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West=On=Track
-News
Shannon Rail Study:
Consultants Appointed
Shannon Rail Partnership -
Thursday 27th April 2006
Today we are delighted to announce that Iarnrod Eireann
have appointed MVA Consultants to conduct the Feasibility
Study on the Shannon Rail Link. It has been agreed that the
final report will be with the Minister for Transport by late
2006. Shannon Rail Partnership will be working closely with
Iarnród Eireann and MVA over the coming months and
this will involve wide consultation with all key players in
the region.
Formed in 2000, Shannon Rail Partnership have
commissioned and completed numerous reports on the viability
of a Rail Link to Shannon Airport, Shannon Town, Shannon
Free Zone and Smithstown Business Park as part of
preliminary requirements towards a feasibility study. In
2005 Minister Cullen announced that a Full Feasibility Study
was imminent. A technical sub group of the Rail Partnership
has worked closely with Iarnród Eireann over the last
months to finalise terms of reference for this study, and to
work towards appointment of suitable consultants to conduct
the study.
Shannon Town Councillor, Sean Hillery has been joint
chairperson of the Shannon Rail Partnership since its
inception and Sean is delighted to announce this news today.
Sean added that the primary objective of the Shannon Rail
Partnership was to conduct a Technical Study into the
viability of a mainline rail link to Shannon, and indeed
this is one of the priority actions of the Clare County
Development Board for the period 2006 to 2008. Finally, Sean
added a word of thanks to all agencies on the Partnership
for their commitment todate. Specifically he acknowledged
the work over the past number of months of the technical sub
group, namely Liam Coneally, Clare County Council, Tom
Kirby, Mid West Regional Authority, David Hogan, Shannon
Development and Pádraig MacCormaic of Clare County
Council.
Shannon Rail Partnership Members: Clare County
Development Board, Clare County Council, Shannon
Development, Mid-West Regional Authority, Shannon Airport
Authority, Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council,
Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Shannon
Chamber of Commerce, IBEC
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