West=On=Track
-News
Work Begins on euro5m
Western Rail Corridor Line Clearance
Press Release 18th
September 2006
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced today that
site clearance works on the unused railway line between
Claremorris and Collooney will begin on the 18th September.
The work will be carried out by Iarnród
Éireann over the next year.
Minister Ó Cuív has made a funding
provision of euro5m under the CLÁR programme to carry
out the works. CLÁR (Ceantair Laga
Árd-Riachtanais/Programme for Revitalising Rural
Areas) is an investment programme designed to tackle the
problem of population decline and lack of services in rural
areas.
"The people of rural Ireland have a right to expect top
class, 21st century infrastructure. The Western Rail
Corridor, due to the heroic efforts of the Inter-County Rail
Committee, spearheaded by Father Mícheál Mac
Gréil and in more recent times, by the West on Track
group, have ensured that this vital piece of infrastructure
was not abandoned and sold down through the years. The
preservation of the right of way is a vital component to
facilitate a future opening of the Western Rail Corridor
north of Claremorris.
The announcement by the Government of the phased
re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor is the largest ever
re-opening of a rail line in this island and is a clear
indication of a firm commitment to action in relation to
Western Development." Éamon Ó Cuív
T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht
Affairs
The railway line between Claremorris and Collooney has
been closed to passenger rail traffic since June 1963 with
the Athenry to Claremorris section closed to passenger rail
traffic since April 1976. Limited freight services operated
on the line until the early 1990's.
The purpose of the works announced today 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.
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