West=On=Track - News

West rail group's work 'is nearing completion'

Sligo Champion - 23rd February 2005

By Michael Moran

THE eagerly awaited report into the proposed re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor is expected to be presented to the Minister for Transport in the coming months, The Sligo Champion has learned.

The Chairman of the Working Group set up to examine the feasibility of the project, Bunninadden native, Mr. Pat McCann, C.E.O. of the Jury's Doyle Hotel Group, has said:"Our work is nearing completion."

The Group will hold what is likely to be one of their last meetings on Friday next and Mr. McCann has intimated that his report will be delivered to Minister, Martin Cullen, in March or April.

A number of sub-committees set up within the Group have examined issues such as a cost benefit analysis and the social and commercial aspects of re-opening the Sligo to Limerick rail line.

"There has been a lot of activity and a lot of research carried out since we began our process. We are certainly coming towards finality.

The Chairman revealed that he had been in on-going discussions with the Minister about the plan.

"We are aware that the Minister is positive about this, but he will obviously look at everything and it could come down to finances available and what is feasible," Mr. McCann said.

"A lot of hard work has been done. We had to consider the social aspect of it as we felt we could not just look at this from a purely commercial point of view. Our findings will be presented in due course," he added.