Dear Editor,
Last week's Galway Independent (Wednesday 9 January) set out the views of Cllr Niall Ó Brolcháin on the type and number of passenger rail services that should be provided, Galway to Dublin. In particular, he proposes 'direct morning and evening mainline services between the two cities', presumably non stop, and saying these services should take no more than one hour and 45 minutes.

Apparently, Cllr Ó Brolcháin thinks that Ireland, West to East, begins in Galway and ends in Dublin, or vice versa, and everything in between does not count. This is not the first time we've heard from Cllr Ó Brolcháin on this issue. Last time I saw his opinion in print, he was suggesting a two-hour trip from Galway to Dublin. Now, with his latest proposal, he has cut 15 minutes off his own timetable. It is rather a wonder he is not going the whole hog and going for a TGV!

Cllr Ó Brolcháin does rather graciously concede that 'ideally, the service would be supplemented with extra new services that stop at all stations along the route.'

Cllr Ó Brolcháin needs to straighten his thinking on just a few rail issues:

The distance from Galway to Dublin by rail is approx 125 miles. Efficient organisation, with new high performance trains, can bring the service to all stations within a reasonable timetable.

A major concern now should be the provision of a new twin track to accommodate increased traffic. How come the National Development Plan has not made provision for this? (16 trains a day each way - how is it to be managed on a single track?)

All Co. Galway is now within commuting distance of Galway city. The suggestion that commuting is an issue only from Athenry is nonsense. Properly timed commuter trains are a priority.

Perhaps Cllr Ó Brolcháin could consider the potential of freight rail traffic. The need to use the rail service to full capacity would do a lot to help relieve road congestion and, incidentally, help his party's carbon emission targets.

Yours sincerely,

Michael J. Kilgannon,
Woodlawn Heritage Group,
Monaveen,
Woodlawn,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway

Ps Some or all of the above points would make good material for Green policy making.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment