[Article] Cullen signs off on Ennis Athenry

[ccos]

From the "West on Track" website

County Clare, Sunday November 12th 2006 - Mr. Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has proposed that a rail stop be provided in Crusheen village on the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor project. Minister Killeen presented the proposal to Iarnród Éireann this week after receiving strong representations from community groups and constituents in Crusheen and elsewhere in the North Clare area.

Earlier this year, the Government approved funding for the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor, as well as the Athenry-Tuam section. Track renewal works on the Ennis to Athenry section are due to begin early next year. Once completed in 2008, an expected seven trains per day will travel from Ennis to Athenry with stops at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell.

Commenting on the need to provide a rail stop in Crusheen, Minister Killeen stated, "Two stops are being provided for between Gort and Athenry and none on the very long stretch of railway between Ennis to Gort. Crusheen is an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Corofin, Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in north Clare as well as Tulla and other areas of East Clare."

The Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare T.D. added, "The costs associated with establishing and maintaining the proposed railway stop would not be excessive. The provision of a ticket vending machine, for example, would lessen the need for the stop to be manned on a full-time basis."

In response to Minister Killeen's proposal, Chairman of Iarnród Éireann J.J. Lynch this week confirmed he would be requesting the managers responsible for the Western Rail Corridor to assess the costs and benefits of establishing a rail stop in Crusheen.

"I welcome Mr Lynch's commitment to assessing the viability of establishing a rail stop in Crusheen. Such a development would have enormous economic and social benefits for Crusheen and its surrounding hinterland. It would contribute to reducing the number of cars on our roads and it would provide commuters in these areas with a direct rail link to Galway City, Athenry, Ennis and Limerick City", Minister Killeen concluded.

They can't be serious? can they?????