie/

Navan Junction · 19-01-2007, 19:25

http://www.meathontrack.com/athlone_...r_railway.html

Mark · 20-01-2007, 12:52

Note apartments in background.

Does anyone know what the journey comparisons would be from Mullingar to cc via both lines?

What kind of routes would service the line?

sean · 20-01-2007, 16:49

Connolly-Mullingar was done in 1hr 1min in the 2005 timetable (non-stop). (071+Mk2D)

Navan Junction · 20-01-2007, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Does anyone know what the journey comparisons would be from Mullingar to cc via both lines?

You mean from Athlone?

Donal Quinn · 22-01-2007, 11:26

so this means they are going to have to reopen the railway station on the west bank of the shannon - will all trains stop there as well as the existing station?

ccos · 22-01-2007, 12:02

Will some Galway, Ballina and Westport services be routed this way to terminate at docklands (or gorey

)in the near future to free up space on the Kildare route during construction?

Mark · 24-01-2007, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navan Junction

You mean from Athlone?

Sorry yes.

dowlingm · 25-01-2007, 05:16

the rationale will probably be that they can't spend all that money on KRP (the bit they will actually build) and Interconnector and then route trains to Connolly. Instead they'll probably spend squillions doubling Portarlington-Athlone (but not fix the track at Portarlington) and leave Moate rot while the tumbleweed blows through places like Woodlawn and the line beyond Maynooth will stay singled.

19-01-2007, 19:24	#1
Navan Junction Really Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Navan Posts: 305	Athlone Mullingar line [article] Green light for rail line re-opening Dave O’Connell editor, Westmeath Examiner, Saturday January 20th 2007 The Government has effectively cleared the way for work to start on the restoration of the Mullingar to Athlone rail line. Next week’s National Development Plan will include the announcement of a Gateways Innovation Fund, with a €300 million budget for a transport initiative to encourage a ‘shift from private car towards public transport’. This is designed to stimulate ‘joined-up thinking’ at local level to give added value to the Gateway development under the National Spatial Strategy. And while there is no specific mention of the rail line in print, given that the only linked Gateway Towns are Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, the scheme appears tailor-made for its restoration. Full details of the project will be announced in next week’s NDP, but it is understood that it will be initially funded for a two year period to 2010. And the €300m provided by the state to cover the operations of the fund is also designed to leverage matching funds from public and/or private sectors - possibly including CIE. The proposal is not part of the existing Transport 21 which addresses the Western Rail corridor, but is designed to accelerate gateway development in a co-ordinated way. While she would not be drawn on specific details, local Senator Mary O’Rourke welcomed what she believed was the next step towards the rail line’s restoration. “I feel very positive that the NDP will contain the mechanism and finance to see the re-opening of the Athlone to Mullingar rail line,” she said. “It would be the culmination of the Midlands Railway Action Group’s work over a long period and my own strong involvement along with that of other politicians,” she added. The rail development is one of four objectives under the Gateways Innovation Fund, but it is by far the most costly one. The scheme could also see money for key local economic infrastructure, not funded from mainstream or local capital programmes; integrated physical and socio/economic regenerations projects, and quality of life investment in terms of recreational amenities. The plan requires a lead local authority - in this case Westmeath County Council - to bid for the central funding. © Westmeath Examiner http://www.unison.ie/westmeath_examiner/ & http://www.unison.ie/ Last edited by Navan Junction : 19-01-2007 at 19:33. Reason: Title change

19-01-2007, 19:25	#2
Navan Junction Really Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Navan Posts: 305	Photos of the line http://www.meathontrack.com/athlone_...r_railway.html

20-01-2007, 12:52	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern line Posts: 1,311	Note apartments in background. Does anyone know what the journey comparisons would be from Mullingar to cc via both lines? What kind of routes would service the line? Last edited by Mark : 20-01-2007 at 12:55.

22-01-2007, 11:26	#6
Donal Quinn Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 267	so this means they are going to have to reopen the railway station on the west bank of the shannon - will all trains stop there as well as the existing station? __________________ It's the little things....

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20-01-2007, 16:49	#4
sean Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin Posts: 707	Connolly-Mullingar was done in 1hr 1min in the 2005 timetable (non-stop). (071+Mk2D)

22-01-2007, 12:02	#7
ccos Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kazbegi Posts: 281	Will some Galway, Ballina and Westport services be routed this way to terminate at docklands (or gorey )in the near future to free up space on the Kildare route during construction?

25-01-2007, 05:16	#9
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	the rationale will probably be that they can't spend all that money on KRP (the bit they will actually build) and Interconnector and then route trains to Connolly. Instead they'll probably spend squillions doubling Portarlington-Athlone (but not fix the track at Portarlington) and leave Moate rot while the tumbleweed blows through places like Woodlawn and the line beyond Maynooth will stay singled.