Primetime running feature on Limerick-Galway in a few minutes

[dowlingm]

The Wesht shoots the messenger:
http://www.westontrack.com/press-release-2012-01-19.pdf

[Destructix]

IÉ has consistently refused to run intercity rolling stock between Galway and
Limerick. While Mr. Diamond triumphantly proclaimed to viewers that people
from Galway and Limerick seemed to be reluctant to make journeys to visit
each other he conveniently did not point that the railway was the only intercity
route in the state without such rolling stock. Even now, with many of these
new trains becoming available, there is no indication that any of them will be
provided on the Western Rail Corridor. Primetime didn’t ask why.

On about the auld rolling stock issue again i see :/

[on the move]

Originally Posted by KSW

I'm going to sound very harsh now but 100million on a new line with only 8passengers onboard on every journey is stupid. Iarnrod Eireann can predict passenger numbers doesn't mean the line will exactly do that. Depends on frequency of trains,Are they fast,Connecting to other trains & Comfortable.

That's my option

It's not 8 passengers onboard on every journey, it's an "average" taken over total journeys, not based on on-peak, off-peak factors, special events, bank holidays or other variables like that. An average highlighted for specific effect.

There's more than the profit and loss figures to rail transport, it's a vital connection across cities and countries. The tramlines in Dublin were torn up in the fifties, because those in power thought they weren't needed. Instead, it took 9 years and billions of Euro to plan, construct, and relaunch the city's current tram network, for which Dublin simply couldn't cope without, and it took 34 years and billions more Euro to reopen this line.

I recognise that the line is unprofitable at the present time, but I cannot support the call for raillines to be closed in any form. I wouldn't do it in countries like Greece, so I'm certainly not going to in this country, given it is such a relatively short network. To that extent, I am happy with the news that it will continue to remain open. There are ways of making it more profitable, some of which have been suggested in this thread, the will has to be there though to implement them, from a capable and competent administrative body.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...310808880.html

Crusheen rail station delayed amid talks with developer
GORDON DEEGAN

THE WESTERN Rail Corridor project has stalled again as Iarnród Éireann continues to negotiate with a third-party developer, it has emerged. Planning permission was granted for the new station at Crusheen along the Ennis to Athenry route last June, but work has yet to commence.

In a written Dáil reply to Timmy Dooley (FF), Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said Iarnród Éireann was “negotiating with a third party over funding contributions. On the conclusion of these negotiations the procurement process for Crusheen will commence.”

Yesterday, Iarnród Éireann said the Crusheen station has contributions from the company’s capital programme, Clare County Council and a third-party developer.

A spokesman said: “We are in discussions with the third party at present, so we must await the outcome of these to determine when the project will proceed, though it is our aspiration to commence works this summer.”

The delay in providing the Crusheen stop comes against the background of Iarnród Éireann conceding the passenger numbers on the WCR are lower than forecast in the business sector. Figures from Iarnród Éireann show 34,461 passengers used the restored Ennis to Athenry link last year. This compares to 66,390 using the Ennis-Limerick route and 123,315 the Athenry-Galway route.

A breakdown of the figures shows the line is busiest in summer, with 4,486 passengers over a four-week period going down to 2,060 in November.

A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said: “The business case obviously did not provide for the calamitous recession, which has impacted on demand for all transport, due to reduced economic activity. It has also completely brought to a halt development, so the envisaged regional development has not materialised.”