Reopening of western rail link still an option, says Brennan

The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has said he may reconsider the Strategic Rail Review's findings that there is insufficient reason to reopen the Western Rail Corridor.

Speaking to a delegation from the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Regional Assembly, the Minister said he was anxious that the option of re-opening the western rail link as a spur to economic development in the west be kept open.

Mr Brennan told the delegation - which travelled to Dublin to discuss development imbalances in the west - he was aware that transport was a key driver of growth and roads spending in the west had not been as fast as in the east.

Following a presentation from the BMW delegation on the importance of the Western Rail Corridor as a catalyst to development along the western seaboard, the Minister said he hoped to commission a new study into the potential of the rail link.

The route from Limerick through Ennis to Galway and on to Tuam, Claremorris and Castlebar is still in place, although the crossover tracks at Athenry were taken up by Iarnród Éireann earlier this year.

The Minister, however, was unable to put a specific date on when the study might be carried out or when the rail link might reopen if the new study indicated that there was sufficient potential.

The Strategic Rail Review, which was set up earlier this year, did not recommend the reopening of the rail corridor on the grounds of insufficient business for the railway, but this has been described as a "catch 22" situation by development groups and members of the assembly.

Galway Chamber of Commerce spokesman Dr Chris Coughlan commented that, should the ESB have taken a similar view to the Strategic Rail Review, then much of the west of Ireland would still be without electricity.

The Minister also told the delegation he acknowledged the low expenditure on national roads projects in the BMW region, but said this would be increased in future years. He reiterated the Government's commitment to achieving balanced regional development.