West=On=Track
-News
Letter to The Editor
'Western People'
29th September
2006
Dear Sir
The latest news in regard to the re-opening of the
Western Rail Corridor is encouraging inasmuch as we are now
starting to see some action after years of investigations,
reports and more reports.
But the timescales, with reaching Collooney/Sligo
envisaged for some, yet to be announced, date after 2014,
are unjustifiably too long. Those of us located north of
Claremorris, and particularly those at the County Sligo end
of the line will be quite justified in feeling that we have
been "long fingered".
Some of the more senior amongst us must be wondering if
we will ever again see a train on the Claremorris/Collooney
"Burma Road" section in our lifetimes, with the huffing and
puffing on the part of the government in its response to the
project, as an entire reopening i.e. Ennis to Sligo, despite
the announcements that have been made, and one is left with
a feeling that the government is still being dragged
"kicking and screaming" to this project as a whole.
Whilst money is now being spent on "preserving" "the
Burma Road", this is no substitute at all for just getting
on with the job in a more meaningful, indeed, enthusiastic
way. We do not want a preserved railway. A preserved railway
costs more money to keep it preserved - and for eight years,
and more?
The money would be better spent in getting the line
opened properly, and expeditiously. Are we really to settle
for the timescales that are being put upon us, after all the
great effort that has been put into the reopening campaign
to date?
Whilst there may be, perhaps, a sense of elation, even
"euphoria", at what is now to happen at the bottom end of
the line with the phased reopening to Athenry, Galway, Tuam
and Claremorris, I am afraid that this rather peters out by
the time EastMayo/Sligo is reached.
What can be done to get a better momentum going here, and
to getting the whole project jacked up a gear or two (or
three!)?
We are now entering a period (perhaps sooner than later,
given current events) when our Dail representatives/other
prospective political movers and shakers will be tuning in
their "listening ears" and we must not miss this opportunity
to engage them in the campaign for the reinstatement of the
WRC, in its entirety, pursuant to getting the whole project
accelerated, and progressing to a more sensible timescale,
which, quite frankly, it is not, at the present time.
Let us not sit back content that some action is now being
taken to reopen the WRC. There is still much work to be
done, we are not there yet.
Yours faithfully
Michael Fox
Lismorane
Callow
Foxford
Co Mayo
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