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This article or section contains information about a planned or expected public transportation infrastructure. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available.

Map of the West of Ireland, showing the Western Rail Corridor and ex-GSWR line south of Limerick in green, other ex-MGWR lines are in red.

The Western Railway Corridor (WRC) in the Republic of Ireland is a recent term for a mostly disused railway line running through the West of Ireland. Currently only two sections from Limerick to Ennis and Collooney to Sligo see regular services, with other sections either closed, or only technically open. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A taxi serving as a bus Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. ... Image File history File links 25_railtransportation_trans. ... Image File history File links Map of Western Railway Corridor in Ireland created by User:Zoney. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... For people named Ennis, see Ennis (surname). ...

In 2005 an Expert Working Group reported on the prospects for reopening all or part of the corridor. In September 2006 the preservation and reclamation of the northern section was begun and the Government then announced funding to begin Phase 1 of the re-opening of the corridor, beginning with Ennis-Athenry and Athenry-Tuam. The reopening of these sections has been included in the Transport 21 infrastructural plan, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 "Transforming Ireland - A Better Quality of Life for All". Map of the West of Ireland, showing the Western Rail Corridor and ex-GSWR line south of Limerick in green, other ex-MGWR lines are in red. ... The National Development Plan was created to develop Irelands infrastructure to help invest the rewards from the economic success of the Celtic Tiger National Development Plan (NDP) is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on (mainly) national infrastructure. ...

Route and services

Infrastructure, Capacity /Incumberance, Rail or Motorway comparisson

The Western Rail Corridor encompasses railways built by various companies throughout the late 1800s forming a line from Limerick to Sligo. Towns along the WRC include Ennis, Gort, Athenry, Tuam and Claremorris. The route crosses the Dublin–Galway line at Athenry, the Dublin–Westport/Ballina line at Claremorris, and the Dublin–Sligo line at Collooney. The route largely parallels the corridor served by the N17 and N18 roads. Passenger services between Claremorris and Collooney ended in 1963, with the section being closed completely in 1975 (the track was left in situ but severed at Collooney). Passenger services between Limerick and Claremorris ceased in 1976. In December 2003 a new seven/eight train a day service (seven days a week) started between Limerick and Ennis (connecting or continuing to/from Dublin or Limerick Junction). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 552 pixel Image in higher resolution (947 × 654 pixel, file size: 72 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Infrastructure_comparisson. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 552 pixel Image in higher resolution (947 × 654 pixel, file size: 72 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Infrastructure_comparisson. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... For people named Ennis, see Ennis (surname). ... Gort (Irish: Gort Inse Guaire or An Gort) is a HOLE. Gort takes its name, Gort Inse Guaire, from Guaire Aidhne, the sixth century King of Connacht and patron of St. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Ballina may refer to: Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland Ballina, County Tipperary, Ireland Ballina, New South Wales, Australia Electoral district of Ballina is an electoral district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, based around the area. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... Collooney (Cúil Mhuine in Irish) is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. ... The N17 is one of the major roads that connects Galway City with major towns in north west County Galway and Mayo. ... The N18 is the main road from Limerick to Shannon Airport, Ennis and on to Galway. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Collooney (Cúil Mhuine in Irish) is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Limerick Junction, actually situated in County Tipperary and formerly named Tipperary Junction, is a railway station in Ireland. ...

Freight services ran regularly on the Limerick to Claremorris section until the mid 1990s. However with the closure of the Asahi factory near Ballina, regular freight services north of Athenry ceased in 1997. Fertiliser trains from Foynes continued to use the line as far as Athenry until 2000 and bulk cement trains from the Irish Cements Ltd Castlemungret factory near Limerick until 2001, when the line ceased to have any regular traffic. In 2002 the section from Athenry to Claremorris was severed at Athenry during re-signalling of the Galway line. For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Asahi Kasei Corporation is a Japanese company. ... Foynes (Faing in Irish) is a small town and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. ... CRH plc, (ISE: CRH) , (LSE: CRH) , (NYSE: CRHCY), (Xetra: CRH) , is an Irish building material group, formerly called Cement-Roadstone Holdings plc. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Debate on the need for the Corridor

Overview

The Western Rail Corridor has been supported by all the main political parties and by the local and regional authorities of the counties through which it passes. The case for its reopening has been articulated, among others, by Dr. Martin Mansergh in the Irish Times, (Restored Western Rail Corridor will reinvigorate west), 21st May 2005, [1], in the Sunday Independent (Lack of road and rail links' killing tourism in west), 14th August 2005,[2], by the Irish Hotels Federation, (Plans for Increased Regional Access Vital for Tourism Spread throughout Ireland), 13th February 2006, [3], in The Irish Times by the Western Development Commission (Let's put the west back on track), 12th June 2006,[4], in The Irish Times by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, (Decentralisation, the WRC and Regional Development), 19th June 2006, [5], in the Irish Independent (Gridlock in Galway City), 14th August 2006, [6], by the Union of Students in Ireland, (Students call for Western Rail Corridor to re-open), Western People 6th September 2006,[7], and in the findings of a TG4 opinion poll in October 2006 (Opinion Poll Findings show Significant Passenger Demand for Western Rail Corridor ), [8].

Questions have been raised about its viability by an editorial in the Irish Times,^[1] by an article in the Irish Independent,^[2], by an article in the Clare People^[3], by the lobby group, Platform 11^[4] and by the Strategic Rail Review, 2003. Critics say that southern sections of the scheme are more viable than those closer to Sligo. Arguments against the reopening centre mostly on the wisdom of providing train services given the dispersed population patterns of the region. As the route from Ennis to Claremorris has now been approved under Transport 21, these arguments now apply only to the section between Claremorris and Collooney that has not yet received funding. Platform 11 is a rail transport pressure group in Ireland whose agenda is centred on the idea that there is an economic case for expanding rail transport in Ireland though better utilization of existing infrastructure with only justified expansion of existing routes. ...

Passenger numbers

Supporters of the project predict that passenger numbers will be high enough to meet operational costs (see 8 above).^[5]

Opponents of the project counter that the railway would have few passengers and require an annual subsidy.^[6]

Social benefits

The presumed social benefits of restoring this rail service have been presented as an argument in favour of the project. The argument is that even if the line is not profitable, it will provide a vital social service for a poorly served region of the country. Project opponents argue that social benefits will only be gained if the service is popular and return to their predictions of low passenger numbers (see above). Some also argue with the assumption that the West is receiving less than its fair share of government spending.

Report on transport budget underspend in the West of Ireland

A mid-term evaluation of the Irish government's National Development Plan by the consultants INDECON, is cited by some parties as a reason to build the Western Rail Corridor.[9], [10] The report stated that only half the forecast NDP transport investment in the BMW region for the period 2000-2002 was actually spent, a shortfall of €364 million. The National Development Plan was created to develop Irelands infrastructure to help invest the rewards from the economic success of the Celtic Tiger National Development Plan (NDP) is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on (mainly) national infrastructure. ... The regionalisation arrangements negotiated by the Irish Government in the context of Agenda 2000 resulted in the designation of Ireland into two Regions for EU Structural Funds purposes (NUTS II level): The Border Midland & Western Region (BMW Region) which has Objective 1 status for the full period to 2006; and...

Reliability of the McCann Expert Working Group report

Lobbyists for the project point to the recommendations of this report commissioned by the minister for transport as evidence that the project is justified.

However, Frank McDonald in an article in the Irish Times,^[6] based on information released under the Freedom of Information Act indicated that the report was rewritten to exclude any negative assessment of the viability of the project including a forecast that it would 'attract only 750 passengers per day and could require an annual subvention of up to €10 million'. Frank McDonald is the Environment Editor of The Irish Times. ...

Criticisms of the Report have included the reliance on anecdotal testimony regarding freight demand and the absence of costings for rolling stock and operating expenses.^[7]

The effect of freight

The McCann Report suggests that the Ennis Claremorris Section could divert and grow Mayo to Waterford freight traffic via the Western Rail Corridor. [11]

Opponents argue that rail freight volumes in the country have dropped near to zero in recent years and that indirect freight routes already exist from most large towns in the region.^[8]

Predicted results of the project

Supporters predict environmental and economic benefits will flow from increased tourism and industry following the line's successful restoration.

Opponents predict that, following the failure of the line to attract significant passenger numbers, future rail projects will have difficulty gaining funding in Ireland.

Infrastructure before development

Advocates of the project argue that key transport infrastructure should be built prior to development and may actually encourage development to take place. Land use and settlement strategies are in place in all of the counties along the route of the WRC as a result of direct initiatives by the County Development Boards and County Councils concerned. In addition the WRC is specified as a key infrastructural objective in the County Development Plans of Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo as well as the Regional Planning Guidelines of the West Regional Authority [12].

In spite of this, project opponents argue that the local councils are not following land use policies that would create centres of population density around the railway stations along this route, but instead are continuing to permit isolated rural housing. Further, although most of Ireland's national railways are single-track, they argue that a single-track rail line will never be considered serious infrastructure.

Timeline for the reopening of the corridor

The Expert Working Group Report

An Expert Working Group, headed by Pat McCann, CEO of Jurys Doyle Hotels, reported to the Minister for Transport regarding the prospects for reopening some or all of the route. The group was set up by Minister Séamus Brennan at the urging of West-on-Track in June 2004 and delivered its report to Minister Martin Cullen in May 2005. Séamus Brennan (born February 16, 1948) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: June 2004 in sports Deaths in June • 28 Anthony Buckeridge • 26 Naomi Shemer • 26 Yash Johar • 22 Bob Bemer • 22 Thomas Gold • 22 Francisco Ortiz Franco • 16 Thanom Kittikachorn • 10 Ray Charles • 5 Ronald Reagan... Martin Cullen (born 2 November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Wikimedia Commons has media related to: May 2005 Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21...

The report recommended the reopening of most of the Corridor in three phases and the deferral of the reopening of the northernmost section:^[9]

Phase 1: Ennis to Athenry

58 km / 36 miles (74.7 million euros)

Phase 2: Athenry to Tuam

25 km / 15.5 miles (34.7 million euros)

Phase 3: Tuam to Claremorris

(subject to study of rail freight demand or in conjunction with phase 2)
27 km / 17 miles (58.9 million euros)

Phase 4: Collooney to Claremorris

(subject to further feasibility studies and possibly justifiable on the grounds of balanced regional development)
74.43 km / 46.25 miles (197.4 million euros)

Call for action

Frank Dawson, Director of Services for Galway County Council and a member of the Western InterCounty Railway Committee (which preceded the founding of West on Track but continues in existence) presented a paper to members of the Oireachtas on 5 October 2005 entitled Gold in the Ox Mountains.^[10] This new paper offers some criticisms of the Report as written by Mr. McCann. Mr. Dawson rejects the notion of strict cost-benefit in favour of "balanced regional development", claiming: Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Galway Code: G (GY proposed) Area: 6,148 km² Population (2006) 231,035 (including Galway City); 159,052 (without Galway City) Website: www. ... The Oireachtas is the National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (279th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

McCann conceded that re-opening Claremorris to Sligo would be very difficult to justify except on the grounds of balanced regional development.

That’s sounds to me like our national policy towards balanced regional development is optional.

Transport 21

On 1 November 2005 the Transport 21 plan was launched committing government expenditure of 34 billion euros between 2006 and 2015 on road, rail and light rail projects. The Western Railway Corridor commitments under this plan are largely those recommended by the McCann Report. These are: November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• 2008 - Opening of Ennis-Athenry section
• 2011 - Opening of Athenry-Tuam section
• 2014 - Opening of Tuam-Claremorris section

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen also mentioned completing a feasibility into a rail link for Shannon International Airport in his speech at the launch. The Minister for Transport is the chief person at the Department of Transport in the Irish Government. ... Martin Cullen (born 2 November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... Shannon Airport (IATA Airport Code; SNN, ICAO Airport Code; EINN) is Irelands main transatlantic airport. ...

Commencement of works

Following preliminary works in Winter and Spring of 2005-2006, official clearance work on the northern section of the line (Claremorris to Collooney) began on the 18th September. The work will be carried out by Iarnród Éireann over the next year.The purpose of the works is to re-establish the boundaries, prevent further deterioration of the line section and prevent any development that may otherwise impinge on the proposed detailed works required for the reopening of the line. Specifically, the works include fencing, hedge cutting, renewal of level crossing gates as well as the provision of some essential drainage, removal of ivy and overgrowth from bridges and the provision of mile posts. [13]

Government approval of funding and planning

On 26 September 2006, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announced Government approval of funding for the reopening of the Ennis–Athenry section of the WRC, as well as the Athenry–Tuam section.^[11] Iarnród Éireann is to proceed with detailed planning and design of the project, including consultation with land owners and local authorities, as well as design of bridges and level crossings. The track renewal began in early 2007, with completion due in 2008 (for Ennis–Athenry)and an expected 7 trains per day in each direction.. September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Minister for Transport is the chief person at the Department of Transport in the Irish Government. ... Martin Cullen (born 2 November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ...

The Ennis to Athenry railway will serve Limerick, Ennis, as well as new stations at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell, and Athenry and Galway. In addition, it will expand commuter links to Limerick and Galway. The Limerick to Galway service will also feed into expanded intercity services between Limerick and Dublin and between Galway and Dublin. Both routes are set for hourly services at peak and two hourly off-peak by 2008.

The investment project to be delivered by Iarnród Éireann involves a renewal of 36 miles of track, including all necessary fencing and drainage and the installation of points and crossings at Gort and Ennis. A single 90 metres platform with furniture, shelter, signage, car park, PA, customer information systems, help point and CCTV provision will be provided at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. These stations will also be accessible to the mobility impaired.

Customer Information Systems, PA, help-point and CCTV will be provided at Athenry and Ennis stations. Repair and improvement work will be undertaken on bridges on the route to allow rail services to operate. There will also be modernised signalling systems and improvement to level crossings.

See also

• Iarnród Éireann
• Rail transport in Ireland
• History of rail transport in Ireland
• Platform 11
• www.westontrack.com

1994: Iarnród Éireann Iarnród Éireann (IÉ; in English Irish Rail), is the national passenger railway system in Ireland. ... Most rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland, and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland. ... 1906 Viceregal Commission rail map of Ireland Irelands extensive rail network was largely dismantled during the 20th Century Map of Irish rail network between 1925 and 1930 This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series The history of rail transport in Ireland began only... Platform 11 is a rail transport pressure group in Ireland whose agenda is centred on the idea that there is an economic case for expanding rail transport in Ireland though better utilization of existing infrastructure with only justified expansion of existing routes. ...

References

• Johnson, S. (1997). Johnson's Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland, Midland Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85780-044-3.
• Current timetables (Limerick–Ennis service) from Iarnród Éireann website
• Report to the Minister for Transport from the Chairman of the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor (WRC), May 2005 from The Department of Transport

1. ^ Editorial in the Irish Times, 9/June/2006 (subscription required)
2. ^ 'Ladybird' WRC report a one-track journey into madness — The Irish Independent, 16 May, 2005
3. ^ Cullen ignored railway business case — The Clare People
4. ^ Platform 11's Position on the Western Rail Corridor
5. ^ West=On=Track estimates of running costs and ticket revenues
6. ^ ^{a b} Government Ignored Doubts over Western Rail Corridor
7. ^ Transparency essential for PPPs. Retrieved on May 24, 2006.
8. ^ Trinity College Student Economic Review 2006: An Economic Analysis of the Western Rail Corridor. (PDF)
9. ^ McCann, Pat. Report to the Minister for Transport from the Chairman of the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor (PDF). Retrieved on May 24, 2006.
10. ^ The Western Rail Corridor - Gold in the Ox Mountains (DOC). Retrieved on May 24, 2006.
11. ^ Cullen gives Iarnród Éireann go ahead to begin work on Western Rail Corridor - Department of Transport.

The Irish Independent is Irelands best-selling daily newspaper. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• Platform 11 Transport 21 Information
• Meath on Track
• West on Track